Disciple:
Hare Krishna. Pranam (salutations), Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam.
Disciple:
Gurudev, I have a question about something today. Among the four Yugas—Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali—there is a prevailing concept of the "Devdasi." What exactly is a Devdasi? Who were they?
Guru:
This wasn’t as prominent in the Treta Yuga as it was in Dwapara. In Dwapara, women would "marry" the deity, accepting Him as their husband. They called themselves "Devdasi," meaning the servant of God. Their tasks included providing joy and service while the deity ate, sang, or slept. They did whatever was necessary for the deity’s happiness. Because of this dedication, they never left the temple or mingled with the outside world.
Disciple:
So, things like dressing the deity and feeding them?
Guru:
Yes, all of those things. Their duty was to keep the deity happy. They considered themselves servants. This was especially prominent starting from the time of Lord Jagannath. You could say it was established in Dwapara and continued into the Kali Yuga. It is believed that Krishna's heart is still "active" and placed within the idol of Jagannath. Women who were deeply devoted, and perhaps those who didn’t find peace in worldly marriages, would dedicate themselves to the feet of the Lord and become Devdasis.
Guru:
There is a tragic side to it as well. They wouldn't show their faces to anyone else during the day. We have heard the "inner cries" of Devdasis—stories that are quite harrowing. In a way, they became social outcasts. If someone heard a woman was a Devdasi, they would keep their distance.
Guru:
This tradition was not seen during Lord Ramachandra's time (Treta Yuga). It truly took shape in Dwapara. Even in our recent culture, when a son went to get married, the mother might ask, "Son, where are you going?" and the son would traditionally reply, "Mother, I am going to bring a servant (Dasi) for you." This was a common saying, though few people mention it today.
Disciple:
Now, the new generation says, "I'm bringing a girl/wife for you."
Guru:
Yes, but the old tradition used the word "Dasi." Even in old legal documents, you’ll see the word "Dasi" appended to women's names—for example, "Kanchanbala Dasi." It signified being a servant to the husband. In many old records, you won't find surnames like Bhattacharya or Ghosh; you will just see "Dasi."
Guru:
So, there is the divine Devdasi, and then there is human domestic servitude. This has been a practice for ages.
Disciple:
Gurudev, in the Nat Mandir (dance hall) of the Puri temple, I've heard that until a few years ago, Devdasis would dance to wake Lord Jagannath in the morning and sing to put Him to sleep at night. Did kings also have Devdasis?
Guru:
No, kings had Harems. I stayed in Cooch Behar for a long time and studied the history of kings like Nara Narayan and Roop Narayan. If those kings saw a beautiful girl, even if she was married, they would sometimes take her for their Harem. An entire lineage was created through that practice.
Disciple:
Would they keep those girls in separate houses?
Guru:
They were kept in the Harem. They lived in great luxury. Those kings used the title "Narayan" because they compared themselves to God.
Disciple:
They compared themselves to deities?
Guru:
Yes, at one time they did. They thought, "If the Gods can have this lifestyle, why can't we?" This is why names like Roop Narayan and Nara Narayan became hereditary titles for the Cooch Behar kings.
Disciple:
So, who were the "real" Devdasis?
Guru:
The ones in temples like Jagannath. There were many of them. Now, I believe the last official Devdasi has passed away.
Disciple:
I've seen some women within the temple boundaries who make the flower garlands and Tulsi malas for Lord Jagannath every day.
Guru:
Yes, they still perform those duties. They lead secluded lives within the temple. They wouldn't even look at the face of another man. They stayed inside and only came out for Lord Jagannath’s service. No one else had the right to even touch them.
Disciple:
Gurudev, thank you. I learned a lot from you today.
Guru:
The era of the "Dasi" (servitude) has mostly ended. Nowadays, women find the term "Dasi" offensive; it hurts their pride. They don't want to be seen as servants. The social structure has changed. In the past, a king had one "Main Queen," similar to a queen bee, and many companions or "Sokhis" around her. But we won't get into a deeper discussion on that today.
Disciple:
Let's end here for today. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru:
Pranam.