Correct Answer - Option 4 : Southern India
Music, dance, and enactment have been an integral part of ritualistic and social celebrations in societies all over the world. All important occasions were celebrated with singing and dancing in groups within the community in which both men and women took part.
- Temples were the hub of cultural activities and devadasis (temple dancers) performed before the deity, royalty, and masses in the many-pillared halls in the Virupaksha (a form of Shiva) temple.
- Around the medieval period (10th – 11th Century AD) this tradition reached its height.
- Ancient empires like Babylonia, Cyprus, Phoenicia, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Syria were also known to employ young girls to appease their deities in the temples.
- The practice was more widespread in the southern part of India.
- The Mahanavami festival, known today as Navaratri in the south, was one of the most important festivals celebrated at Hampi.
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Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century.
- However, decaying traditions gave rise to exploitations and marginalization of the Devadasis by the temple priests due to which the Britishers declared this tradition illegal.
- The duties of Devadasis were to do daily services for different rituals performed for the deity-like bathing, dressing, offering flowers, including singing and dancing.
- The word “Devadasi” for the first time in the Arthashastra, written by Kautilya in circa 350–283 BC.
Therefore, the Devadasi system was prevalent in the southern part of India.
