Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 189

JUNE, 1884.]
BOMBAY DANCING GIRLS.
165
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यतिहीन शब्दहीनं माचाहीने तु यद्भवेत् ] । उत्कीर्ण शिवनागेन द्वारशिवस्य सूनुना ।। [२011]
तत्सर्व साधुचिमन्ना भट्टसरभेद्देवटेन
I ["]
of HET [*2] II
BOMBAY DANCING GIRLS.
BY K. RAGHUNATHJI. The Dancing or Nách Girls of Bombay are the whole caste is invited to the feast, and either Hindûs or Muhammadans, and are she coming before the dining table, with known by the name of Kalà vatis, or women her hands joined, makes a low bow and possessed of the arts or lcalá of dancing begs forgiveness. This is granted, and then and singing. Some call them Kulavantinis she dines with them, observing the caste of or women of genteel birth,' and N aikins, -a her master for the time being. A Naikin term applied to women who are born Naikins, in the keeping of a Musalm in will not dine and who have undergone the ceremony of in the same line with one in the keeping kéja. While mere children the females are of a Parsi or a Banyâ, and so on. And in called Ched vâs and the males Chéd å s. this way there may be seen a number of rows
The ceremony of séja is compulsory before a of these women at their feasts. Their castes woman can style herself a Naikin. She places are not fixed, but change with their masters. herself generally under the protection of some One may be a Musalman to-day, and to-morrow individual, as an ordinary married woman, and a Prabhu or a Brahman, and again on a later passes the greater portion of her time in date a Parsi or a Musalman again. dancing and singing. The money she earns is Steele says these girls are sometimes purher own property, and her protector has no chased on a deed of sale, kharidpatra; given from claim to it. But the money she earns by singing friendship; or taken on receiving a present. and dancing on Mondays, in the month of Sravan They are taught the usual accomplishments (July-August) and on bolidays is considered as of the profession, and sometimes eventually charity money, to be applied towards charitable rise to the head of the establishment. They purposes, such as giving dinners to her caste cannot leave their purchasers without consent fellows, or feeding Brahmans, and in case of the latter, and the parties generally live this latter is not attended to, excommunica- harmoniously together. They exchange the tion follows. This is not made known to the appellation of mother and daughter and party excommunicated till the heads of the support each other; sometimes the girl's caste, when invited for any ceremony, refuse to liberty is purchased by an admirer. At others, go to her house, and when asked the reason from rivalry, ill-treatment, or attachment to a tell her what her offence was, and fine her from favourite lover, they abscond, and the master Rs. 150 to Rs. 200. On the fine being paid, becoming a loser in consequence complains to
* V. 25. Read aret; T; Tao. -The word V.30. Read THER. कारापक is unknown to me, and शब्दगुण appears to be V. 31. The of a Thave added.---Originally the used in a sense which it does not convey elsewhere; the sculptor had carved 2.- After this verse there former seems to mean 'active, energetic,' the latter are six more akshams which may be suppo-ed to contain a * learned,' or 'eloquent.'
Mangala, but which I do not understand; they are:
(or a r (or T: IIOII V. 26. Read (9495; 17.-I am particularly
· These Kaldvatis are one of the fourteen precious doubtful about the consonant of the fourth akshara (a) of things or gems obtained from the churning of the ocean. the second line, and about the vowel of the following y.
The names of these fourteen gems are :--Lakshme;
Kaustubha : Parijataka; Suri: Dhanvantari; ChandraV. 29. Read ; Vistal:; *.-The m; Kamadhenu ; _Airavata; Rambhadidëvängand:
Saptimukhiava; Halahala; Haridhinu, otherwise मा of कृता I have added.-भट्ट° might be read भा .
called Surig; Panchajunya ; and Amrita.