https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2405%3A204%3AA1AA%3A6A52%3AAAAE%3AA0D9%3ACF5E%3A8BC4Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-09-08T10:11:28ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nagarvadhu&diff=63109Nagarvadhu2021-03-03T17:16:42Z<p>2405:204:A1AA:6A52:AAAE:A0D9:CF5E:8BC4: /* Famous Nagarvadhus */</p>
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<div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}<br />
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma, Vasanthasena (Oleographic print).jpg|thumb|Vasantasenā; by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]]]<br />
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'''Nagarvadhu''' or '''Nagar Vadhu''' ([[Devanagari]]: नगरवधू) ("bride of the city") was a tradition followed in some parts of [[History of India|ancient India]].<br />
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Women competed to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, and it was not a taboo.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001224/spectrum/main1.htm Spectrum lead article, ''The Sunday Tribune'', 24 Dec 2000]</ref> The most beautiful and talented (in various [[Indian classical dance|dance forms]]) woman was chosen as the Nagarvadhu.<br />
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A Nagarvadhu was respected like a queen or Goddess, but she was a [[courtesan]]; people could watch her dance and sing.<ref name="uni-sofia">{{cite web|url=http://www.phys.uni-sofia.bg/~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage.html|title=~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage|publisher=phys.uni-sofia.bg|accessdate=2014-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311235716/http://www.phys.uni-sofia.bg/~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage.html|archive-date=2018-03-11|url-status=dead|df=}}</ref> A Nagarvadhu's price for a single night's dance was very high, and she was only within the reach of the very rich – the king, the princes, and the [[lord]]s.<br />
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==Famous Nagarvadhus==<br />
*[[Amrapali]], state courtesan and Buddhist disciple, described in ''Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu'' by [[Acharya Chatursen]]<br />
*[[Vasantasena]], a character in the classic Sanskrit story of ''[[Mricchakatika]]'', written in the 2nd century BC by [[Śūdraka]]<br />
*[[Madhavi (Silappatikaram)|Madhavi]], a character in the classic Tamil story of ''[[Silappatikaram]]'', written in the by [[Ilango Adigal]]<br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Devadasi]]<br />
*[[Deuki]]<br />
* [[Ca trù]], a similar profession in Vietnam<br />
* [[Geisha]], a similar profession in Japan<br />
* [[Kisaeng]], a similar profession in Korea<br />
* [[Tawaif]], a similar profession in India<br />
* [[Yiji]], a similar profession in China<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Prostitution in India}}<br />
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[[Category:Ancient Indian women]]<br />
[[Category:Indian courtesans| Nagarvadhu]]<br />
[[Category:Courtesans by type]]<br />
[[Category:Ancient singers]]<br />
[[Category:Ancient dancers]]<br />
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