Recasting the Devadasi: Patterns of Sacred Prostitution in Colonial South India

This book seeks to explore certain hitherto unexplored issues relating to sacred prostitution in a historical perspective. It attempts to analyze significant issues such as the identity and sexuality of the Devadasi, as this custom encompasses women from distinct cultural groups, within a pluralistic cultural context. In doing so the author deconstructs the monolithic identity of the sacred prostitute and thus, locates the varied manifestations of this custom. Of concern in this endeavour is the location of the custom, which is intrinsically linked to cultural hegemony and the mode of production. The work focuses on colonial south India especially Kannada and Telugu speaking regions.