Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Hinduism A girl that underwent Hindu religious practice in which they would be "married" to a deity. In addition to taking care of the temple, she learned and practiced Bharatanatyam and other classical Indian arts traditions, and enjoyed a high social status.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Sanskrit देवदासी (devá-dāsī, "female servant of a deity"), from देव (devá, "deity, god") and दासी (dāsī, "a female servant or slave").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word devadasi.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • n. (pl. -sis) a hereditary femal dancer and courtesan in a Hindu temple.

    Origin from Sanskrit devadasi, literally 'female servant of a god.'

    April 26, 2020