In Episode 16 of Art Indica with Alka Pande and Nidheesh, we look closely at the history, cultural significance and complicated legacy of the Devadasis—women who were dedicated to temples and served as dancers, musicians, singers, performers and custodians of artistic traditions. The Devadasi tradition was rooted in temple rituals, where music and dance were offered as forms of worship. Across different regions of India, temple women were known by different names and belonged to distinct traditions, including the Maharis of Odisha and the Devadasis of South India. Their artistic practices contributed significantly to the development of classical dance, devotional music, theatre and the visual language of Indian temple architecture. However, the history of the Devadasis cannot be understood only through the ideas of devotion and sacred performance. Over time, the tradition became shaped by patriarchy, caste hierarchies, social stigma, economic control and sexual exploitation. Women who had once held artistic, cultural and sometimes economic authority were increasingly reduced to stereotypes of seduction, scandal and sexual availability. This episode also examines how Devadasis and temple performers were represented in Indian sculpture and architecture. The figures of Surasundaris and Devanganas, seen at temples such as Khajuraho and Konark, embody beauty, adornment, sensuality and movement. These sculptural representations reveal how dance, ornament, eroticism and devotion were embedded in the design of Indian temples. The conversation begins with a Kshetrayya padam dedicated to Muvva Gopala, opening a discussion on the relationship between Shringara Rasa and Bhakti Rasa. Dr Alka Pande explains how erotic longing could become a metaphor for the soul’s desire for union with the divine, particularly through the traditions of Krishna and Radha, Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda and Indian devotional poetry. The episode explores: The origins and meanings of the Devadasi tradition. Devadasis as temple dancers, musicians, singers and cultural custodians. The Mahari tradition of Odisha and the Gotipua dancers. The relationship between temple rituals, dance and architecture. Kshetrayya’s erotic padams and the connection between Bhakti and Shringara. Surasundaris, Devanganas and erotic figures in temple sculpture. Adornment, ornamentation, gesture and the aesthetics of Solah Shringar. Bharatanatyam, the Natya Shastra, Nritta, Nritya and Natya. The relationship between Tandava and Lasya. Caste, patriarchy and the exploitation of Devadasis. The difference between Devadasis, courtesans, Rajadasis and Tawaifs. The colonial gaze and the exoticisation of Devadasis through photography, postcards and ethnographic documentation. The transformation of a sacred artistic tradition into a site of social stigma and commercial exploitation. Through poetry, dance, sculpture, architecture and social history, this episode reflects on the Devadasis’ immense contribution to Indian art and culture—and on the forces that erased, sexualised and misrepresented their legacy. Watch the next episode of Art Indica, where Alka Pande and Nidheesh discuss Ardhanarishvara and the union of Shiva and Shakti. Art Indica with Alka Pande and Nidheesh is a series by Abir Pothi exploring Indian art, aesthetics, mythology, culture and visual history.
