Draft:Rudrakanyas


Rudrakanyas are one of the sects of Shaivism and Shaktism and consists of women who have dedicated themselves to the service of Shiva and Parvati through dancing. Skanda Purana describes them as the daughters of Shiva and Parvati born out of the divine admiration shown by the rishis and rishikas of Devatāruvana towards Shiva and Parvati.[1][2]

They have been one of the eminent pillars of Shaivism and Shaktism and responsible for much of the development of art and keeping the science of Natya Shastra alive.[3] In the past century they have been subject to much abuse and character assassination where they had been wrongly portrayed as prostitutes and courtesans due to one off references in some texts while they were anything but monastic nuns and a religious order. [4]

  1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-10-30). "Rudrakanya, Rudrakanyā, Rudra-kanya: 2 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  2. ^ GV, Tagore (annotation and translation) (1992). "Chapters 44, pp 66-72, Chapters 229, pp 9-15". The Skanda-Purāṇa. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0966-6.
  3. ^ Swaminathan, London (2022-07-30). Stories Of Tamil Devadasis & Dance Dramas In Rig Veda. Pustaka Digital Media.
  4. ^ Deshpande, N. A. (1991). The Padma-purāṇa. Ancient Indian tradition & mythology series (Reprint ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 1408. ISBN 978-81-208-0479-1.