What is meant by Jogini system Explain with examples?

‘Jogini’, ‘Devadasi’ or ‘Mathamma’ are terms used to describe a girl committed to theogamy, or in other words, who is ‘married’ to a deity when she reaches puberty, and spends her entire life being sexually exploited by the deity’s priests or devotees. ( 1-3).

What was the name of slavery system prevalent in Telangana?

In the religious land of India, in the hearts of the bifurcated southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, there exists the exploitative custom of ritual sexual slavery—the Jogini system (a local variation of the Devadasi system) of marrying young girls to a deity.

What is Jogini system that is prevailing in the society?

The centuries-old jogini system is still prevalent in the State capital. This startling revelation came from Ashraya, an NGO working in Hyderabad, at an interactive meeting organised by the government-appointed commission to study the problems faced by joginis, at the Collectorate on Friday.

What is devdasi practice?

Devadasi system is a religious practice whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty. In recent decades, the practice has been used to push young girls into prostitution.

What do you mean by Devadasi?

In Southern India, a devadasi was a female artist who was dedicated to worship and serve a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. As a result, Devadasis were left without their traditional means of support and patronage and were now commonly associated with temple prostitution.

What is devdasi pratha?

According to temple worship rules, or (Agamas), dance and music are the necessary aspects of daily puja for temple deities. Devadasis were known by various local terms such as basivi in Karnataka, matangi in Maharashtra, and kalavantin in Goa and Damaon.

Do Devadasis marry?

These Devadasis are married to a temple before they even hit puberty, that is at the age of ten or twelve, and they remain loyal to the goddess that they worship for the rest of their lives. They do not get married again or commit themselves to one man or one relationship.

Is devadasi a caste?

Devadasi is sometimes referred to as a caste (varna); however some question the accuracy of this usage. “According to the devadasi themselves there exists a devdasi ‘way of life’ or ‘professional ethic’ (vritti, murai) but not a devadasi jāti (sub-caste).

Do devadasis still exist?

The Devadasi system was formally outlawed in all of India in 1988, although some Devadasis still practice the system illegally.

What is Jogini conversion in Telangana?

Hyderabad: Just last month, the district administration in Nizamabad, Telangana, rescued a 25-year-old woman from being converted into a ‘jogini’, or the victim of an illegal practice that pushes women into sex slavery under the veil of faith. The woman is a member of the Madiga community, which is classified as a Scheduled Caste (SC) in Telangana.

Where was Jogini practiced before it was declared illegal in Telangana?

Nizamabad was one of the districts in Telangana where the Jogini system was practiced before it was declared illegal. The practice of Jogini was banned in 1988 in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. Along with Nizamabad the erstwhile districts of Mahabubnagar, Adilabad, Medak and Warangal, were the worst affected.

What is the Jogini practice in India?

Jogini is an illegal practice, where women mostly from marginalised Dalit-Bahujan communities are “married to a deity.” After being converted into a Jogini, they lose agency over their bodies and are free to be sexually exploited by men in the village under the garb of faith.

Who is Nizamabad Jogini?

A 25-year-old woman from Bodhan in Nizamabad, Telangana was rescued from being made into a ‘Jogini’ — a religious sex slave. The woman who was rescued 10 days ago by the district administration, got married in the presence of officials on Friday.