FEMALE IMAGES IN THE ARTHASASTRA OF KAUTILYA 53 Kautilya informs that women of such low status communities as wandering minstrels (caranas), dancers (talavacaras), fishermen (matsyd), hunters (lubdhakas), cowherds (gopalakas) and sellers of women are uncontrolled (prasrsta). Their accompanying a man, apparently with carnal intentions, is no offence unless specifically prohibited. If so, in that case a fine amounting to half of that stipulated in the case of an upper caste woman shall be imposed on the parties concerned (III.2.22-23). The occupation of all these communities required greater freedom of movement for their women, for apart from performing other chores, the women of fisher folk, cowherds and hunters must have carried their products to market or door-to-door for sale. They represent the counterpart of the aniskasini women mentioned earlier; and Kautilya exhibits a typically gendered upper-caste view of these communities. As for the women of actors (natas), dancers (nartakas), singers, musicians (gayana-vadaka)^ story-tellers (vakjivana), bards (kustlavas], rope-dancers (plavaka), showmen (saubhikta) and wandering minstrels (caranas), Kautilya lays down that same rules will be applicable to them as to the ganikas (courtesans). Kautilya looks upon prostitution as an occupation and mentions several categories of prostitutes, ganika, pratiganika, rupajiva, pumscali, bandhaki, etc. He devotes one chapter of Book II to discuss the duties of ganikadhyaksa, the Superintendent of Courtesans and rules regarding women following this profession. Ganika was no ordinary prostitute but had a state appointed institutionalized position. She was to receive a salary of one thousand panas as her family-establishment (kutumba). In case she ran away or died her mother had to provide a temporary courtesan or pratiganika, who was to receive only half the family-establishment, perhaps till such time that a new ganika was appointed. A ganika could come from the family of ganikas or from some other family but she had to be endowed with beauty, youth and expertise in arts* It is held that she was appointed primarily for attending on the king, fanning him or carrying the water-jug for him, holding the umbrella over his head and accompanying him on processions (II.27.1-4, Kangle, II, p. 164). She was also obliged to entertain men at the command of the king; refusal would entail 'one thousand strokes with the whip, or a fine of five thousand panas' (11.27.19). Thus although a ganika had access to arts and wealth,she was not free to follow her own inclinations and her dealings were strictly regulated. Nevertheless, violence against her was severely punishable. It is decreed (11.27.14f) that if a man