Note 27 — Chapter VII · TREE AND SERPENT WORSHIP.

Bhávinis follow the occupation of a maid-servant in the temple, but their real occupation is that of public women. They are not scorned by the public. On the contrary, they are required to be present at the time of a marriage to tie the marriage-string—Mangalsutra—of a bride, for they are supposed to enjoy perpetual unwidowhood—‘Janma suwásini.’ Some of the houses of Bhávinis become the favourite resorts of gamblers and vagabonds. In the absence of a daughter, a Bhávini purchases a girl from a harlot, and adopts her as her daughter to carry on her profession.27