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Sacred Sins: Devadasis in Contemporary India
WINNER OF THE KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD
In 2008, journalist Arun Ezhuthachan decided to investigate whether the banned dance bars of Mangaluru would continue illegally. What he stumbled upon, however, was an intricate web of old beliefs and new-age oppression - the modern devadasi. Young girls were dedicated to temples, only to end up as mistresses of upper-caste men and abandoned once they were older.
Speaking to locals, NGOs and the devadasis themselves, Arun began to follow the whispered clues to these forsaken women in all corners of India. In rural Karnataka, he meets devadasis clinging to their faith despite intense exploitation; in Kolkata, daughters sold into sex work by their families find no way out; in Vrindavan, ostracized widows congregate to serve God, only to encounter devious predators; and in Puri, the last surviving devadasi reminisces about her time serving Lord Jagannath.
Revealing how the oppression of women continues to be veiled by religion, this explosive journalistic account brings to light an India ridden with casteism, patriarchy and abject poverty. The heart-wrenching stories and shocking revelations of Sacred Sins will leave you dismayed, appalled and blazing for change.
In 2008, journalist Arun Ezhuthachan decided to investigate whether the banned dance bars of Mangaluru would continue illegally. What he stumbled upon, however, was an intricate web of old beliefs and new-age oppression - the modern devadasi. Young girls were dedicated to temples, only to end up as mistresses of upper-caste men and abandoned once they were older.
Speaking to locals, NGOs and the devadasis themselves, Arun began to follow the whispered clues to these forsaken women in all corners of India. In rural Karnataka, he meets devadasis clinging to their faith despite intense exploitation; in Kolkata, daughters sold into sex work by their families find no way out; in Vrindavan, ostracized widows congregate to serve God, only to encounter devious predators; and in Puri, the last surviving devadasi reminisces about her time serving Lord Jagannath.
Revealing how the oppression of women continues to be veiled by religion, this explosive journalistic account brings to light an India ridden with casteism, patriarchy and abject poverty. The heart-wrenching stories and shocking revelations of Sacred Sins will leave you dismayed, appalled and blazing for change.
- GenresNonfiction
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2023
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2025
Can't believe women went through and are still going through so much trouble.
Each and every story mentioned in this book is unacceptable as a woman. The author spent a lot of time and described it well enough, and it is really a good read.
Each and every story mentioned in this book is unacceptable as a woman. The author spent a lot of time and described it well enough, and it is really a good read.
November 23, 2023
An article titled “40 years after ban, Devadasis still shackled to system” in Deccan Herald newspaper dated 9/11/23 made me read this book before I forgot about it in a deluge of new releases. Published in 2016, the book, originally written in Malayalam, is a journalist’s attempt to find information for a Sunday feature, an attempt over 7 long yrs that made him travel places The book won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2019 and is now available in translation, thanks to Meera Gopinath’s efforts.
Chapter after chapter, we are shown how a savage combination of poverty, patriarchy and religion pushes women to become Devadasis (meaning slaves/servants of God) subjecting them to extreme abuse and discrimination. Not allowed to take a husband and give birth to a child (a devadasi’s childbirth is considered a God’s curse), devadasis resort to temple work and begging for alms in daylight and pleasing wealthy, upper caste men at night. As the rich get tired of one, they get a new one from their clan to cater to their needs, the discards are often forced to the streets to sell their bodies to a commoner or die. From Uchangi, Harapanahalli, Kudligi, Saundatti in Karnataka to Peddapuram in Andhra, Puri (Odisha), Ujjain (MP), Vrindavan (UP), Jalangi (WBengal), call these women - jogamma, kalavanthalu, Radha, mujras, their stories either move you to tears or enrage you.
Families that push their daughters to become devadasis as they don’t have the money to feed them & marry them off, yet exercise no birth control; devadasis who try hard to escape the hellhole against those who firmly believe this is their way of life and even take pride in it as it pleases God and safeguards their family and village, people who run this unscrupulous business vs samaritans who risk their lives to end it, NGOs that strive hard to bring a change to sex workers & their children vs those that embezzle funds meant for them, poverty and blind belief that pushes some to this brink in a swanky, rapidly developing nation, laws exist and so do loopholes - Sacred Sins hits you really hard because it seats these glaring opposites side by side, like coy benchmates.
An easily readable, lucidly written, extremely important and revelatory work of non fiction that's hard to digest and difficult to forget.
Rating 4.5* for the niggle that the author who travelled to different states somehow missed out on his home state Kerala and it's neighbour TN.
Chapter after chapter, we are shown how a savage combination of poverty, patriarchy and religion pushes women to become Devadasis (meaning slaves/servants of God) subjecting them to extreme abuse and discrimination. Not allowed to take a husband and give birth to a child (a devadasi’s childbirth is considered a God’s curse), devadasis resort to temple work and begging for alms in daylight and pleasing wealthy, upper caste men at night. As the rich get tired of one, they get a new one from their clan to cater to their needs, the discards are often forced to the streets to sell their bodies to a commoner or die. From Uchangi, Harapanahalli, Kudligi, Saundatti in Karnataka to Peddapuram in Andhra, Puri (Odisha), Ujjain (MP), Vrindavan (UP), Jalangi (WBengal), call these women - jogamma, kalavanthalu, Radha, mujras, their stories either move you to tears or enrage you.
Families that push their daughters to become devadasis as they don’t have the money to feed them & marry them off, yet exercise no birth control; devadasis who try hard to escape the hellhole against those who firmly believe this is their way of life and even take pride in it as it pleases God and safeguards their family and village, people who run this unscrupulous business vs samaritans who risk their lives to end it, NGOs that strive hard to bring a change to sex workers & their children vs those that embezzle funds meant for them, poverty and blind belief that pushes some to this brink in a swanky, rapidly developing nation, laws exist and so do loopholes - Sacred Sins hits you really hard because it seats these glaring opposites side by side, like coy benchmates.
An easily readable, lucidly written, extremely important and revelatory work of non fiction that's hard to digest and difficult to forget.
Rating 4.5* for the niggle that the author who travelled to different states somehow missed out on his home state Kerala and it's neighbour TN.
August 8, 2024
Arun Ezhuthachan’s "Sacred Sins: Devadasis in Contemporary India" is a searing and profound examination of a grave social injustice masked as religious sanctity. Ezhuthachan's work is more than a journalistic endeavor; it is a fierce indictment of a system that perpetuates suffering under the guise of divine service.
The book delves into the harrowing reality faced by women trapped in the Devadasi system, a practice once enshrined in religious tradition but now a form of modern-day slavery. Ezhuthachan’s meticulous research and compassionate storytelling bring to light the grim existence of these women. "The sanctity of the temple has become the cage of their souls," he writes, capturing the cruel irony that a sacred institution has become a site of exploitation.
Ezhuthachan’s investigative journey takes him from the revered temples of Puri to the infamous red-light districts of Kolkata, unraveling the layers of deceit that sustain this oppressive system. His relentless pursuit of truth is evident as he notes, "What is revered in public spaces becomes a breeding ground for the most insidious forms of exploitation."
The book's compelling strength lies in its vivid portrayal of personal stories. Ezhuthachan’s interviews with Devadasis, locals, and activists vividly depict the harsh realities these women face. He recounts the experiences of one Devadasi who laments, "I was offered to the temple, but the devotion that was promised turned into a life of degradation and silence." Such poignant testimonials underscore the human cost of this cruel tradition.
Ezhuthachan's journalistic integrity shines through in his respectful yet unflinching exploration of these issues. His narrative is not merely an exposé but a clarion call for change. By exposing the deep-seated casteism and patriarchy that sustain the Devadasi system, he challenges readers to confront the systemic injustices that persist in modern India. "Sacred Sins" is both a sobering revelation and a powerful appeal for social reform, compelling readers to confront uncomfortable truths and advocate for the dignity and rights of the most vulnerable.
The book delves into the harrowing reality faced by women trapped in the Devadasi system, a practice once enshrined in religious tradition but now a form of modern-day slavery. Ezhuthachan’s meticulous research and compassionate storytelling bring to light the grim existence of these women. "The sanctity of the temple has become the cage of their souls," he writes, capturing the cruel irony that a sacred institution has become a site of exploitation.
Ezhuthachan’s investigative journey takes him from the revered temples of Puri to the infamous red-light districts of Kolkata, unraveling the layers of deceit that sustain this oppressive system. His relentless pursuit of truth is evident as he notes, "What is revered in public spaces becomes a breeding ground for the most insidious forms of exploitation."
The book's compelling strength lies in its vivid portrayal of personal stories. Ezhuthachan’s interviews with Devadasis, locals, and activists vividly depict the harsh realities these women face. He recounts the experiences of one Devadasi who laments, "I was offered to the temple, but the devotion that was promised turned into a life of degradation and silence." Such poignant testimonials underscore the human cost of this cruel tradition.
Ezhuthachan's journalistic integrity shines through in his respectful yet unflinching exploration of these issues. His narrative is not merely an exposé but a clarion call for change. By exposing the deep-seated casteism and patriarchy that sustain the Devadasi system, he challenges readers to confront the systemic injustices that persist in modern India. "Sacred Sins" is both a sobering revelation and a powerful appeal for social reform, compelling readers to confront uncomfortable truths and advocate for the dignity and rights of the most vulnerable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
Sacred Sins written by Arun Ezhuthachan. Arun Ezhuthachan's award-winning book, Sacred Sins, is a gripping and thought-provoking exposé that delves into the lives of modern devadasis, women dedicated to temples and exploited by societal norms. This book is a must-read for its vivid portrayal of the real lives of devadasis and its shocking revelations about the oppression of women in India.
In 2008, journalist Arun Ezhuthachan embarked on an investigation into the banned dance bars of Mangaluru, only to stumble upon a complex web of old beliefs and new-age oppression. Through his interactions with locals, NGOs, and the devadasis themselves, he uncovered the heart-wrenching stories of these forsaken women.
The book takes readers on a journey across India, from rural Karnataka to Kolkata, Vrindavan, and Puri, revealing the shocking truths about devadasis. These women, dedicated to temples, are exploited by upper-caste men and abandoned when they are no longer needed. The book exposes how religion is used to veil the oppression of women, perpetuating casteism, patriarchy, and poverty.
Sacred Sins is more than just a journalistic account; it's a call to action. The book's explosive revelations will leave readers dismayed, appalled, and blazing for change. The English translation ensures that nothing is lost in translation, making it a compelling read for a wider audience.
Sacred Sins is a vital book that sheds light on the dark truths of modern devadasis. Arun Ezhuthachan's investigative journalism and the translator's skillful work make this book a must-read for anyone concerned about social justice and human rights.
In 2008, journalist Arun Ezhuthachan embarked on an investigation into the banned dance bars of Mangaluru, only to stumble upon a complex web of old beliefs and new-age oppression. Through his interactions with locals, NGOs, and the devadasis themselves, he uncovered the heart-wrenching stories of these forsaken women.
The book takes readers on a journey across India, from rural Karnataka to Kolkata, Vrindavan, and Puri, revealing the shocking truths about devadasis. These women, dedicated to temples, are exploited by upper-caste men and abandoned when they are no longer needed. The book exposes how religion is used to veil the oppression of women, perpetuating casteism, patriarchy, and poverty.
Sacred Sins is more than just a journalistic account; it's a call to action. The book's explosive revelations will leave readers dismayed, appalled, and blazing for change. The English translation ensures that nothing is lost in translation, making it a compelling read for a wider audience.
Sacred Sins is a vital book that sheds light on the dark truths of modern devadasis. Arun Ezhuthachan's investigative journalism and the translator's skillful work make this book a must-read for anyone concerned about social justice and human rights.
August 15, 2024
"Sacred Sins" by Arun Ezhuthachan is a book that really shook me. It takes you into the dark realities of traditions that still affect women today. This isn’t just a book—it’s an eye-opener.
The book tells the heartbreaking stories of women who are forced into becoming devadasis, a practice where young girls are dedicated to temples but later face severe exploitation. Arun takes us across India, revealing how these women are trapped by their circumstances, and how their lives are controlled by outdated customs. The stories are tough to read, but they’re important.
Arun Ezhuthachan took on the challenge of exploring difficult and often hidden parts of Indian society in "Sacred Sins." His work is all about giving a voice to those who are often silenced. Arun’s writing is compassionate yet honest, reflecting his commitment to shedding light on the tough realities that many face.
You should read "Sacred Sins" because it’s a book that challenges what we think we know about tradition and religion. It opens your eyes to the injustices that still happen today, and it makes you think about how we can do better as a society.
If you’re looking for a book that’s both powerful and important, "Sacred Sins" is the one. Arun Ezhuthachan has written something that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s a tough read, but one that’s worth every moment.
The book tells the heartbreaking stories of women who are forced into becoming devadasis, a practice where young girls are dedicated to temples but later face severe exploitation. Arun takes us across India, revealing how these women are trapped by their circumstances, and how their lives are controlled by outdated customs. The stories are tough to read, but they’re important.
Arun Ezhuthachan took on the challenge of exploring difficult and often hidden parts of Indian society in "Sacred Sins." His work is all about giving a voice to those who are often silenced. Arun’s writing is compassionate yet honest, reflecting his commitment to shedding light on the tough realities that many face.
You should read "Sacred Sins" because it’s a book that challenges what we think we know about tradition and religion. It opens your eyes to the injustices that still happen today, and it makes you think about how we can do better as a society.
If you’re looking for a book that’s both powerful and important, "Sacred Sins" is the one. Arun Ezhuthachan has written something that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s a tough read, but one that’s worth every moment.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews