Hindu Views on Prostitution:
Prostitution is legal in India, however, this is not a result of the Hindu religion. Unlike today, in ancient India, prostitution was controlled and regulated mostly by women rather than men. Prostitutes were both despised and admired as they used men for wealth and they were admired for their beauty and artistry. The kamasutra is an ancient Hindu book about sex. Scholars all over the world study it and it is known as a book of sex positions. Many people judge Hinduism based on this book and often assume things without real knowledge about the religion, therefore it is a common misconception that Hinduism approves of prostitution. Currently, the problem of prostitution in India is rooted from poverty and crime, not religion. Hinduism doesn’t condemn prostitutes, but it does consider prostitution bad karma and one will suffer from it in another life (reincarnation). People who are prostitutes enter the profession for survival (money) and those who indulge in it are more sinful than those who provide it. According to the Hindu faith, sexual intercourse is not un-divine; however, lust is. Hinduism approves of sex between a married couple for the purpose of procreation, not pleasure. Hindu law forbids men to have sex with unmarried women and maidens against their wish. In ancient Vedic society (in the time when the Vedas was written), women were expected to live under the protection of their husband at all time and were not allowed to be independent. Hinduism is against sex that is against the injunctions of dharma or sex that is harmful to the wellness of an individual, their family and society as a whole.
Although prostitution is a heavily debated topic throughout the world, Hinduism as a religion is very against it.
Although prostitution is a heavily debated topic throughout the world, Hinduism as a religion is very against it.