Story Of A Ganika (Prostitute)

Ganika was known as a prostitute who lived in a market in the city. Her looks & youth were sold out in the market in the forms of drawings, paintings & books.

My grandmother once told me this story.

In Ancient India there was a girl named Chandrika and she would get engaged in sexual activity in exchange for money with those who used to knock on her door & longed for copulation(sleeping with her) from her. She had completely sold her body & mind to them but still she was not at any peace she always think that I have every luxurious thing which I want or need, I live like a queen men comes to me to satisfy their sexual thirst and for that I got money but why I am not at peach although I am happy with the work I am doing . Through this consistent dirty work she developed a strong stigma on her for which she was known for. In market on her city sellers used to sell her portrait to get money……

One day a wise man comes to her house at night finding shelter for night along with his beloved parrot. It is said that this Wise man named Nanda arrived there from some remote place(out of that city) having no idea of who Ganika was…

Since it was raining very badly at that night… this wise man sees his beloved parrot almost dying from the coldness of the rain… (“this parrot is beloved to him as because it’s chirping always kind of remind him of Lord Rama’s name”). He picked up the cage(with the parrot inside) and went in the direction of the city, he also had his luggage in his hand filled with clothes and other stuff. It was night time when he arrived at the city by walking and found no place to stay at. Since it’s the night everyone had their door closed, even after roaming everywhere he didn’t find a place to stay so he kept walking and walking in a hope to find shelter for the night.

Now, he happen to come across the house of Ganika, the light from lamp was running and the door was open… he immediately went inside reciting Lord Rama’s name. Ganika was very happy to see him, she thought that she had a customer even in these stormy rainy night, she was in the impression that he would pay money to her in the deal with her body.

She said “come in, look into my eyes,my name is Chandrika I was waiting for you”.

The wise man was very stunned after hearing this words from her and also by seeing her cloth, she was wearing very reveling cloth.

The wise man said “Daughter” it was raining a lot outside due to which my hut was washed away, I have come to finding shelter with my parrot.

Chandrika’s sinful mind shook with the word ‘daughter’ She shivered once and then spoke desperately “Do you want to stay here tonight”.

The wise man replies “yes, Daughter, we want to stay this night”.

Then the wise man goes on saying “Every Soul is part of Lord and a body is home of Soul… To shelter the body, is to walk on a noble path. ‘Daughter!’.

Lord has given you all the means of happiness. You must have been praying to him(Lord). The wise man in his natural behavior kept on speaking fluently… His Soul was indeed pure…

But Chandrika, she began to panic after hearing the words of the Sage. She was impure(unholy), she panicaly asks “are you a Sage?”.

On which the wise man replies,Yes, ‘my name is Nanda and I am a sage’ my Lord lead my path in becoming a Sage.

Chandrika Said “You are a Sage, a devotee of Lord! Please come…. Sit down and change your wet clothes and wear other clothes”. For the first time in her life, Chandrika has got an opportunity to serve the Sage. Saying this, She lit a fire for Sage and his parrot, when they got warm and started feeling good themselves, the parrot started taking the name which kind of specifically sounds like Ram according to his habit. (Which is the holy name of Lord Narayan)

Chandrika then she asked the Sage “Will you have food?”.

One which Sage replies of course, daughter!, I am hungry and along with me my parrot is hungry too and again said “whatever Lord has written in our destiny, he will give… today or tomorrow It has to be what he desires.”

On hearing him Chandrika says “Accept what I have – but I am a Ganika(a prostitute), who has been in this house for twelve years. I have been fulfilling the happiness and needs of people’s minds. I am impure that’s why this food prepared by me is also impure”. This brought up a seriousness in her face.

The Sage sees, “{Ganika has realized her sinful deeds. Now it’s okay to preach her}”

The Sage then said to Chandrika “Your food will be accepted, this world has an illusion. When an illusion has an effect on a living being, it forgets Lord and get trapped in Lust, anger, desires, temptation and all… it gets away from its path and never remind itself of Lord.”

“There are some people who send others on the wrong path because of their own selfishness.”

Chandrika completely agrees on what Sage said and realizes that some people brought her up on the wrong path, malicious path. She says “I am impure which I realized only from you ‘Sage’ When you called me ‘daughter.’ No matter whether young or old comes to my house, no one has ever called me sister or daughter. Nor do I know who my mother was and who my father was? Just started living like this. It has been raining for two days and they didn’t come who would always come for their selfishness.”

In this way, Chandrika became enlightened. Her body and mind began to tremble. She started to feel as if a great change was coming in her. There was a pain and anguish.

Then the Sage goes saying, Look Daughter! If you had a husband, served him, would have fulfilled your needs of body and mind from only him then you would have had children. For the peace and happiness of your children and husband you had prayed and worshiped God then everyone would have called you Devi.

A living being is known from their deeds and not from their body. Whatever happened so happened, henceforth walk on the right path. God, who has given life, also gives livelihood.

Then Chandrika served the sage a meal, fed the parrot and sat down beneath the feet of the Sage. The Sage’s company changed her mind and made her realize her sins. Then Chandrika learnt and realized some good thoughts from him because before that she never met a person with such thoughts who would put her in right mind of good thinking or thoughts. Since before that she was used to be with people who would come at her door knocking … ‘for the deal with her body to fulfill their sexual needs,’ these people who kept coming throw more filth on her dirty mind.

No, daughter people would condemn both you and me if I stayed at your house, So I need to leave you take care of yourself, Good bye. Saying this, the Sage went away.

Chandrika felt she got peace and after that day she started teaching singing instead of fulfilling others need and devoted herself to God completely. Gradually, she so completely got indulged in God that she was completely oblivious of her surroundings, she lost her hunger and kept singing the “songs of god”.