This activity is the main purview of religious figures known as devadasis, who are supposed to adopt their replacements and who are considered the personifications of Jagganatha's wife Lakshmi.
The Hebrew scriptures mention practitioners of this activity, referring to them as qodesh and qedushah depending on their gender. This activity is the main purview of religious figures known as devadasis, who are supposed to adopt their replacements and who are considered the personifications of Jagganatha's wife Lakshmi. In Greek religion, this activity was called hierodouleia, which translates as "sacred service." A third-gender Indian group which is often coerced into this non-dance practice are devotees of the goddess Bahuchara Mata known as hijra. Its older practitioners were the ishtaritu, or female servants of the goddess Ishtar, who did this to the king to demonstrate the fertility of the land. For 10 points, identify this widespread cultic practice which involves providing sexual services to worshippers.
The Hebrew scriptures mention practitioners of this activity, referring to them as qodesh and qedushah depending on their gender.
sacred prostitution [or sex priesthood, or being sex priestesses; accept anything that indicates provision of sexual services before "sex" is mentioned; prompt "sex"]