Page "Devadasi" Paragraph 15

The beginning of the decline of the Mahari tradition started with the Muslim invasion of Orissa in the 14 < sup > th </ sup > century.

They were exploited and for the first time the Purdah system appeared, ostensibly to guard the women-folk.

The gradual degeneration of the devadasi tradition, which had started since the attack of Sultan Shah in 1360 A. D. continued.

This was because the social, cultural & political scene was changing rapidly and women, in general, were losing their independence and power.