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Abstract
This paper explores M. Mukundan’s “O Prostitutes, A Temple For You,” examining how the short story challenges prevailing perceptions of sex work in India by blurring moral boundaries and questioning societal taboos. Rather than depicting sex workers as immoral or degraded, Mukundan portrays them as sacred, dignified, and possessors of moral strength, critically assessing entrenched beliefs surrounding purity and shame. Set against the backdrops of urban brothels and the historical Devadasi system, the narrative exposes how class, gender dynamics, and social hypocrisy influence who is deemed "immoral." Through detailed scrutiny of significant passages, it contends that Mukundan transforms the experiences of those marginalized into contexts where profound truths arise where empathy, acknowledgment, and authentic human connections illuminate the true essence of holiness.