Medieval Indian devotional mystical texts included representations at love between women. These do not necessarily represent societal approval of lesbian relationships and typically frame the sakhi or female friend as an adjunct and assistant to the primary relationship with a man or god. In this the sakhi functions like a mirror of the self.
sakhi
(Sanskrit?) - A term used in medieval Indian mystical texts for the role of a female friend who assists in the relationship to a (male) god or other male figure. Not a term implying lesbian sexuality but one that often covers deep emotional bonds. (To the best of my knowledge the superficial resemblence to the Arabic sahq is coincidental.)
