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Antahpura

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(Redirected from Anthapura) Women's quarters of an Indian palace

The antahpura (Sanskrit: अन्तःपुर, romanized: Antaḥpura), also rendered anthapura, was the women's quarters or the royal harem of an Indian palace. It was the suite of apartments that were generally situated in a secluded portion of the palace, reserved for the women of the royal household. It consisted of the king's queens and concubines and was headed by his first queen, who was accorded the highest status.

Several palaces in India contain the antahpura, such as the ones of Hampi and Mysore.

Literature

Arthashastra

The Arthashastra describes the antahpura to be guarded by eunuchs and include a number of apartments, one within the other. It is stated to comprise a parapet, a ditch, and a main door. The passage of commodities from and to these apartments are stated to be restricted, only allowed within after careful examination.

Hindu literature

Antahpuras are featured in Hindu texts.

The Ramayana describes the antahpura of the rakshasa king Ravana in Lanka, where he has Sita housed and guarded. The consorts of Dasharatha each had their own apartment in his antahpura in Ayodhya.

The goddess Mahakali is described to reside in the antahpura of her palace in Manidvipa, where she is described to sleep with her consort, Mahashiva.

The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna sending a Brahmana to send a message to Rukmini in her antahpura in Vidarbha before their elopement.

See also

References

  1. Turner, R. L. (1999). A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-208-1665-7.
  2. Feminism and Indian realities by K A Kunjakkan. New Delhi: Mittal Publications, 2002. chapter on "Women during the Vedic age"
  3. Walker, Benjamin (9 April 2019). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-429-62465-0.
  4. The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Hinduism ( 2 Vol Set)(gnv 64). p. 44.
  5. Early Indian secular architecture by K Krishna Murthy. Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan, 1987. p.113 and following.
  6. Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 502. ISBN 978-81-7022-375-7.
  7. Daalen, L. A. Van (2004). Valmiki's Sanskrit. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 155. ISBN 978-81-208-1925-2.
  8. Guruge, Ananda W. P. (1991). The Society of the Ramayana. Abhinav Publications. p. 96. ISBN 978-81-7017-265-9.
  9. Van (13 September 2013). India & Beyond. Routledge. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-136-82114-1.
  10. Prabhupada, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami; Prabhupada, Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (31 December 1977). Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto: The Summum Bonum. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. p. 2284. ISBN 978-91-7149-643-0.
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