Antahpura

The antahpura (Sanskrit: अन्तःपुर, romanized: Antaḥpura), also rendered anthapura, was the women's quarters or the royal harem of an Indian palace.^[1] 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.^[2][3] It consisted of the king's queens and concubines and was headed by his first queen, who was accorded the highest status.^[4]

Several palaces in India contain the antahpura, such as the ones of Hampi and Mysore.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] The consorts of Dasharatha each had their own apartment in his antahpura in Ayodhya.^[8]

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.^[9]

The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna sending a Brahmana to send a message to Rukmini in her antahpura in Vidarbha before their elopement.^[10]

See also

• Women-only space

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.