Halls in the Palace

Apart from the harem and the court-yard that was attached to the king's place it is clear from the numerous references throughout the Kathasaritsagara that it contained many halls, Chambers or apartments. The Kathasaritsagara mentions the (1) Audience-Hall (asthana), (2) Judgement Hall (nyayasabha or mandir, raja-sabha), (3) Concert-Hall (Sange♣ta-Veshma, gandhata shala, or Sangeeta graha), (4) Besting Hall, (5) Drama-Theater (natya veshma or ranga mandapa), (6) Dinning- Hall (bhojana-bhumi or ahara bhumi), (7) Drinking-hall (apana bhumi), and the (1) Bed-Chamber, (2) artificial water-chamber (dharayantragraha), (3) Winter-Chamber (hemanta wasa veshma), (4) Private-Chamber, (5) Lying-in-chamber (adhayastha) and the (6) Pleasure-Pavilion (ambulilagraha) as well as the various other apartments of queens, the princes, princesses and other palace servants. The treasury and other royal offices (adhikaranas are also often mentioned in Kathasaritsagara The specific importance, the purpose, and the movements in these halls and chambers are discussed in the succeeding pages one by one. 1. The audience-Hall (asthana or Samsad) The audience or the assembly halls of many kings are 234 mentioned throughout the Kathasaritsagara The audiance-hall of king Udayana, 235 236 Naravahanadatta, Amitagati, 233. Nirnaya Sagar 12.7.232, 18.3.18-19. 234. Ibid. 4.1.17, 5.1.47, 3.4.28. 235. Ibid. 8.1.3., 15.2.120, 14.3.61, 14.4.125. 236. Ibid. 14.4.1.

237 238 239 75 240 241 Vikramaditya, Satavahana, Lakshadatta, Sumanasa, Udayatunga and many other kings are mentioned. In this hall the king sat on a magnificent throne made of gold (suvarna Simhasana) or at times of ivory (dastidantasana) studded with many jewels and precious stones and strings of 242 243 pearls, surrounded by a band of ministers or vassals, 244 attended by many servants and protected by many bodyguards. He was also at times surrounded by bards and 246 story-tellers. He used to discuss many important matters that confranted him while running the administration and took important decisions. The king also watched intellectual 247 contest sitting in this hall. It is mentioned that in the audience-hall of a certain king his vassals, princes, 248 other kings and ministers were waiting for an interview. Their sitting order was fixed by the king. The ambessadors, 237. Nirnaya Sagar 18.3.5, 18.1.68, 7.4.47, 106. 238. Ibid. 1.8.36. 239. Ibid. 9.3.304-305. 240. Ibid. 10.3.26. 241. Ibid. 12.5.74. 242. Ibid. 14.2.164. 243. Ibid. 5.1.197, 9.3.304, 14.3.61, 14.2.169, 10.7.194, 3.4.28, 18.3.5, 8.6.126, 8.2.126, 8.6.145. 244. Ibid.12.17.23, 14.4.125, 10.3.26. 245. Ibid. 3.2.92. 246. Ibid. 3.6.230, 3.2.85. 247. Ibid. 12.5.74. 248. Ibid. 8.6.126-127.

249 76 messangers, and other officers and his subjects used to call on the king when he was seated in this hall. The king seems to be so much busy in his daily routine in this hall that he is often reminded by his warder of the 250 usual time of his meals or bath and to close the session. 2. The Judgement-Hall (rajasabha, nyaya-sabha or nyayamandir). In the judgement-hall the King sat with his ministers, other judges and officials of the court, hear the cases 251 and give judgement. It is said that Vayupatha, the Vidyadhara president of the court was seated on a jewelled lion-throne surrounded by many Vidyadharas in the judgement hall of King Manasavega where Naravahanadatta was being 252 tried. A king and his ministers laughed in their sleeves i after patently hearing a complaint lodged by a chaplin 253 who entered this hall. At times scenes of excitement were witnessed in this hall. Thus, when the ambassador Suvegaaha of prince Mrigankadatta, called Karmasena, the King of Ujjayini, a fool, there was boasting and the whole 254 court was in a state of excitement. It is mentioned that King Udayana was addressed in this hall (Samsada) by a 249. Nirnaya Sagar 12.34.98, 4.3.17, 12.19.24, 18.1.68, 10.3.26, 6.3.48, 2.9.14, 14.4.125, 15.2.124, 9.2.116, 12.34.328 9.3.304, 10.1.6, 3.6.66. 250. Ibid.6.3.48-4-9, 12.17.23, 29. 12.19.24. 251. Ibid.14.2.163,164, 6.1.29,160, 10.4.232, 12.24.28, 10.5.282. 252. Ibid. 14.2.164. 253. Ibid. 5.1.197. 254. Ibid.12.35.146.

77 woman, accompanied by his queen, who complained regarding 255 the bad treatment given to her by her husband. The court 256 of king Trivikrama sena is also mentioned. The daughter named Kadaligarbha of Simhala King saw King Vikramaditya 257 in his court accompanied by her retinue. Fines and punishment ordered by kings when the cases were decided. were A 3. Concert-Hall (Sangeeta-Veshma Gandharvashala or Sangeeta-graha). d Sining and dancing was considered as a sort of amusement in which ancient Kings used to indulge. Kings from the Kathasaritsagara are mentioned as having concert-hall in their g palace where they used to watch sining and dancing performances in the company of their favourite queens, 259 260 ministers and other persons. The concert-hall of King Harivara in which the teacher named Ladhavara taught dancing to queen Mnangaprabha is mentioned. The concertonce hall in which Naravahanadatta taught music lessons to Madanamunchaka is said to be in the middle of a garden 261 The music-hall of King (Uddyanavartini Sagesta-Veshma ). Mahasena of Ujjayini is also referred to. Udayana, when 255. Nirnaya Sagar 4.3.17. 256. Ibid.12.8.26. 257. Ibid. 18.2.66. 258. Ibid.l.5.114, 9.4.115, 12.21.33,42, 18.3.30-31. 259. Ibid. 9.2.284, 265, 270, 9.5.92, 12.4.75, 6.8.170. 8.6.14. 260. Ibid. 9.2.265-266. 261. Ibid. 6.8.170.

78 he was his capitve is mentioned to have taught music to Vasavadatta in this hall where goddess Saraswati was 262 warshipped every day. worshi Again the concert-hall of King Meghamalin wherein his daughter Hamsavali taught by professor Darduraka was to exhibit her dancing skill, 263 is mentioned. 4. Resting-Hall In between his daily duty hours it was necessary for the king to take rest and refresh himself. The necessity, therefore, of a rest-room was felt when he wanted to repose after his usual meals. Many Kings from the Kathasaritsagara are said to have rest-rooms in their palace. Private interviews were granted in these rooms. It is said that prince Sundersena of the Nishade country granted an interview to a female ascetic in such a hall after 264 he had said his daily prayers and taken meals. It appears that at times the king used to consult his ministers and queens when resting in this hall. Thus Udayana is mentioned to have consulted his chief minister Yaugandha - 265 rayana when he was in this hall. 262. Nirnaya Sagar 2.4.62. 263. Ibid. 12.4.76-77. 264. Ibid.12.34.65. 265. Ibid. 6.7.86.

79 5. The Drama-Theater (Natya-Veshma-Ranga-mandapa). Drama-Theater The king used to amuse himself sitting in this theater and watching the prformances of troops of dancers, singers or actors. He was often accompanied by his favourite queen, ministers and relations. The drama theater in the palace of King Harivara is mentioned. Labdhavara, a professor of drama was appointed by him, 266 as an instructor. Lasaka and his daughter Lasyavati are also said to have performed a drama before King 267 Ugrabhata. Again an old traveller is said to have entered 268 the drama-theater of King Meghamalin. 6. Dining-Hall (bhojana-bhumi, ahara-bhumi) Generally the king appears to be taking his meals 269 in the company of his queens, sons, daughters and special invities. Naturally a dining-hall was necessary to which the kitchen and a store-house was attached. Special dinners on festival days were also arranged in these halls. It is mentioned that a certain king was informed by his servant that the time for his meals (ahara samaya) has approached, since the usual conch was blown, he should 270 enter his dining-hall. Also the dining-hall in the palace 2661 Nirnaya Sagar 9.2.265-266. 267. Ibid. 12.4.72-74. 268. Ibid. 4.3.17. 269. Ibid. 15.12.B 31-132, 10.1.49-50, 10.3.89, 102. 270. Ibid. 6.3.48-49, also 6.2.48, 10.7.94. 1

80 of the Vidyadhara King Padmakuta in which he was waiting 271 for his daughter for meals is mentioned. And again the dining-hall of Naravahavdatta in which he gave a feast to his relations is mentioned. It was strewn with coverlets and curtains and screens. All kinds of delicacies were served here. Various vinds were provided in many 272 dishes to the relations and invities. 7. Drinking-Hall (apana-bhumi) Drinking bouts (panamangalam) were a favourite habit of the kings mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara King Udayana, King Naravahadatta and many other kings are mentioned to be 273 drinking wine in company of their queens. Great drinking parties were also arranged on special occasions. It is said that a feast was arranged by Naravahayadatta to celebrate the remnion of his relations after he became the emperor of the Vidyadharas. In this gathering all the members first assembled in a hall and then as per the instructions of Ruchideva the Chief-Warder entered the splendid drinking-hall. It was strewn with many flowers and coverlets and goblets made of various jewels and crowded with ladies with jugs full of intoxicating liquor. The goblets were of the hue of the lotus. All the relations 271. Nirnaya Sagar 10.3.33,102. 72. Ibid. 15.2.132-132. 73. Ibid. 7.2.67, 14.2.50,52, 4.2.52, 7.5.202, 3.4.26,27. 3.6.230/1, 6.7.13. 4.3.37. j

274 81 275 drank till they were intoxicated. King Ratnadhipati and his queen Rajadatta also drank wine in one such hall.