Kathasaritsagara (cultural study)
by S. W. Chitale | 1975 | 109,498 words
This essay studies the Kathasaritsagara reflecting the history and cultural traditions of that period in Ancient India. The Katha-sarit-sagara, written by Somadeva, is a vast collection of nearly 350 stories compiled into 18 books. It holds immense cultural significance by reflecting diverse aspects of medieval Indian society, encompassing various ...
The King’s Harem and Queens
Most of the kings from the Kathasaritsagara appear to be polygamous and therefore are said to have a big harem (antapura) 404 in their palace. It probably occupied a large space. It the 405 was well built and guarded throughout day and night. It was occupied by many ladies whose number at times appears 406 It may be said that it was convential to be very high. on to mention a big number and therefore need not be taken as true. But these ladies in the harem were quite distinguished from the one who was the chief queen. She commanded and enjoyed a respectable status in the palace ' 401. Nirnaya Sagar 12.4.81, 9.5.37, 9.1.135. 402. Ibid. 9.1.130. 403. Ibid. 6.3.48,49, 12.17.23-24, 6.2.48. 404. Ibid. 14.1.6, 7.1.90-91, 5.1.36, 7.1.132, 7.2.21, 14.2.160, 9.5.53, 2.5.57, 3.4.193, 7.5.4,8, 12.36.119, 7.5.24, 7.2.34. 405. Ibid. 1.5.36, 3.4.193, 9.5.4, 10.8.50, 14.1.15, 12.7.243. 406. Ibid. 12.1.5, 1.6.167, 16.2.67, 3.4.79, 9.2.358,7.1.23, Mana solahasa mentions that the king should marry a gril of Kshatriya linage, young and beautiful, having good manners, bearing auspicious marks on her body. For his secondary wives he should select young and beautiful women of Vaishya and Sudra castes and further engage Vilasinis, Mujumdar R.C. op.cit. Vol.V, p.479.
101 and moved with the king as his chief-queen in public, at government functions and accompanied him in all his religious duties. She was the mother of the heir-apparent and therefore also occupied a unique position in the seraglio. The Kathasaritsagara is full of evidence showing the various names by which these chief-queens have been mentioned. 407 408 409 410 They are seferred to as Devi, Mahadevi, Mahesi, Rajnai, 411 412 413 Mahe 414 Rajamahadevi, Rajamahosi, Addyamdevi, Maheshirajmi, 416 Agraneahesi, and Murdhanyadevi. It is difficult to exactly differenciate between these titles and to arrive at a conclusion about their meaning. It is also difficult to indicate the status or the position of a queen if once she is mentioned as Devi, again Mahadevi and again called as Maheshi or Adyandevi at a third place. Somedeva has mentioned the queen of a certain king by there different titles on different occasions and has thus made our work more difficult, e.g. the two 407. Nirnaya Sagar 4.2.22,4.3.17, 7.1.28, 12.7.74, 2.6.76, 6.5.54, 16.1.56, 12.22.5, 12.34,45, 7.8.140, 7.5.43, 8.8.54. 408. Ibid. 12.16.7, 12.18.12, 18.4.106, 7.5.33, 17.1.14, 1.5.29, 3.3.43, 16.2.7, 17.6.14. 409. Ibid. 12.4.231, 6.4.176, 2.5.72, 9.4.234, 9.1.16,68.83. 410. Ibid. 12.18.5, 2.6.73, 6.1.55, 7.7.4, 5.2.177. 411. Ibid. 10.9.99. 412. Ibid. 10.9.11. 413. Ibid. 12.1.3,5. 414. Ibid. 1.7.113. 415. Ibid. 6.4.65, 9.2.263. 416. Ibid. 16.3.18. MH) UNIVERS 103378 LIBRARY
102 queens namely Vasavadatta and Padmavati of King Udayana 417 418 419 have been mentioned as Mahesi, Devi, Rajni, Vasavadatta 420 alone is called as Devi, while Padmavati is called as 421 422 Mahadevi. Again Vasavatta is mentioned as Agramahesi. Also both the queens of King Ugrabhatta are mentioned as 423 Devi. Also the two queens of King Parityagasena are called 424 Devi. The three queens of King Dharmadhanaja are also 425 called as Rajnis. The title 'Devi' probably appears to have been used to mean a queen. Rajni indicates the queen of a Raja i.e. king. Titles like Rajamahadevi, Mahadevi, Rajameshi, and Mahesi appear to be that of the queen of an emperor. While titles like Adyam devi, Agramest, and Murdhanyadevi suggest possibly the head-queen. 426 It is mentioned that Chandralekha 427 was the head-queen of King Chandravaloka. The title Mahasirani probably indicates the chief queen among many other queens or the First-queen. 417. Nirnaya Sagar 6.1.4. 418. Ibid. 5.1.2, 6.5.64. 419. Ibid. 2.6.63. 420. Ibid. 6.1.7. 421. Ibid. 6.5.65, 6.8.53. 422. Ibid. 6.4.65. 423. Ibid. 12.7.44, 74. 424. Ibid. 7.8.54. 425. Ibid. 12.18.5. Kings wives and cocumbines mentioned as belonging to this very same period by Mujumdar are (1) Chief-queen (Mahesi or Mahadevi), (2) The queen (devi) (3) Honourary lady (parivrita), (4) The dearly beloved-lady (vavata) and (5) The lady who is not the daughter of a king (swamini) op.cit. vol.V, p.479. 426. According to Panani the Maheshi was jointly crowned with the king and paid an yearly allowance of 48000 Panas, Agarwar V.S. op. cit., p.406-407. 427. Nirnaya Sagar 16.318. .
103 From the various references from Kathasaritsagara it appears that the Mahadevi used to occupy the left-half portion of the lion-throne of the emperor when he was consecreted. It is said that along with Naravahanadatta his queen Madanamumchaka was also consecreated and she occupied the left half partion of the imperial lion-throne. The chief-queen Shashankawati 429 kawati was consecreated with Mrigankadatta. The chief queen of Suryaprabha was coronated with 430 him. The titles such as Mahadevi and Mahesi were probably used for the queen who was also crowned with an emperor. The kings from the Kathasaritsagara appear to be free to bring in their harem any number of new girls irrespective of .431 caste or class. With the new additions to his harem the position of the chief-queen was always shaky and therefore it appears that it was not held permanently by one lady or was not reserved for one. It must depend on the fancy and whim of the king. This gets corroboration in case of many kings from the Kathasaritsagara who appear to be pleased with a girl or a lady for her beauty or other special qualities and after marrying her are said to have given her the position of a chief-queen. It is said that a Satavahana king exalted the daughter of Vishnumati to the position 428. Nirnaya Sagar 2.1.15. 429. Ibid. 8.7.203-208. 430. Ibid. 15.2.66-68/2. 431. Ibid. 9.4.232, 3.4.79, 16.2.59, 1.6.67, 9.2.358.
of head-queen and anointed her for she helped him to 432 acquire learning. 104 King Sagaravarman fell in love with Anangaprabha and married and at once raised her to the 433 position of a Mahadevi. It is also mentioned that King Adityasena of Ujjayini married the beautiful daughter Tejaswita of a Brah ta of a Brahmin named Gunavarma and atonce raised Tejasyfita her to the position of the chief-queen. for she was fit 434 for that rank. At times a lady in due course of time attained the position of a head-queen. Anangaprabha is thus mentioned to have become the chief queen of King 435 Harivara in due course of time. And again we have the example of Madana sundari, the daughter of the king of Kundina who was given a turban of honour and was made his 436 chief-queen by King Kanakavarsha. At times by the wish of god a lady was raised to the position of a chief-queen. Thus it is said that at the wish of god Siva, Kamachudamani, the mahadevi of King Suryaprabha was consecreted and made the Chief-queen above 437 all his wives. It appears that, at times, the chief queen 432. Nirnaya Sagar 1.6.167. 433. Ibid. 9.2.358. 434. Ibid. 3.4.79. 435. Ibid. 9.2.263. 436. Ibid. 9.5.237. 437. Ibid. 8.7.127, 207.
105 accompanied the king or the emperor to the battle-field. But if the king was defeated and his head-queen caught by the enemy her plight was miserable. Marriage was the solution. It is said that Yesholekha, the Mahadevi of the King Pratapasena accompanied him on the battle-field, was caught by King Chamarabala and was afterwards forced 438 to marry him. Even though the chief-queen occupied a unique position and respectable status in the palace she does not appear to be enjoying much freedom in the world outside for the palace. This was necessary the maintenance of royal dignity and honour. It is said that King Yogananda of Pataliputra saw his chief queen (Mahadevi) talking to a Brahmin from the window of his palace. The king got annoyed and gave orders at once to execute the poor Brahmin. It is interesting to note that at times the kings from Kathasaritsagara are mentioned by the positions which were held by their queens. Thus King Kadalidatta is called as Mahesisakha since his queen is mentioned as Mahesi and 441 King Satavahana is also mentioned as Mahesirajnja. The 439 ja X) + 438. Nirnaya Sagar 9.4.232-234. 439. Ibid. 1.5.14. 440. Ibid. 6.3.41. 441. Ibid. 1.7.113.
106 king had absolute power over all his queens. In spite of his having a big harem the king had connections with ladies outside the harem. It is mentioned that a certain king 442 had illegal connection with a barber's wife.