Royal Transport (for journeys or excursions)

Whenever on a long journes or on an excursion outside the palace, the king and the royal family were followed 551 by a big entourage with pomp. Bards accompanied members of the royal family, while princesses were escorted by elderly servants and companions as is clear from the Kathasaritsagara Apart from horse and chariot, the vehicles and animals employed by the members of the royal family were elephant, camel, comfortable carriage and palanquin carried by men. From the evidence of Kathasaritsagara it seems that elephant and chariot were also employed for long distances while palanquin was specially meant for excursions. 547. Nirnaya Sagar 6.3.24. 548. Ibid. 3.3.36,38. 549. Ibid. 7.1.33, 550. Ibid. 9.3.94. 551. Ibid. 16.1.24, 18.3.20, 5.1.84.

131 The Kathasaritsagara refers to examples of air-plane, flown with mechanical device being in the service of King Naravahanadatta and most of the Vidyadharas. They were built by carpenters. It is mentioned that Naravahanadatta went to a city named Karpura sambhava erossing the sea sitting in an ingenous chariot with a pneumatic contrivance 552 built by Rajadhara, a carpenter of Kamchi. Princess Padmavati is also said to have gone to, a temple and 553 returned back seated on a mechanical bird. The Kathasaritsagara records prevalence of journey and excursions in a boat in the case of fordable rivers like Narmada. Journey to distant lands in ships is also mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara Elephants The king moved in his capital sitting on an elephant which was decorated. Distant journey was performed by 554 mounting on an elephant. It is mentioned that King Udayana came to Kaushambi from Lavanaka sitting on a 555 female elephant. A prince went from Pushkalavati to Ahichchattra on an elephant and again king Vikramaditya and king Prithav✓rypa are said to have employed an 557 elephant for a distant journey. 552. Nirnaya Sagar 12.34.136, 4.3.40, 2.3.5, 6.8.188, 3.6.121, 3.5.115, 9.5.40, 6.2.90, 17.4.73, 6.2.42, 3.2.3. 553. Ibid. 17.4.21,68. 554. Ibid. 16.1.79, 3.4.87, 12.34.167. 555. Ibid. 3.4.6. 556. Ibid. 6.2.120. 557. Ibid. 18.2.275, 9.1.194.

132 The king went for hunting generally mounting on an elephant. Kings are also seen moving on the battefield with their queens and taking distant journeys mounting on swift elephants bearing the royal insignia of Chchattra and Chamara. It is mentioned that King Mahavaraha went for hunting 558 mounting on an elephant and King Udayana is described as moving on the battlefield and was conspicious because of his spicious elephant which had a white chchattra above him. (Sitenataptrena), and again King Privthirupa came to Pratisthana from 560 the sea shore sitting on a swift elephant. Horses The Kathasaritsagara describes the use of horses as means of transport by the members of the royal family. The se horses were caparisoned and had a saddle, bridle and foot holds. They were used for distant journey and on the 561 battle-field. It is stated that King Kanakavarsha mounted 562 on a horse and went to Kundrinapura. Ladies of the royal family also went out sitting on horse back. It is mentioned that Anangprabha the head queen of King Harivara went out 563 of the palace sitting on a horse-back and also the daughter of King Buddhiprabha went to the city of Ratnakara sitting 564 on a horse. 558. Nirnaya Sagar 9.2.125. 559. Ibid. 3.4.6, 3.5.63. 560. Ibid. 9.1.194. 561. Ibid. 3.4.88, 102. 562. Ibid. 9.5.98. 563. Ibid. 912.276,273. 564. Ibid. 10.10.66.

Chariots (Syandanas) 133 Kings used to go for hunting seated in a chariot. King Shatanika and Naravahadatta went out for hunting 566 565 sitting in a chariot and again King Hariyara as well. 567 But King Chandraprabha is mentioned 567 pilgrimage sitting in a charid. Camels to have set out for Camels were also employed by the king and members of the royal family for quick transport. Thus we find that King Surasena went to his native place seated on a 568 Camel and again Muktaphalaketu, the Vidyadhara prince, is also mentioned to have gone to a temple of Durga 569 mounting on a heavenly camel. Palanquin, Sivikas or Karnirathas According to Kathasaritsagara a palanquin was used by rich but mostly by the members of the royal family for near as well as distant journey. Kathasaritsagara also mentions mechanical palanquins used for quick transport. The palanquin in gli which Naravahanadatta went to the Vidyadhara King Vayupatha, with his wives and ministers, was a specious 570 one and went through the air, flown with mechanical drive. 565. Nirnaya Sagar 2.3.45, 9.4.6. 566. Ibid. 9.2.212, 125. 567. Ibid. 12.26.99, 73,83,84,88. 568. Ibid. 16.1.42. 569. Ibid. 17.4.131. 570. Ibid. 15.2.102 and 103.

134 On yet another occasion he went to the land of the Siddhas through the air in a splendid palanquin, with his wives 571 and ministers. "Carriages (Vahanas) Comfortable carriages (Sukha vahanam) were used by the members of royal family especially by ladies for distant journey. It is mentioned that Vasavadatta reached Lavanaka sitting in a comfortable carriage drawn by 572 horses. Boats and Ships Boats were used to cross fordable rivers while kings and their ambassadors and members of royal family went to distant lands seated in ships accompanied by a 573 big entourage with pomp. King Privthirupa of Pratisthana is said to have gone to the island of Muktipura with a big entourage and members of royal family in seven ships 574 and returned back.