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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Women's quarters of an Indian palace}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}<br />
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The '''''antahpura''''' ({{Langx|sa|अन्तःपुर|translit=Antaḥpura}}), also rendered '''''anthapura''''', was the women's quarters or the royal [[harem]] of an Indian palace.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Turner |first=R. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UX_AeDYzhBQC&pg=PA16 |title=A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages |date=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-1665-7 |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>''Feminism and Indian realities'' by K A Kunjakkan. New Delhi: Mittal Publications, 2002. chapter on "Women during the Vedic age"</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Benjamin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6zj3DwAAQBAJ&dq=antahpura&pg=PA427 |title=Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L |date=2019-04-09 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-62465-0 |pages=427 |language=en}}</ref> It consisted of the king's queens and concubines and was headed by his first queen, who was accorded the highest status.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/TheIllustratedEncyclopediaOfHinduism2VolSetgnv64 |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Hinduism ( 2 Vol Set)(gnv 64) |pages=44 |language=English}}</ref><br />
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Several palaces in India contain the ''antahpura'', such as the ones of [[Hampi]] and [[Mysore Palace|Mysore]].<ref>''Early Indian secular architecture'' by K Krishna Murthy. Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan, 1987. p.113 and following.</ref><br />
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== Literature ==<br />
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=== ''Arthashastra'' ===<br />
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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garg |first=Gaṅgā Rām |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WjDcd0cTFxQC&pg=PA502 |title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World |date=1992 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-375-7 |pages=502 |language=en}}</ref> <br />
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=== Hindu literature ===<br />
''Antahpuras'' are featured in [[Hindu texts]]. <br />
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The ''[[Ramayana]]'' describes the ''antahpura'' of the [[rakshasa]] king [[Ravana]] in [[Lanka]], where he has [[Sita]] housed and guarded.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Daalen |first=L. A. Van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LGmGQiOWLH0C&pg=PA155 |title=Valmiki's Sanskrit |date=2004 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1925-2 |pages=155 |language=en}}</ref> The consorts of Dasharatha each had their own apartment in his antahpura in [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guruge |first=Ananda W. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWlsWQ8foNgC&pg=PA96 |title=The Society of the Ramayana |date=1991 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-265-9 |pages=96 |language=en}}</ref> <br />
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The goddess [[Mahakali]] is described to reside in the ''antahpura'' of her palace in [[Manidvipa]], where she is described to sleep with her consort, [[Shiva|Mahashiva]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DRbdAAAAQBAJ&dq=Anta%E1%B8%A5pura&pg=PT132 |title=India & Beyond |date=2013-09-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-82114-1 |pages=132 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' describes [[Krishna]] sending a [[Brahmin|Brahmana]] to send a message to [[Rukmini]] in her ''antahpura'' in [[Vidarbha (kingdom)|Vidarbha]] before their elopement.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Prabhupada |first1=His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oohOCgAAQBAJ&dq=antahpura+Rukmini&pg=PT2284 |title=Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto: The Summum Bonum |last2=Prabhupada |first2=Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami |date=1977-12-31 |publisher=The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |isbn=978-91-7149-643-0 |pages=2284 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Women-only space]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Architecture in India]]<br />
[[Category:Palaces in India]]<br />
[[Category:Culture of India]]<br />
[[Category:Women's culture]]<br />
[[Category:Harem]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu architecture]]<br />
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