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SOCIAL CONDITIONS
- 369 curious women of Lanka and Ayodhyā are referred to be asking one another to take aside their heads because the braids of their hair obstru. cted the view (8.279; 100.52). It indicates that housewives were bareheaded and thus there arises no question of putting veil on their faces. When Harisena entered Sindhunadanagara, he was observed by many ladies of the city (naranārīsaesu tattha disanto 8.180). It indicates that men and women were moving out side their houses or that women had come outside their house to see him.
The house-ladies are further mentioned to be appearing on the roads and streets, offering and honouring monks with the presents of various kinds and performing sports and dances (105.6-10).
Besides the ladies, we have already mentioned the women working or serving in the houses of others, or following the pursuits of dancing and amusement, and providing entertainment to the public. The medical profession must have demanded their movement in the public. The women who fought the battle and administered the country must have enjoyed the liberty of moving ontside without putting on any veil.
Now let us see how the female members of the royal families lived in their palaces; to what extent they moved outside; and whether they observed purdah or not.
There are several references to the harem 'anteura' of the kings whether Aryan or non-Aryan (Dasaratha's 31.58; Laksmana's 110.21; Rāvana's 70.60). The 'antahpura' was a special apartment meant for the residence of the royal wives. Its significance as revealed in the PCV is merely of a residential apartment in a royal palace. There were no rigid restrictions as regards the entry of other male person in it. Further the movement of the royal wives were not restricted to the harem only. They moved out of doors and contacted other males also. The PCV mentions that when the wives of Laksmana were mourning the death of their husband in their 'antahpura', Rāma entered the harem unrestricted (110.21). Further it is said that at the order of Rāma after his return from Larikā, his wives and the wives of his brothers surrounded Bharata and requested him to play sports with his wives (80.49-54). It indicates that the royal males and females were not prohibited from mixing freely. The same seems to be the case with outsiders. The PCV's reference to one of Daśaratha's chief queen talking with the store-keeper indicates that they did not feel bashful or shy or were not restricted in contacting male-officers of the state (29.11). Similarly the wife of Vibhīşapa called as Mahadevī, personally went to Rāma, bowed down to his feet and requested him to
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