Jinamanjari 2000 09 No 22

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 60

series of high mansions made of sātakumbha (gold). Situated at the major crossroads were several temple sites and hundreds of step-wells with broad steps reaching to the water.
As for the public parks, they appeared to be situated primarily on the outskirts of the residential area of the city. However, as seen from the story about the Kāñci women gathered in Kusumākara garden attending the festival of Cupid while the city was besieged by the forces of the Vajrāyudha, it can be made that the garden must have been situated within the protecting confines of the city walls.
Palace Description at Kāñci
The royal palace was surrounded by hundreds of tall buildings, which according to Dhanapāla, were built in the Sita-style. The palace itself consisted of a number of individually gated apartments or dwelling areas with the innermost being reserved for śuddhanta (royal harem). According to the description in the Tilakamañjarī, the king would ride his elephant to the threshold of the second gate, would climb down from the elephant, and then proceed to the third apartment where there was a central hall with a raised platform located in the middle of the room. Located at the rear of this platform was a turret-like structure, which served as the location for the ivory throne and gold-embossed footstool.
Adjoining this third apartment was the sizeable āhāramandapa (dining hall). Next to this hall was asthā-na-mandapa (large court hall). Adjoining to this was harem, which consisted of several rooms, but only one served as the primary prasūti-grha' (lying-in chamber). The harem with its lavish garden contained sports and bathing area, indicating that water was supplied to the area possibly from a nearby stream through a canal system. The second-story contained danta-valahikā (an ivory pavilion) where a bed was erected on an extensive platform made from a slab of crystal rock. It appears that it was used for napping after meals.
The Palace at Rathanūpuracakravāla
According to the textual information provided in the Tilakamañjarī, the palace had a lofty pinnacle, surrounding buildings, a number of outer apartments for the storing of musical instruments, a vast array of weapons, and several items with the royal insignia. The middle palace wall had a lofty gate, and to the rear of the palace the harem garden was located with its Cupid temple, a variety of fruit trees, and artificial stream, and a quadrangular pool. Scented waters flowed in the artificial stream, and special boats built from the hard wood of
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