Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 718

ANCIENT INDIAN PALACE ARCHITECTURE : 247
lains and attendants moving in this portion were known as Bahyapratihära. Beyond this was the palace proper and the chamberlains and attendants specially appointed to that portion were known as Antarapratihåra or Abhyantaraparijana.
Bāņa had given an elaborate description of the Dhavalagịha or the palace situated in the third court. Round the Dhavalagsha there used to be a contingent or other as follows:
1. Gșhodyāna (The palace garden): It was also known as Bhavanodyana. It contains a number of flowers and flowery plants and trees and green houses or groves covered with creepers. Sited in it were the lotus ponds and the Kļīļāparvata, named in the Kādambarī as Daru-Parvata, which was an artificially improvised hill intended to serve for the pastime of the king and queens.
2. Gșha-Dirghikā : In the palace garden and other portions of the palace there was a flowing canal of water known as Gsha-Dirghika which derives its name from its length. In its intermediate stages small fountains and water ponds (Krīdāvāpi) were improvised for lotuses and Hamsas, who were the inmates of the palace, enjoyed themselves. It was also a feature of the palace architecture in Iran in the time of Khusaru Parvez. In his palace such a long canal had been brought from Kohe Bihistuna to supply water to the Kasare Siri which was the name of his palace.5
Vyāyāma-bhūmi : the place for the king's gymnasium. It is stated that king sudraka after dismissing his court went to his Vyāyāna-bhūmi or gymnasium, where he took a course of routine
5 I am indebted for this information to my friend Maulavi Mohd.
Asraf, Supdt. of Archaeology in Delhi. This was known as Nahare Bihista, heavenly canal. That such a canal of water existed also in Moghul palaces inside the red fort in Delhi is well known. This feature of palace architecture continued during mediaeval times also. Vidyāpati in his Kirtilatā has mentioned Krīdā-saila, Dhārāgrha, Pramadavana, Puspavaţikā and also Kștrima-nadi, i. e., an architectural canal of flowing water, which was another name of Bhavana-Dirghika. The reference in Vidyāpati's Kirtilatā preceded the Moghul palaces by a couple of centuries. This feature of the architecture in royal palaces existed not only in India but also outside. In the palace named Hampton Court of Tudor Henry VIII this was known as Long Water which seems to be so close to the Indian Dirghikā.