Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

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

Page 721

250 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
and the two side portions were called Saudha and Väsabhavana or Väsagsha. In the Vasagsha was located the sayanagȚha or the sleeping chamber. There were wall paintings in the Vásabhavana (127). . Hence this particular room as known was Citraśālikā (Hindi : Citrasări). Queen Yasovati used to sleep in Vasabhavana. Harsa also occupied for his nightly rest the Vásabhavana. The Saudha portion was exclusively occupied by the queens. It had an open roof on which queen Yaśovati used to enjoy moonlight by putting off her upper garment (127). The central portion was called Pragrīvaka because it occupied the grīvā or neck portion of the palace. In the Arthaśāstra also in the mention of Pragrīvaka in the palace of the princess (Kumarisāla) (Arthasastra, 2.31), it is stated that the female guests that had come during the illness of Prabhākaravardhana were accommodated in the Pragrīvaka portion which was enclosed by screens on all sides (155). . The Pragrīvaka was also known as Mukhaśāla; corresponding to it the back portion on the upper storey was known as Candraśālika which was a roofed pavilion supported on pillars in which the king and queens enjoyed the moonlight. Queen Yaśovati in her stage of pregnancy used to sit in the Candraśālikā and enjoyed herself looking at the Sālabhañjikā figures.
The two long verandahs on right and left connecting the Candraśālika and the Pragrivaka were known as Prāsādakukşi furnished with ventilators or latticed windows (Vatayana). In them the king enjoyed music and dance (Antahpura-samgīta) together with his select friends and guests, and inmates of the palace (Kadambari, 58, Plate 28).
Comparative literary differences :
The above picture of a royal palace given by Bāna may be understood with the help of literary references preceding or following the works of Bāņa. The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki describes the palace of Daśaratha and of Rāma as prince. The palace of Dasaratha has five courts. Rāma entered three of them riding in his chariot and then entered the last two on foot (Ayodhyā., 17.20). King Dasaratha also occupied the upper storey of his palace like king Prabhākaravardhana. When Rāma went to see his father he went up to the upper floor (Prāsādam āruroha. Ayodhyā., 3.32.32). Similarly Vasiştha coming to king Daśaratha ascended to the upper floor (Prāsādam adhiruhya. Ayodhyā., 5.22).
Rāma was prince-regent. His palace was separate from that of king Dasaratha but from the point of architecture the two resembled