Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

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

Page 722

ANCIENT INDIAN PALACE ARCHITECTURE : 251
each other very much. Rama's palace consisted of three courts. In Rama's palace Vasistha rode on his chariot upto the third court (Ayodhyā., 5.5).
In this connection the evidence of Bāna is valuable. When prince Candrāpida returned from the college where he received his education, a separate palace was provided for him called Yuvaraja-bhavana or Kumāra-bhavana. Similarly for a princess a separate palace named Kumārī-antahpura was provided. In the palace of Candrāpīda there were two portions : Śrī-maņdapa and Sayanīya-gļha. Sri-mandapa was the outer portion and Sayanīyg-grha the inner portion of the palace (Kādambari, 96). In the Kumārī-antahpura of Kādambari also there was a Sri-mandapa portion (Kadambari, 186).
We find that in the Tudor palace named Hampton Court there was a palace for the prince-regent in the same portion but separate from. the main royal palace. This had three portions named Presence Chamber, Drawing Room and Bed Room. Of these the Presence Chamber corresponded to Sri-mandapa of the Indian palaces where the prince received his guests. There was a well furnished seat which was occupied by prince Candrāpīda (Kadambari, 96). The Sayanīya-gļha was the Bed-room in these palaces. In the palace of Rama in the first court there was accommodation for the royal horses and elephants. There were rooms for Rāma and Sità in the third court, which was a secluded portion (pravivikta kakşa). In between the first and the third court there was most probably the drawing room of the audience chamber which was usually situated in the second court. It is stated that in the third court old chamberlains holding staff in their hands were appointed. They were known as Stryadhyaksa and devoted young men were appointed as guards holding weapons in their hands (Ayodhyā., 16.1). There is a marked resemblance between the palace of Rāma and Harsa. The palace of Harsa (Kumāra-bhavana) was separate from that of Prabhākaravardhana as was the palace of Rāma from that of Dasaratha. When Harsa returned from his hunting expedition he first came to the entrance of Rajakula where the chamberlain bowed to him; and from that point he entered the Dhavalagrha and going upstairs he saw his ailing father, king Prabhākaravardhana. Then he came down from the upper floor of the Dhavalagriha and went to his own palace with an attendant. In the evening time he came again to see his father and mounted up the staircase. He remained there the whole night and again came down the next morning, and although the groom was ready with the horse he preferred to walk on foot to his palace