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SOCIAL CONDITIONS 369 curious women of Lanka and Ayodhya 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 bare-
headed and thus there arises no question of putting veil on their faces.
When Harise峁嘺 entered Sindhunadanagara, he was observed by many
ladies of the city (naran膩r墨saesu 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 鈥榓nteura' of the kings
whether Aryan or non-Aryan (Dasaratha's 31.58; Lak峁�ma峁嘺's 110.21;
R膩va峁嘺's 70.60). The 鈥榓nta岣�pura' 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 Lak峁�ma峁嘺 were
mourning the death of their husband in their 鈥榓nta岣�pura', R膩ma entered
the harem unrestricted (110.21). Further it is said that at the order
of R膩ma after his return from Lank膩, 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 Dasaratha'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 Vibh墨峁�a峁嘺 called as Mah膩dev墨, perso-
nally went to R膩ma, bowed down to his feet and requested him to
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