Strīrājya-Concept in Sanskrit Literature
Author(s): K. Vidyuta
Abstract: [The word
strīrājya is found first mentioned in the
Mahābhārata. But it is rarely referred to in the Purāṇas, but there is an interpolation in the
Skandapurāṇa containing a list of seventyfive countries in the Bhāratavarṣa, the fifty-seventh of which is called
strīrājya. Vātsyāyana mentions a
strīrājya, which Yaśodhara places to the west of Vaṅga. The
Agnipurāṇa mentions it as a country in the west of India. The Sanskrit references to a
strīrājya possibly refer to a real place (or) places. The notion of a country ruled by women might have been inspired by second-hand knowledge of the matriarchal customs (or) polyandrous practices found in various regions, north of India. This paper will strive to establish the fact that a
strīrājya as mentioned in above texts and
Mahābhārata existed and highlights the fact that women empowered as great rulers of this land, ruled and even fought battles.]
Pages: 24-30 | Views: 735 | Downloads: 278Download Full Article: Click HereHow to cite this article:
K. Vidyuta. Strīrājya-Concept in Sanskrit Literature. Prācyā. 2016; 8(1): 24-30.
