Antahpuracarika, Antaḥpuracārikā, Antahpura-carika: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Antahpuracarika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Antahpuracharika.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Antahpuracarika in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Antaḥpuracārikā (अन्तःपुरचारिका) refers to the “servant-maids in the harem”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.46 (“The arrival of the bridegroom”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the meantime the servant-maids in the harem (antaḥpuracārikā) of the mountain took Pārvatī out in order to worship the tutelar family deity. There the gods saw joyously with winkless eyes the bride of dark complexion like the collyrium, and fully bedecked in ornaments in every limb. With a side glance she was respectfully looking at the three-eyed lord avoiding the eyes of others. [...]”.

Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Antahpuracarika in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Antaḥpuracārikā (अन्तःपुरचारिका):—[=antaḥ-pura-cārikā] [from antaḥ] f. a female attendant in the women’s apartments, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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