Indian Epigraphy c16.s2.123

c16.s2.123

In the inscriptions of Aśoka, a queen of the emperor is called *Devī*,³ though they were apparently also called *Rājñī* and *Mahiṣī*. Later on the queens of imperial rulers were called *Mahādevī*⁴ and apparently also *Mahārājñī*, while the chief amongst the queens was called *Agra-mahiṣī*,⁵ *Paṭṭa-mahādevī*,⁶ etc. When subordinate rulers enjoyed the title *Mahārāja* or *Mahārājādhirāja*, their queens were also styled *Mahādevī*,⁷ *Paramadevi*,⁸ etc. Often the wife of a crown-prince or a subordinate ruler was called *Devī* or *Rājñī*⁹ and their chief wife *Paṭṭa-rājñī*.¹⁰ The word *bhaṭṭārikā* was sometimes suffixed to the name of the queen of both independent and subordinate rulers.¹ Ruling queens generally enjoyed titles corresponding to those of the rulers of the other sex. Thus queen Daṇḍimahādevī (first quarter of the 11th century) of the Bhauma Kara dynasty of Orissa called herself *Paramabhaṭṭārikā Mahārājādhirāja-Parameśvarī*.²