Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c7.s1.t9.31

c7.s1.t9.31

It is to be noted, however, that inspite of the strictest precautions, the women of the harem were often corrupt and immoral to a degree, and such affairs had serious repercussions on the affairs of the state. We come across ministers who had illicit connections with the queens.⁵¹ By bribing the servants the merchants could get entry into the harem. We are told that king Gunacandra of Śrinilayanagara punished a merchant for such an offence.⁵² We are told that when king Seniya of Rājagaha could not get Sujetthā in marriage, he sent Abhayakumāra to Vesāli, who began to live near the royal harem, in the disguise of a merchant. There he established contact with the maid-servants of the harem and managed to kidnap Cellanā.⁵³ Then we are told that all inmates of king Pajjoya's harem except Sivā were violated by Mahissara.⁵⁴ The Brhatkalpa Bhāṣya refers to the girls of the king's harem who used to talk with outsiders from the windows; one day they escaped with their lovers unnoticed.⁵⁵ The prohibition of the monkeys in the harem also shows that the king used to take every precaution to guard the chastity of the inmates of the harem.⁵⁶