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Various and numerous palace customs and observances have been mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara It is to be noted that servants, strangers, ministers, vassals and ambassadors bowed before the king immediately after they entered his 381 apartment or the hall in which he sat. The same honour 382 was probably extended to the chief queen. The custom of falling at the feet of the king when entering the palace after a long absence was followed by the ministers, vassals, 383 princes and the princesses. Happy occasions on which the king and the prince embraced each other are witnessed in 384 the palaces of kings from the Kathasaritsagara Kings also embraced 385 each other. It is even mentioned that King Janmejaya 378. Nirnaya Sagar 12.6.360. 379. Ibid. 18.3.30-31. SaletoreR.N. op.cit., p.105-106. 380. Ibid. 18.3.30-31. 381. Ibid. 12.36.136, 124, 102, 10.1.6, 8.3.132, 4.3.17, 6.7.86, 12.34.98. 12.4.75. 382. Ibid. 6.5.81. 383. Ibid. 12.36.135, 14.4.8,9,13, 13.1/218/1, 18.3.105, 7.9.224. 384. Ibid. 12.36.124,135,136, 14.3.48,54. 385. Ibid. 12.36.124, 12.36.135, 136, 14.3.48,54.

386 98 advanced to meet his son-in-law and honoured him. The entry as well as the exit from the private apartment of the queen by a minister was preceded by a reverential bow. It is said that the minister Yaugandharayana bowed 387 before Vasaradatta and they left her chamber. the king returned the salute. Brahmins used to salute the king after appearing before him and 388 It was open for the minister at times, to enter the king's private chamber without being 389 preannounced by the warder. Auspicious moments were fixed, after consulting the royal astrologers, for the entry of the king in the palace after he was victorious in a battle, after a long absence 390 or when he set out on an expedition or otherwise. In such cases the kings are observed to be performing the ceremony to ensure good fortune 391 palace. This was followed by a rejoicing in the palace in which banquets or garden parties to relatives were (Kryta ta or rachitamangala) in the 393 392 given (Uddy anavarti panadilnaye). King Sahasranika is mentioned to have entered his capital Kaushambi which was 386. Nirnaya Sagar 8.1.30. 387. Ibid. 6.5.81. 388. Ibid. 8.6.132. 389. Ibid. 12.34.328. 390. Ibid. 17.5.63, 9.1.190, 3.4.23, 12.26.73. 391. Ibid. 15.1.33, 7.9.235, 9.1.190. 392. Ibid. 12.34.379/2. 393. Ibid. 14.4.123.

99 decorated with triumphal arches and banners. (uttatoranapatakam). 394 It is also mentioned that a great festival (mahostsava) began in the capital Kaushambt on the arrival of Naravahanadatta after a long absence, by the beat of drum, which probably continued for many days. 395 (prahataturyatra mahostsava). Also a high festival was U arranged by Chandrekatu in the city for the trimph of his son Muktaphalaketu in which he also bestowed gifts on 396 all his servants and relations. On the occasion of the birth of a son rejoicings were also held in the palace and in the kingdom. Feasts were given, ladies danced and bards sang and the sound of the musical instruments floated 397 398 in the air. Kings showered riches. King Suryaprabha is 399 said to have spent twelve days in such a putroutsava. It was the usual practice that the various royal proclamations (patahghosanam) were made by the beat of drums in the city with the help of the city guards probably 400 in the evening. This necessity was felt when the king was seriously ill, someone was to be put to death, or was offered in sacrifice or an emergency announcement was to be made. 394. Nirnaya Sagar 2.2.210. 395. Ibid. 14.3.49. 396. Ibid. 17.3.94. 397. Ibid. 4.3.77. 398. Ibid. 9.5.185. 399. Ibid. 12.26.57-58 also see 9.2.365. 400. Ibid. 6.7.148, 5.1.50-52, 12.27.91-95, 12.6.262, 3.4.321, 5.1.50.

100 The practice of putting a notice (chirika) at the entrance of the palace challenging experts in various 401 arts and crafts, was in vogue. Kings, at times, took 402 notice of such challenges. Conches were blown in the palace at every hour to 403 indicate the advance of time.