Q.- How are women portrayed in kadambari.
Ans: Banabhatta’s Kadambari is one of the earliest and finest Sanskrit prose romances. While the novel is centered on the love story of Prince Chandrapida and Princess Kadambari, it also presents different images of women through its female characters. Women in Kadambari are shown not only as objects of beauty and love but also as intelligent, emotional, and influential figures.
1. Kadambari – The Ideal Woman
Kadambari, the heroine of the novel, is portrayed as the ideal woman of ancient Indian imagination. She is described as extremely beautiful, graceful, and pure. Yet she is not passive; she has her own emotions, desires, and decisions. Her deep love for Chandrapida, her patience in separation, and her loyalty even after his death show her as a symbol of devotion and constancy.
2. Mahashveta – The Woman of Sacrifice
Another important female character is Mahashveta, who falls in love with Pundarika. When she loses him, she chooses a life of renunciation and sorrow. Mahashveta represents the woman of sacrifice and emotional depth. Through her, Banabhatta shows the strength of feminine devotion and endurance.
3. Emotional and Sensitive
Women in Kadambari are shown as highly emotional beings. They feel love, longing, sorrow, and joy in deep intensity. But these emotions do not make them weak; rather, they highlight their human side. Banabhatta gives space to women’s inner world, which makes them appear alive and realistic.
4. Active Participants in the Story
Unlike many other ancient works, here women are not just background figures. Kadambari, Mahashveta, and others play a direct role in shaping the events of the story. Their actions, vows, and emotions influence the destiny of male characters as well. This shows that Banabhatta gave importance to women’s agency.
5. Balance of Idealism and Realism
Banabhatta’s portrayal of women balances between idealized beauty and realistic emotions. On one hand, women are compared to goddesses, lotuses, or the moon; on the other hand, their pain, sacrifice, and decisions are shown with realism.
Conclusion: Thus, women in Kadambari are portrayed as beautiful, loyal, emotional, and strong. They are not one-dimensional but complex human beings who combine softness with strength, love with sacrifice. Banabhatta, through Kadambari and Mahashveta, gave women a central place in his novel, making them symbols of love, devotion, and inner power.
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