Antariya Explained

An antariya is a lower body garment from ancient India. It is a long white or coloured strip of cotton passed through the legs, tucked at the back and covering the legs loosely, then flowing into long pleats at front of the legs.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

History

The antariya is an ancient garment mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.^[5] Hindu deities can be seen wearing the uttariya and the antariya in sculptures in the Indian subcontinent,^[6] especially in Hindu temples and other forms of iconography.

As mentioned in Buddhist Pali literature during the 6th century BC, Sari (Sanskrit: शाटिका) is an evolved form of the antariya, which was one of three-piece attire worn by women during the ancient period.^{[7] [8] [9]}

Terminology

The word antariya is of Sanskrit origin.^[10]

Use

The antariya was usually made of fine cotton or silk. It was usually used in combination with the uttariya.

See also

• Aprapadina
• Uttariya
• Sari
• Choli
• Nivi (garment)

Notes and References

1. Book: Nair. Rukmini Bhaya. Keywords for India: A Conceptual Lexicon for the 21st Century. deSouza. Peter Ronald. 2020-02-20. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1-350-03925-4. en.
2. Book: Mehta, Tarla. Sanskrit Play Production in Ancient India. 1995. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. 978-81-208-1057-0. en.
3. Book: Ayyar, Sulochana. Costumes and Ornaments as Depicted in the Sculptures of Gwalior Museum. 1987. Mittal Publications. 978-81-7099-002-4. 62. en.
4. Book: Shastri. Ajay Mitra. Ancient Indian Heritage, Varahamihira's India: Historical geography, religion, and society. Varāhamihira. 1996. Aryan Books International. 978-81-7305-081-7. 224. en.
5. Book: McLain, Karline. India's Immortal Comic Books: Gods, Kings, and Other Heroes. 2009. Indiana University Press. 978-0-253-22052-3. 72. en.
6. Book: Ancient India. 1950. Director General of Archaeology in India.. 37. en.
7. Book: Prasad Mohapatra, Ramesh . Fashion Styles of Ancient India: A Study of Kalinga from Earliest Times to Sixteenth Century Ad. 35. B.R. Publishing Corporation. 1992. 9788170187233.
8. Prachya Pratibha, 1978 "Prachya Pratibha, Volume 6", p. 121
9. Agam Kala Prakashan, 1991 "Costume, coiffure, and ornaments in the temple sculpture of northern Andhra", p. 118
10. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org. 2018-05-06. Antariya, Antarīya: 7 definitions. 2020-12-09. www.wisdomlib.org.