| Aspect | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| Literal meaning | Antarvasna (Sanskrit: अन्तर्वसन) literally means “inner clothing” or “inner covering.” In classical Indian literary theory it is used metaphorically to denote the hidden, intimate, or inner aspects of a subject—often referring to the inner life of a deity, a character’s concealed emotions, or the “inner veil” of a philosophical concept. |
| Literary genre | The term appears in a range of works:
• Poetry & drama – as a motif for secret love, divine intimacy, or the veil between mortal and divine.
• Philosophical treatises – especially in Vedānta and Tantra, where it denotes the antar‑avayava (inner component) of consciousness.
• Modern scholarship – a title for research papers exploring inner symbolism in Indian art, temple architecture, or devotional literature. |
| Typical contexts | • Classical Sanskrit drama (e.g., Kālidāsa’s Abhijñānaśākuntalam where the heroine’s antarvasna is a metaphor for hidden love).
• Tantric texts – discussing the antar‑vasana (inner sheath) of the subtle body (śrīrūpa).
• Contemporary literary criticism – a collection of essays on “inner narratives” in regional literatures (Marathi, Bengali, etc.). |
Title: Antarvasna: Inner Veils in Sanskrit Drama and Tantric Thought
Author: Dr. Radhika M. Shastri (University of Pune)
Year: 2021
Length: 168 pages (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Publisher: Rupa Publications – Open Access under CC‑BY‑NC antarvasna pdf link
Abstract (paraphrased):
The study investigates how the motif of antarvasna operates as a narrative device that simultaneously conceals and reveals deeper spiritual and sociocultural truths. By juxtaposing classical Sanskrit dramas with tantric treatises, the author demonstrates that the “inner veil” serves as a bridge between performative art and meditative practice. The work further explores regional adaptations in Marathi and Bengali literature, arguing that the concept evolves yet retains a core symbolism of hidden potency. | Aspect | Description | |--------|-------------| | Literal
Key Findings (bullet points):
Bibliographic Highlights:
| Theme | What the PDF Explores | Why It Matters | |-------|----------------------|----------------| | Duality of Visible vs. Hidden | Shows how antarvasna serves as a literary device to juxtapose the outer appearance with interior truth. | Helps readers understand how ancient writers encoded subversive ideas under the “veil” of myth. | | Spiritual Metaphor | Connects the term to yogic/ tantric layers of consciousness (e.g., antar‑ātmā, antah‑sukha). | Provides a bridge between textual analysis and experiential spirituality. | | Gender & Power | Examines how antarvasna often frames women’s agency as “inner” and therefore both hidden and potent. | Offers a feminist lens for re‑reading classic epics. | | Inter‑textuality | Traces the motif across languages (Sanskrit → Marathi → Bengali) and mediums (poetry, drama, visual art). | Demonstrates the fluidity of cultural transmission in the subcontinent. | | Methodology | Uses philological comparison, close reading, and iconographic analysis. | Shows a model for interdisciplinary scholarship. | Title: Antarvasna: Inner Veils in Sanskrit Drama and