Antariya

An antariya (antarīya) 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]

Painting of Shakuntala and her friends wearing an antariya, Raja Ravi Varma.

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 śāṭikā (Sanskrit: शाटिका) is an evolved form of the antariya, which was one of three-piece attire worn by women during the ancient period.^{[1][2][3][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.

Gallery

• 
  Women in choli (blouse) and antariya c. 320 CE, Gupta Empire
• 
  Relief depicting men in antariya and uttariya, 1st century CE

See also

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