In ancient times, Patriliny was being followed. However, which of the following queen exercised power?

Prabhvati Gupta

From around the sixth century BCE onwards, most ruling dynasties purportedly adhered to this patrilineal system, though there were variations in practice. In some instances, there were no male heirs, leading to situations where brothers succeeded one another or other kinsmen claimed the throne. On rare occasions, exceptional women, such as Prabhavati Gupta, wielded power.

The preoccupation with patriliny extended beyond just ruling families and was evident in mantras found in ritual texts like the Rigveda. It is plausible that these attitudes towards patriliny were shared by affluent men and individuals who sought high social status, including Brahmanas. The concept of patriliny thus held a significant place in ancient Indian society, influencing succession, power dynamics, and societal norms.

Before the composition of the epic Mahabharata, patriliny already existed, but the central story of the Mahabharata further emphasized its significance. Patriliny, a system where sons could inherit the resources, and in the case of kings, the throne, from their fathers upon their demise, gained reinforcement through the epic's narrative.