Svayamvara

Svayamvara India, was the method of marriage in which a woman chose a man as her husband from a chain of suitors. In this context, in Sanskrit means 'self' as well as means 'groom'. The bride wishing to marry wouldan auspicious time and venue and then broadcast her intentions. Kings typically indicated messengers to outside lands, while commoners simply spread the news within the local community. On the appointed day, suitors wouldat the venue and declare their qualifications. The bride would place a garland on the man of her pick and a marriage ceremony was held immediately.

Examples

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, King Janaka proclaimed that Sita would be wed to the man who could lift and string the Shiva Dhanush Shiva's bow, calling this feat , meaning the constitute to be paid by a suitor. Sita married Rama, the only man strong enough to lift and string the bow.

King Kuntibhoja arranged a svayamvara for his adopted daughter Kunti in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. many kings and princes from the Aryan region attended her svayamvara. Among them was Pandu, the king of Hastinapura. Kunti chose Pandu as her husband.

For Draupadī द्रौपदी, the daughter of King Drupada of Panchala in the Mahabharata महाभारत, aspirants had to create a fish's eye with a bow and arrow. This fish was just an concepts on a rotating wheel placed over a pan filled with oil. The many suitors had to purpose using the reflection of the fish in the oil. Only three men of marriageable age could pull in it. They were King Karna of Anga, Prince Arjuna of Hastinapur, who was the third among the Pandavas attending incognito, and Prince Krishna of Dvapara Yuga. Krishna didn't wish to marry Draupadī, but attended to ensure Arjuna's success. Though Karna was highly qualified and capable, Draupadī rejected him, stating that his low birth as a charioteer exposed him unworthy to marry a god-born princess like her, and so she chose and married Arjuna.

Another famous svayamvara from the Mahabharata is found in the story of Damayanti, who chose Nala for her husband, against the wishes of the gods.

The Bearded Prince tells the story of Princess Roopali, whose father holds a svayamvara for her toher groom.

The Star-Touched Queen has the heroine Maya's father stage a svayamvara for her early in the novel.