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Swayamvara (Sanskrit: स्वयं‍वर), in ancient India, was a practice of choosing a husband, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age. Swayam in Sanskrit means self and vara means choice or desire (which also synonymous with bride-groom).

In this practice, the girl's father decides to conduct the Swayamvara of the daughter at an auspicious time and venue, and broadcasts the news of this to the outside world. Kings typically used to send messengers to outside lands, whereas commoners arranged to spread the news within the local community.

On the appointed day and venue, a list of suitors arrive at the girl's home and ask for her hand. The girl and her family get to choose among the suitors, sometimes through evaluating the completion of various tasks assigned. When the girl identifies the husband of her choice, she garlands him and a marriage ceremony is held immediately.

Historical examples[link]

Sītā[link]

Sita Swayanvaram

In the Hindu epic Ramayana (रामायण), Sītā (सीता) marries Rama (रामा), the only one strong enough to lift the Shivа Dhanushа (Lord Shiva's Bow) and string it. There is mention of swayamvara in Valmiki Ramayana^[1]. but in Tulsidas Ramayan Ram Charit Manas this swayamwara is described. In Valmiki Ramayana Janak raja tells that he has promised to marry Sita to the person who can lift dhanusha and string it. No one could do before Rama. Rama did it. This condition of lifting dhanusha was called by Janak as virya shulka, cost to be paid by suitor for marrying sita.

Draupadī[link]

For Drāupadī (द्रौपदी), the daughter of King Dhrupad of Paanchal in the Mahābhārata (महाभारत), aspirants had to hit a fish's eye with a bow and arrow. This fish was just an image on a rotating wheel, which was rotating on a rod. The rod was placed in a pan filled with water. The many suitors had to pierce the eye with a bow and arrow only using the reflection created by the water in the pan. Prince Arjuna, the third among the Pandavas, succeeds in hitting the fish.

Damayantī[link]

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

Sanyogita[link]

King Jaichand of Kannauj held a swayamvara for his daughter Sanyogita, who was in love with Prithviraj Chauhan, the enemy of her father. To insult Prithviraj, Jaichand installed a lookalike statue of Prithviraj as the gatekeeper to the swayamvara. Sanyogita during the swayamvara went and garlanded the statue; Prithviraj, who was hiding nearby, took Sanyogita on his steed and eloped with her.

Kitayun[link]

The Shahnama of Fardausi records a similar tradition in pre-Islamic times, of Kitayun eldest daughter of Kaiser the ruler of Constantinople selecting Gushtasp. With a view to procure a husband for one of his daughters, Kaiser determines to hold a grand assembly of illustrious and wise men for her to see and select from. She does not find a suitable husband in the first assembly and a second one is held, where she places the crown on Gushtap's head. Gushtasp also known as Vishtaspa returns to Iran with his bride and is crowned King.^[2]

As per the custom of Rum, when a princess reached marriageable age, all the princes and nobles would gather in a hall where the princes would enter with her handmaidens and would select one of the princes to be her husband.^[3]

Rum was the name of Asia Minor region. This later came to be known as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire.^[4]

See also[link]

• Bride-show

References[link]