Swayamvar

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 and vara means groom in this context.

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, the girl chooses from an assembly of suitors, or the suitors by completing a task. When the girl identifies the husband of her choice, she garlands him and a marriage ceremony is held immediately.

In the Hindu epic Ramayana (रामायण), Sītā (सीता) marries Rama (राम), the only one strong enough to lift the Shiv Dhanush (Lord Shiva's bow) and string it. There is mention of swayamvara in Valmiki Ramayana. 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.

For Drāupadī (द्रौपदी), the daughter of King Drupada 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 oil. The many suitors had to pierce the eye with a bow and arrow only using the reflection created by the water in the pan. Only three men of marriage age in the world could do it. They were Hastinapur Prince Arjuna, the third among the Pandava in incognito, King Karna of Anga and Prince Krishna of Dwapara. But Krishna was there only as a spectator and to ensure that Arjuna married Draupadi. Though Karna was highly qualified and capable, Draupadi rejected his chance when approached the challenge, stating his low birth caste as a charioteer made him unworthy to marry a god-born princess like her. This was the reason that Karna developed great hate towards Draupadi. Arjuna succeeds in hitting the fish and marries her.

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