Topic Research: Swayamvara

Swayamvara
The Swayamvara of Panchala's princess, Draupadi, Wikicommons

Swayamvara is repeated quite often throughout many Indian stories and epics, as it serves as a process of find the most suitable man for the bride. Some instances are as follows: 




















Sita - She has a large swayamvara ceremony held for her in the Ramayana where Rama proves himself worthy by being the only one able to lift and string Shiva's bow.




Kunti - Much like Sita a large gathering is held to find her a suitor. Kunti is different as she is the adopted daughter of King Kuntibhoja. 



Draupadi - Daughter of King Draupada. The event held for her is a contest of hitting the eye of a fish with a bow and arrow, but the fish is rotation on a rod and the archers must hit it by using the reflection off the water. The task is very hard to say the least. This story also takes place in the same epic as Kunit's swayamvara, The Mahabharata.









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