13. The Svayamvara form of Marriage

178 The Svayamvara form of Marriage : The age-old custom¹ of svayamvara marriage has also been described in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa In a svagamvara the maiden, who was bestowed Man with the privilege, chose the husband of her choice privately 1. This has been referred to in the epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, and also in the Jaina canonical literature. Nayadhammakahao (XVI), describes the svayamvara of Dovai (Draupadi); while the Uttara dhyayana Tika describes that of princess Nivvui. Uttara.Tika,1,3,p.65a, quoted by Jain, op.cit., pp 158-59. In spite of the references to the svayamvaras in the Jatakas (1.205-06; V 264-65, 426-27). Mehta (op. cit., pp. 281-82) does not think that such a custom prevailed in the contemporary period. According to him it had already gone out of Usage, though the ideal and charm of it remain for ever*. However, prevalence of such a custom of svayamvara, even in the later period can be assumed on the basis of literary evidence. See Brhatkalpa Bhasya, 2. 3446. 2. Vedabbhi exercised her right of svayamvara only after meeting Pajjunna who had taken due permission, in her palace; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,98-100.

179 or publicly from among the suitors invited for the ceremony 1. The privilege of holding such a sayamvara was bestowed specifically on maidens from the royal families 2, when they had attained youth ³. As the marriage of a princess could have political consequences the king always consulted his ministers+; and after he had given a full thought to the matter he allowed the princess to choose her husband 5. Once the king had given full permission, he could not object to the choice of the princess Still it • 1. Eg. princess Kavila; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,66. 2. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 66, 78, 98-100, 116, 185, 264-65, 327-28, 364-65. In case the father or the relatives of a maiden failed to find a proper suitor, she was allowed to overlook their wish and choose her own husband (svayamvara); Yajna,III 64. Such a type of svayamvara differed from the above type and can be said to be virtually a Gandharva type of marriage. 3. Kavila was allowed to hold a svayamvara as she could not forbear the torture of youth (mayana sarasosiyahiyaya); Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa i 66. Princess Smitta was fully grown up, (Vaddhiya);Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,116. 4. Ibid., 314. Vara, 5. The minister of king Jalanajadi says that if the king has no objection (rayaviroha) the sayampah should be allowed; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 311. 6. Vidinnasayamvaraya na pabhavami aham, Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,98-100, 265-66.

180 was a custom (majiaya) that the princess had to select a khattiya and none else 1. It was also thought insulting to the assembly if the princess declined to choose any one of those who were present and postponed the choice for want of a favourable suitor 2. The svayamvara, however, could be postponed in case the princess ³ concerned or a 3 dignified king fell ill suddenly+. It was even cancelled te because of the dermination of the princess to renounce the world 5. ren 1. Damtavakka, a king invited for the svayamvara of princess Rohoni, accuses her father,king Ruhira, of breaking the customs (majiayaikkama) when Ruhira allowed Rohini to choose a drum-beater (panavavajia) as her husband. According to him it would have been proper for her to choose one of the khattiyas invited and none else;Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 364. Kanha in the sayamvara of Paum avati addresses the invitees as khattiyas. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 78. See also Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 311. In this context, the word ibbha Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,66, occurring in connection of Kavila's sayamvara should connote not 'a merchant' but a wealthy person. 2. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 265-66. 4. Ibid.; 188-89. 3. Ibid., 222-23. 5. Ibid.; 327-28.

181 The prevalence of the practice of svayamvara can be known also from the data in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa also. Like 1 2 the ksatriya princesses, a maiden from the setthi family also had the privilege of publicly choosing her husband. Unlike the evidence of the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, that in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa shows that persons who were not from the ruling class were also invited for the ceremony. In the svayamvara of Sukosala, princess of Kosala country, along with the kings (maharaya) and vassals (samamta), caravan traders (satthavaha), presidents of corporations (setthi) and ambassadors (dua) were also present as participants in the svayamvara³. The Procedure : Outside the city were erected structures (avasaa) where the invitees were accommodated 4 and also a pandal (mamdava) 5 equipped with couches (mamca ncal for the participants, 1. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II. 36b, 60-61. 2. Before giving his daughter the freedom of choice as regards her husband, the Setthi takes the consent of the king of Banares, Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, 175a. This shows that svayamvara unusual of a vaisya maiden was an annual event. 3. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II. 36b. 4. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 265. 5. Ibid.; 265, 314. 6. Ibid. I

182 When all the suitors were seated, the princess reached the pandal in a palanquin (siya or sibika) and entered the hall (sayamvara-bhumi) along with camara-bearers, beavers parasol- holders and other entourage consisting of kamcukis, old servants (mahattaraga) and others. The princess moved along the row of seats of the suitors in the company of a maid servant (referred to as lehiya or livikari) who showed the suitors to the princess and also informed her of their family (ancestry), character and learning (kulasilaruvagame). The princess selected her husband by throwing parched grains (akkhae) on his head and by garlanding him. (Kusumadama or Pupphadama) 1. More or less the same details about the construction of temporary structures to accommodate princes_ 2 and the sayamvaramamdapa, about the arrival of the princess in palanguins (sibika), about her entourage ³, and the procedure of selection, appear in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa 4. 1. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 314, 364. 2. The structures erected for the svayamvara near the city of Kosala were to be seen even in the times of the author of the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa They are referred to as 'Sikataghala', i.e. 'houses of sand'; Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.37b. 3. Insted of *livikari of the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa her work was done by the play-nurse (kiddaviya) of the princess; Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa,II,37a 4. Ibid.; 37ab, 60-61.

The Basis of Choice: 183 In such a type of marriage, generally the beauty of the suitor was the factor which governed the 1 choice of the princess. As the mother of a princess Sulasa puts it, it was difficult to predict whom the princess would choose, getting infatuated with beauty (ruvamohiya)² It was also not unlikely that sometimes the princesses were advised in their choice by their mothers, as the case of princess Sulasa shows³. Sometimes the choice of the right suitor was made by declaring a test. Princess Sumitta had declared that she would marry the person who would explain the exact significance of a stanza 'kim nama hojja, etc.14. An example in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa shows how the suitors for svayamvara sometimes tried to canvass for them to the princess secretly through messengers 5. • The svayamvara ceremony was a more selection of the bridegroom. According to the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa 6 and the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa7, regular marriage ceremony took place after the selection. a 1. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, 66. 3. Ibid. 5. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, 59b. 7. II. 37ab, 61a. 2. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 186. 4. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,116. 6. Pp. 66, 314,365.

184 Marriage by Contest : Sometimes, to find out the right suitor, contests. were arranged wherein the suitor had to excel the maiden, say in music and dancing-, or satisfy the learned with his knowledge of some subject, e.g. Vedas 2 or tame a horse³. Choosing a bridegroom with such means has been referred to only in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa