Can we say Swayamvar for males?
Very interesting question 
This concept of स्वयंवर is an ancient custom in the lands of Bharat (India), where a gathering was organized from prospective males interested to marry the lady, and there was also some kind of an elimination-process - a challenge - given to prove their strength and capability. The girl was open to choose any males she wishes, but if there was a competition, she had to accept the winner no matter who he was. Our mythologies would tell about many swayamvars being organized, e.g. for Sita during Ramayana time, for Rukmini and for Draupadi during Mahabharata time.
I think this concept was more applicable for women, because they in general had to marry the boy her parents chose. Since, this concept of "choosing one's groom oneself" was so unique that it got a name like Swayamvar. I think it also got a name because it was "an organized event with a process and a set of rules". If a competition was organized as part of Swayamvar and the girl rejected the male who won it - then a fighting would break out. Therefore, not all kings decided to organize a Swayamvar for their daughters, fearing that may be some poor fellow or someone from their enemies may win the contest. As it happened during most Swayamvars, a lot of ill-intentioned males went to take part with the sole intention to "win" the contest and show-off their strength - without truely appreciating the merits of the girl. For example, even Duryodhana went to take part in Draupadi's Swayamvar, with intention to exert his power.
One can say स्वयंवधू for a process of a man selecting his bride, but this won't have anything to do with the ancient Aryan custom of स्वयंवर...
This concept of स्वयंवर is an ancient custom in the lands of Bharat (India), where a gathering was organized from prospective males interested to marry the lady, and there was also some kind of an elimination-process - a challenge - given to prove their strength and capability. The girl was open to choose any males she wishes, but if there was a competition, she had to accept the winner no matter who he was. Our mythologies would tell about many swayamvars being organized, e.g. for Sita during Ramayana time, for Rukmini and for Draupadi during Mahabharata time.
I think this concept was more applicable for women, because they in general had to marry the boy her parents chose. Since, this concept of "choosing one's groom oneself" was so unique that it got a name like Swayamvar. I think it also got a name because it was "an organized event with a process and a set of rules". If a competition was organized as part of Swayamvar and the girl rejected the male who won it - then a fighting would break out. Therefore, not all kings decided to organize a Swayamvar for their daughters, fearing that may be some poor fellow or someone from their enemies may win the contest. As it happened during most Swayamvars, a lot of ill-intentioned males went to take part with the sole intention to "win" the contest and show-off their strength - without truely appreciating the merits of the girl. For example, even Duryodhana went to take part in Draupadi's Swayamvar, with intention to exert his power.
One can say स्वयंवधू for a process of a man selecting his bride, but this won't have anything to do with the ancient Aryan custom of स्वयंवर...
No comments:
Post a Comment