Campikā Svayaṃvara

Campikā was a granddaughter of King Bhūrikīrti, who ruled a realm on the eastern sea coast. His capital was Vaṭapura, on the shore of the sea. Her svayaṃvara (the ceremony in which a princess chooses her own husband) is told in the Vivāha Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa. Kings from all over Bhāratavarsha came to it. All of them were passed by when Campikā placed her māla (garland) on Kuśa, the elder son of Bhagavān Rāma.

Bhūrikīrti’s invitation

Bhūrikīrti Mahārāja sent a formal invitation to Ayodhyā. His two granddaughters, Campikā and Sumatī, had reached the age of svayaṃvara. He wished Bhagavān Rāma to come with his sons and brothers, so that the svayaṃvaras could be held in his presence. Bhagavān Rāma accepted the invitation kindly.

Bhagavān Rāma gathered a large company. It included his brothers Lakshmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, and all eight royal princes. It included the queens of Ayodhyā with Sītā, and also ministers, ṛshis and the full royal guard. The queens and the women of the household travelled in the Pushpaka Vimāna. The main party went by land. They travelled east for twenty days, crossing the Bhāgīrathī and the great rivers of the east, and then reached Vaṭapura on the coast.

Bhūrikīrti received Bhagavān Rāma with every honour. He arranged royal residences for the whole party and welcomed the brothers and princes with gifts and hospitality. Kings from across the known world had already gathered for the svayaṃvaras. When they saw Kuśa and Lava, they lost heart. They felt sure that these two matchless princes, sons of Bhagavān Rāma, would carry away the garlands.

The svayaṃvara hall

Campikā’s svayaṃvara was held in a grand assembly hall in Bhūrikīrti’s palace. Kings from the seven dvīpas (island-continents) sat in their appointed places, dressed in their finest ornaments and royal clothes. Nanda, the elder attendant (dādi), walked with Campikā through the hall and carried the māla.

As Campikā moved through the assembly, Nanda described each king in turn. Nanda named his family line, his kingdom, his deeds and his royal qualities, and showed him as a worthy choice. Each king was greeted with respect and then passed by. The kings who were described and set aside included:

• Matimanta, the Pāṇḍya king of Nāgapaṭṭana, famous in the southern realm.
• Hemāṅgada, the Kaliṅga king, ruler of the great eastern coastal kingdom.
• Yajñakīrti, the king of Haridvāra, known for the yajñas (fire rituals) he performed.
• Sushena, the Śūrasena king, noble and brave.
• Pratīpa, the Haihaya king, a warrior of great fame.

Even Śatrughna, Bharata and Lakshmaṇa, the three younger brothers of Bhagavān Rāma, were described and passed by, out of respect for the occasion and for what was proper.

Campikā’s choice

The procession reached Kuśa. He sat in the full splendour of the Solar line, shining with the tejas (radiance) of his divine parentage. Campikā stopped. She looked at the prince whose face was the face of his father Bhagavān Rāma. His bearing was noble and steady, and his form was the very image of Ikshvāku rule. Without any pause, she placed the garland of flowers on Kuśa’s neck.

The hall broke into cheers. The kings who had been passed over were disappointed. But they saw Kuśa’s clear excellence and had no ground to object. Bhūrikīrti was full of joy. Wedding preparations for both Campikā and her sister Sumatī began at once.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 1 (the invitation and the journey to Vaṭapura)
• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2 (the svayaṃvara hall and Campikā’s choice)