Vaṭapura was the capital city of the eastern coastal realm of Bhūrikīrti Mahārāja. It stood on the shore of the eastern sea, about twenty days’ journey east of Ayodhyā, beyond the Bhāgīrathī river. It is the place of the twin svayaṃvaras (bridegroom-choosing ceremonies) of Campikā and Sumatī. At these, Kuśa and Lava chose their brides. The Vivāha Kāṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells this.

Location and description

Vaṭapura was the capital of Bhūrikīrti’s realm on the eastern sea coast of Bhāratavarsha. The name can be read as “city of the banyan” or “the great city”. The journey from Ayodhyā took twenty days to the east, across the Bhāgīrathī river and through the forests of the eastern lands.

It was a city of royal splendour. Its palace and assembly halls could hold the kings of the seven dvīpas for a great svayaṃvara. This is told in Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 1.

The twin svayaṃvaras

The twin svayaṃvaras give Vaṭapura its place in the sacred history of Rāma-rājya. Here Campikā chose Kuśa as her husband, and Sumatī chose Lava. Both were sons of Bhagavān Rāma. These two events joined the eastern coastal kingdom to the Ikshvāku line and to Rāma-rājya for all generations after. The wedding ceremonies that followed were among the grandest events of Rāma-rājya. This is told in Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 2–4.

Sources

Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 1–4