Sumatī Svayaṃvara
Sumatī is a granddaughter of Bhūrikīrti Mahārāja and the younger sister of Campikā. Her svayaṃvara (the ceremony in which a princess chooses her own husband) was held right after Campikā’s, at Vaṭapura on the sea coast. Eleven kings and princes were described to her, and each was respectfully passed over. Then Sumatī placed her māla (garland) on Lava, the younger son of Bhagavān Rāma.
The setting
Sumatī’s svayaṃvara took place in the same great assembly hall as Campikā’s, in the royal palace of Bhūrikīrti at Vaṭapura. The hall was still full of kings from across the seven dvīpas (continents), who had come for the second svayaṃvara. Campikā had chosen Kuśa, so Lava was now the clear favourite. Even so, many of the kings believed that their own merits might win.
Sumatī walked through the hall with the māla in her hands. With her went her elder female attendant Sunanda, who described each king by his family line, his kingdom and his royal qualities.
The kings who were described
Sunanda presented these kings, and each was graciously declined:
- Ugrabāhu, king of Avantī, who ruled from the great inland city.
- Aṅganātha, king of Vidarbha, from the fertile region in the south.
- Paraṃtapa, king of Magadha, the ancient and powerful kingdom of the east.
- Kambukaṇṭha, king of the Draviḍa realm (Kāñcīpura), a warrior of note.
- Vijaya, king of Karnāṭa, well known in the southern lands.
After these kings from other realms, the princes of Ayodhyā were also described and passed over: Yūpaketu, Subāhu, Pushkara, Taksha, Citraketu and Aṅgada. Each was presented with respect and declined, because propriety required that the princess look for her husband among the best of the princes present.
Sumatī’s choice
The procession reached Lava, the younger brother of Kuśa. He was equal to Kuśa in beauty and divine radiance, and he clearly carried the mark of the line of Bhagavān Rāma. Sumatī’s heart was settled. She placed the garland of flowers on Lava’s neck.
The hall rejoiced. The wedding preparations for both sisters were made together. Sumatī and Lava spent the night in the great private chambers of Bhūrikīrti’s palace, with all the proper celebration and ceremony.
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 3