Madanasundarī

Madanasundarī was the daughter of Kambukantha, the Draviḍa king of Śivakāñcīpura. The assembled kings had agreed to keep the sons of Bhagavān Rāma out of her svayaṃvara (the bride’s own choice of husband). She prayed to Nārada Muni to help her become the daughter-in-law of Rāma. Her prayer was answered. Yūpaketu, the younger twin son of Śatrughna, came to Kāñcī with a small force. He took her from the hall of the svayaṃvara with the Mohanāstra, defeated all the kings in battle, and married her in a rākṣasa-vivāha (a marriage by taking the bride). The marriage was later made formal with Vedic rites when Rāma himself came to Śivakāñcīpura. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells this in the Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 8.

Background and the svayaṃvara

Madanasundarī was the daughter of Kambukantha Mahārāja, the Draviḍa king of Śivakāñcīpura. When the time came for her svayaṃvara, her father arranged a great assembly and invited kings from all seven dvīpas (continents). These kings still held a grudge from the earlier svayaṃvaras of Campikā and Sumatī. In both, they had all been passed over in favour of Kuśa and Lava. They agreed among themselves to come only if the sons of Rāma were kept out. Kambukantha shared this grudge. He invited all the other kings, and he left the sons of Rāma out of his daughter’s svayaṃvara on purpose. The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 8.

The prayer to Nārada

Madanasundarī was on the terrace of the palace when Nārada Muni came down from the sky. She and her companions received him with respect and asked about his journey. Nārada, with his usual gentle teasing, told her that he had come expecting to see the sons of Rāma at the svayaṃvara. They were kept out, he said, so she could not become the daughter-in-law of Rāma, and so she was “how unfortunate.”

Madanasundarī was struck with grief. With tears in her eyes and trembling lips, she bowed again and again at the feet of Nārada and prayed from her heart: “O svāmī! I am right now surrendering to Rāma’s son. I am taking him as my refuge. O munivara! Please help me.” Nārada was moved by the sincerity and devotion of her prayer. He told her: “Do not grieve. Rise. You will become Rāma’s daughter-in-law. I will make it happen.” The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 8.

The hall of the svayaṃvara

Madanasundarī entered the hall in a palanquin with the promise of Nārada in her heart. Her face was dark with sorrow, because the assembled kings could not fill the longing that the words of Nārada had stirred in her. The elder dādi was presenting the kings when Yūpaketu came in with sudden resolve and released the Mohanāstra. The whole hall fell unconscious, kings, attendants and palanquin-bearers alike. The palanquin was set down.

Yūpaketu came to Madanasundarī. He told her his name and his line, as the son of Śatrughna and the grandson of Daśaratha. Madanasundarī understood at once that the promise of Nārada had been kept. She placed the ratna-māla (jewel garland) from her own hand on the neck of Yūpaketu and chose him as her husband. The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 8.

Her plea for her father

The battle outside Kāñcī reached its height. Yūpaketu had Kambukantha tied to the flagpole of his chariot and raised his sword to cut off the head of the Draviḍa king. Madanasundarī stepped in with courage and love for her father. She came to Yūpaketu, bowed before him, and pleaded in tears:

“O lord! Why are you about to kill my father? At the very first morsel you would bring grief before the joy begins. Please hear my words. Do not do this.”

Her plea worked. Yūpaketu lowered his sword, and the life of Kambukantha was spared. In the first act of her new life as a bride she protected her father. This shows her character: devoted and brave, and full of fitting love for both her new husband and her father. The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 8.

The wedding at Kāñcī

Peace was made with Kambukantha, and Śatrughna came to Kāñcī with the army. Bhagavān Rāma then came to Śivakāñcīpura himself, with Sītā and the full royal party, to see the wedding. The wedding of Yūpaketu and Madanasundarī was held at an auspicious muhūrta (a fixed lucky time) with all the Vedic rites, in the palace at Kāñcī. Kambukantha honoured Rāma with gifts. The couple then went back to Ayodhyā with the party of Rāma. The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapters 8–9.

Children

In the account of the family lines in the Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Madanasundarī bore Yūpaketu eight sons and one daughter. The source is the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 9.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapters 8–9