Pratīpa of the Haihayas

Pratīpa was king of the Haihaya realm, a powerful old kingdom in the west-central part of Bhāratavarṣa, linked with the Haihaya clan. The Vivāha Kāṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa names him as one of the kings who came to the svayaṃvara (the ceremony where a princess chooses her husband) of Campikā at Vaṭapura. He was described to Campikā and passed over before she placed her garland (māla) on Kuśa.

At Campikā’s svayaṃvara

Pratīpa ruled the Haihaya realm in the time of Rāma-rājya, the reign of Bhagavān Rāma. The Haihaya kingdom was one of the ancient kingdoms of Bhāratavarṣa, rooted in the Haihaya line. The Purāṇas link that line with the great Kārtavīryārjuna.

Campikā’s svayaṃvara was arranged by Bhūrikīrti Mahārāja at Vaṭapura. Pratīpa was among the kings gathered there. The dādi (grandmother) Nanda described him as a warrior of great fame. He was passed over with respect when Campikā chose Kuśa. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 2)

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 2