History of PRC and Sanyo - Page 44

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swayamvara in ancient India, was a practice of choosing a life partner, among a list of suitors by a girl of marriageable age. Swayam in Sanskrit means Self and Vara means choosing or wanting.

In this practice, the girl's father decides to conduct the Swayamvara of the daughter at an auspicious time and venue, and broadcasts the news of this to the outside world. Kings, typically used to send messengers to outside lands whereas commoners arranged to spread the news within the local community.

On the appointed day and venue, a list of suitors arrive at the girl's home and ask for her hand. The girl and her family get to choose among the suitors, sometimes through evaluating the completion of various tasks assigned. When the girl identifies the husband of her choice, she garlands him and a marriage ceremony is held immediately.

[edit] Historical examples

[edit] Ram-Sita

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Sita is married to Rama the only one strong enough to lift the Shiv Dhanush and string it.

[edit] Draupadi swayamwara

For Draupadi, the daughter of King Dhrupad of Paanchal in Mahabharata, Aspirants had to hit a fish's eye with a bow and arrow. This fish was just an image on a rotating wheel, which was rotating on a rod. The rod was placed in a pan filled with water. The many suitors had to pierce the eye with a bow and arrow only using the reflection created by the water in the pan. Prince Arjuna, the third among the Pandavas, succeeds in hitting the fish. Draupadi disqualifies Karna from this contest as he is not a pure Kshatriya.

[edit] Nal-Damayanti

Another famous Swayamvara from the Mahabharata is found in the story of Damayanti who chooses Nala for her husband, against the wishes of the gods.

[edit] Prithviraj-Sanyogita

The King Jaichand of Kannauj held a swayamvara for his daughter Sanyogita, who was in love with Prithviraj Chauhan, the enemy of her Father. To insult Prithviraj, Jaichand installed a lookalike statue of Prithviraj as the gatekeeper to the swayamvara. Sanyogita during the swayamvara went and garlanded the statue, Prithviraj who was hiding nearby took Samyukta on his steed and eloped with her.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sanyogita or Samyukta, daughter of Jaichandra Gahadwala (Rathod) /Raja Jaichand of Kannauj, was the wife of Indian king Prithviraj Chauhan. Prithviraj Chouhan of Delhi (Pithoragarh) was a romantic and fearless king. Pritiviraj ruled from his twin capitals at Delhi and Ajmer.

The love story of Prithviraj and Samyukta is one of the many legendary love stories prevalent in India. Prithviraj's bold excurtions brought fame through out in the country. Sanyogita, the daughter of Jaichandra Gahadwala fell in plutonic love with Prithiviraj and initiated with him secret love messages in poitic form. Knowing this, Jaichandra decided to insult Prithiviraj and arranged a Swayamwara (a ceremony where a bride can select her husband from the assembled princes). He invited all the big and small princes for the Swayamwara except Prithiviraj. He made a statue of Prithiviraj and kept it at the gate as as a dwarpala (doorman). Prithviraj got this information and he confided his plans to his lover, Sanyogita. On the Swayamwara day, Sanyogita walked down to the royal princes, reached to the door bypassing all and garlanded the statue of Pritiviraj. All were stunned at the incidence. Prithiviraj who was hiding behind the statue, whisked Sanyogita away on his horse to his capital at Delhi.

Her choosing Prithviraj Chauhan at the swayamvara enraged her father. This led to a rift between Delhi and Kannauj kingdoms which was taken advantage of by Sultan Muhammad Ghori of Afghanistan.

Mahmud Ghori attacked the fortress of Bhatinda in East Punjab which was on the frontier of Prithiviraj's domains. Prithviraj's appeal to Jaichandra Gahadwala for help was rejected. But undaunted Prithviraj marched on to Bhatinda and met his enemy at a place called Tarain near the ancient town of Thanesar. The battle was won by Prithiviraj and Mahmud Ghori was made a prisoner He begged for mercy and release. Prithviraj respectfully released the Ghori against the advice of his ministers.

Ghori again attacked Prithiviraj with a stronger army and defeated him. Prithiviraj along with his courtier Chand Bardai was brought to Afganistan.

Samyukta along with other women committed a Jauhar and ended life instead of surrendering to the lust of Sultan.

The name Samyukta has originated from a Sanskrit word which means united. As such it is believed that people with this name play the role of a unifier in peer group or family. The love story of Prithviraj and Samyukta is one of the many legendary love stories prevalent in India. In modern times the name Samyukta is equally popular as the good name of a daughter across all parts of India.

Off late, Rajkumar Santoshi, the ace director from bollywood, has taken up the mammoth task of portraying the love story of Samyukta and Prithviraj by capturing it on celluloid