Damayanthi’s Choice: My Debut Historical Romance Novel is Based on the Tradition of Swayamvara

In ancient India, a custom called Swayamvara was practiced where a bride could choose her groom. Swayam in Sanskrit means self. Vara means groom. As societal structures changed, this custom vanished as the authority to select a life partner shifted from individuals to family and community. For royal households, kings arranged marriages to serve dynastic interests rather than personal preferences, further contributing to the decline of this tradition.

My new book, “King in Hiding,” is set during the period when royal families held swayamvara for their daughters. This practice bestowed power on a girl to control her destiny. But along with that power came nagging doubts. How did one choose a partner to share a lifetime with?

If you were Sita, the daughter of King Janaka, then the choice was easy. When Sita was a child, her ball rolled behind a celestial bow gifted to her father. The girl effortlessly lifted the bow in one hand to retrieve her toy. Her father witnessed this. He decided a man worthy of her should be able to string the bow. But none of us have a celestial bow to help us make this decision.

That is why the swayamvara story of Nala and Damayanthi fascinated me. Their tale appeared as part of the Mahabharata epic and was retold in the Tamil Nalavenba poem. As a child, what captured my imagination was the swan that acted as the messenger between Nala and Damayanthi. King Nala encountered a beautiful swan in his garden and captured the bird.

The swan informed him that Princess Damayanthi, who embodied the divine female qualities, was the perfect match for him. Smitten by the swan’s words, Nala requested the swan to be his messenger to Damayanthi. The two fall in love without ever meeting in person. Damayanthi’s father organized a swayamvara for her, inviting all the eligible royal men. The messengers reached King Nala, and he set off immediately to her palace.

On hearing about her swayamvara, four devas, Indra, Agni, Varun, and Yama, depart for her swayamvara, intent on marrying Damayanthi. In our quest for a life partner, we mortals don’t have to worry about devas competing for our hands. Damayanthi’s resolute desire to marry Nala became known to the devas, and they transformed into Nala.

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When Damayanthi arrived at the swayamvara hall, she saw five Nalas gracing the chamber. Despite this trickery, Damayanthi noticed that only one of the men wore a flower garland that started to wilt, separating the mortal from the immortals. Recognizing him as the Nala of her heart, she placed her garland around his neck. Only a few of us know our hearts this well. For the rest of us, a fictional world can act as a mirror, revealing our doubts and fears. Stories divulge the questions we should be asking ourselves, and while reading a novel, our subconscious mind finds answers to them. This is why stories have endured for millennia.

My debut Historical Romance novel, “King in Hiding,” based on the tradition of swayamvara, tells a tale of love. This tale portrays the tumultuous dance between love and fear, what it means to open one’s heart to love, risk hurt, and ultimately discover the strength to overcome those fears. In the midst of a battle, a chance encounter between a young king and a spirited princess sets the stage for a passionate and unforgettable romance. I explore what it means to seek a marriage of equals, and I hope the tale set in ancient India resonates with a modern audience.

Without a time machine, Anna Bushi spends her day traveling to medieval India, avoiding prowling tigers, trampling elephants, and hiding from scheming royalty. She keeps trying to leave, but every time she gets close, she realizes she forgot her notes on sword fighting or the secret to casting a spell. You can find her books at https://annabushi.com