Introduction

Welcome to the Swayamvara! As you can see there is food aplenty and flowers galore. The smells seem to be fighting for your nose, the battle between the lotuses, lilies, and steamed dishes of various meats laced with spices. By now you are probably realistically thinking how could anyone afford to have such a lavish gathering for a Swayamvara, or a wedding where the bride chooses the most suitable groom usually through a challenge. However, the challenge is often not that simple. For instance Rama in the tale of the Ramayana had to prove that he could lift the bow of Shiva and break it to prove worthy of marrying Sita, a feat unaccomplished by any man prior. These swayamvaras are often full of drama too, like the abduction of Amba and her sisters in the Mahabharata. Back to the question at hand on about how these Swayamvaras are paid for. The answer is quite simple: these events are hosted by kings, and word of these events is spread far and wide in order to attract the most people and best potential husband for the king's daughter or daughters.

Most of the food and flowers can be purchased from within the kingdom, but even wealth can only go so far. Since these events are so monumental no expense is spared, meaning sometimes lives are lost in the pursuit of the prettiest flower or the spiciest spice. These details are often glossed over in such epics as the Ramayana. It mentions these decorations and feasts but not how they came about.

There are many stories of how waterlilies, lotuses, flax flowers, and so on are regarded as more than just flowers, but also as appeasements to the gods and various heroes. For instance, flax is often compared to the complexion of Krishna and lotuses are compared to the beauty of the gods. Also, the crown flower and kewda flower are both said to please the gods with their aromas, and consequently they serve as a symbol of life and purpose. This value means they are often protected by mythical creatures that value them for other reasons. One such story is how a king monkey jumps over a lake to grab lotuses without disturbing the monster that dwells within.

As briefly mentioned before, spices also play an important part. For instance, turmeric and garlic bring well-being. That being said, both flowers and spices play important parts of a Swayamvara. This storybook will tell a great deal of stories pertaining to flowers and spices and their role that they play.