Svayamvara is a Sanskrit word that means "I am the
Lord." (“self-choice”) In Hindu mythology, a kind of marriage in which the
bride chooses the husband she wants and places her garland around his neck to
show her preference.
The bride-to-be is frequently of royal ancestry, as are her
suitors, in tales where a svayamvara happens, therefore the bride's decision
was loaded with political ramifications.
The mythological svayamvara of Nala and Damayanti, in which
Damayanti favors Nala above the gods who have come as suitors, is one of the
most well-known mythic svayamvaras.
An dissatisfied suitor cursed the pair to suffer separation
and poverty in this fable, illustrating the risks of such a decision.