The Sweeper Bridegroom for the Princess

A Journey Begins

In the ancient land of India, courage was essential for venturing into unknown territories. A young prince of Kalinga, Purushottamdev, set forth to explore the vast country, riding proudly on his horse.

He trotted and galloped for days and weeks, leaving his city of Puri far behind. He journeyed through villages and towns, traversing rivers and hills until he finally reached the grand old city of Kanchi.

Hospitality and Charm

As soon as the King of Kanchi learned about the visit of the Prince of Kalinga, he came out to meet him and graciously offered his hospitality. Purushottamdev accepted the offer and stayed as the royal guest.

The King of Kanchi had a beautiful daughter named Padmavati. Purushottamdev saw the princess on several occasions, and her grace and charm captivated him. He wished he could remain longer in Kanchi to enjoy her company, but soon he received news that his father, the King of Kalinga, had fallen ill. He had to rush back to Puri.

Ascension to the Throne

When Purushottamdev returned, his father had passed away, and he ascended the throne. After observing the funeral rites for his father and completing the coronation festivities, he sent a messenger to Kanchi proposing to marry Princess Padmavati.

The King of Kanchi received the proposal with joy and promptly sent one of his ministers to Puri to finalize the arrangements for the marriage.

The Car Festival

It was the time of the famous Car Festival of Lord Jagannath when the minister arrived at Puri. Tens of thousands of people gathered from all corners of India to witness the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in their magnificent chariots, drawn by countless devotees.

According to ancient custom, the King of Kalinga himself would sweep the road before the chariots were drawn. This act symbolized that even a mighty king was humble before the gods.

Disdain and Defiance

Unfortunately, the Kanchi minister misunderstood this sacred custom and returned to his king with disdain, stating it would be undignified to marry Princess Padmavati to a “sweeper king.” The King of Kanchi agreed with the minister’s opinion.

Furious at the insult, Purushottamdev decided to invade Kanchi and take the princess by force. He led his army to Kanchi but faced a crushing defeat in battle.

A Humble Request

Humiliated, he retreated to Puri and prostrated himself before the deities in the great temple, weeping and praying for days. Eventually, he heard a divine voice directing him to organize another expedition against Kanchi.

Without wasting time, Purushottamdev reorganized his army and set out for Kanchi once again. Doubts lingered in his mind—was the voice truly from Lord Jagannath? He pondered these thoughts as he galloped ahead of his troops.

An Unexpected Encounter

At the banks of Lake Chilika, he encountered an old woman selling curd. “Look here, young man,” she said, “a little while ago, two riders—one white and one black—drank curd from me. They mentioned a young man who would follow and pay me if I showed him this ring.”

The woman handed the ring to Purushottamdev, who recognized it as the diamond ring of Lord Jagannath! Understanding that the divine entities had visited her and wished to reassure him, his eyes flooded with gratitude. In honor of the woman, whose name was Manika, he named the place Manikapatna, a title it holds to this day.

Victory and A New Challenge

Purushottamdev ultimately emerged victorious in his battle against Kanchi, capturing the King of Kanchi. However, he treated the king with respect and released him, refusing to annex Kanchi into his territory. He did not spare Padmavati, returning to Puri with the captive princess.

Although everyone expected him to marry Padmavati, he instead ordered his old minister, “Find a sweeper to marry her!” This command was a stark reminder that a victory was not enough to erase the insult he had endured.

A Twist of Fate

In a lonely apartment in the palace of Puri, the sad princess waited for the day she would be handed over to a sweeper as her husband.

Months passed, and once again, it was time for the Car Festival. Surrounded by kings, nobility, priests, and crowds of people, King Purushottamdev stooped to sweep the road, holding a broomstick made of gold.

At that moment, an affectionate hand touched his shoulder. Turning around, he saw his old minister smiling at him. At the minister’s signal, a veiled young lady garlanded him.

Love Blossoms

“What is this?” the bewildered king exclaimed.

<p“My lord, you ordered me to find a sweeper for Princess Padmavati to marry. Are you not sweeping at this moment? Who could be a more suitable groom for her, the goddess among princesses?” the minister replied.

Blushing at this clever twist, Purushottamdev reciprocated the garland. The crowd erupted in cheers, praising the wisdom of the minister.

Thus, Padmavati became the queen of Kalinga—a worthy queen of a great king, and Kanchi and Kalinga nurtured a bond of friendship thereafter.