Stringing the Bow

In many ancient cultures the test of Stringing the Bow was used by Princesses to determine the power of their suitors. The test was not just about raw strength, but also about the wisdom, dexterity and skill to use that strength. 

The bow used in this type of tests were no ordinary bows but bows of renown and fame through the land. 

In Odyssey, Queen Penelope had used a special kind of double recurve bow or 'Palintonos' that many ordinary men would find difficult to lift. 

Princess Sita had used Pinaka, the Divine Bow bestowed by Lord Shiva to test the strength of her suitors in the Epic of Ramayan. 

When Samar had read about the heroics of Odysseus and Lord Ram in the epics, he too had dreamt of a day undergoing the test of stringing the bow and proving his individual power. 

However, in this modern world who would hold such tests?