Written by Bhu__2007

The daughter of Aswapathi, the princess of Kekeya, the loved sister of Yudhjit and 6 other brothers, the wife of Dasharath, the Queen of Ayodhya, the mother of Bharat, and the Iron Lady of Bharatvarsh. She is KAIKEYI!

Kaikeyi exactly means 'The Princess of Kekeya'. The ruler of Kekeya, Ashwapathi had no children for many years. Consulting the royal priest of Kekeya, the royal family served the Sages who were living in Rishi Varsha. One of the sages was pleased with the service of the royal family of Kekaya. He prayed to Lord Surya to bless Ashwapathi with children. Lord Surya appeared and blessed Ashwapati with a son and a daughter. His wife became pregnant and twins were born to them at Arkakshetra. The rishi named the boy Yudhajit and the girl Kaikeyi.

As a young girl and only sister of seven brothers, Kaikeyi grew up without a maternal influence in her childhood home. Her father had banished her mother from Kekaya. The tale says that Ashwapathi could understand the language of the birds and if he reveals it to someone else, then he would die. Once when the King and Queen were taking a stroll in the garden, Ashwapathi heard the conversation of 2 swans and started laughing hysterically. Out of curiosity, the Queen asked what he heard. When Ashwapati realized that his wife cared little for his life or well-being, he banished her to her parents' home. From that day, Manthara became a motherly figure for Kaikeyi.

married Kaikeyi as his second wife. Dasharatha's first wife, Kaushalya, had not been able to conceive a child, and neither could Kaikeyi. Dasharatha also married , princess of , but she too had not been able to conceive a child for many years of marriage, as a result of which Dasharatha wasn't able to become a father of a child which increased his disappointment.

According to a version, Kaikeyi's father extracted a promise that Kaikeyi's son would ascend the throne. Dasharath agreed, as he had no son from any of his wives. But Kaikeyi did not bear a son and so Dasharath married Sumitra. Dasharath had married Kaikeyi only when his first queen, Kaushalya, was not able to conceive. Thus, the marriage took place, under some unuttered assumptions. First, Kaikeyi's son would be the future king of Ayodhya and second, that she would be the Queen Mother. All this because Kaushalya's bearing a child had been already ruled out. However, when she too could not conceive, Dasharath got married again.

Once Kaikeyi joined Dasharath on a war against Sambarasura, an enemy of both and Dasharatha. During a fierce battle between the two, the wheel of Dasharatha's chariot broke and Sambarasura's arrow pierced the King's armor and lodged in his chest. Kaikeyi, who was there as Dasharath's charioteer, quickly repaired the broken wheel and then drove the chariot away from the battlefield. She nursed the wounded King back to health. Touched by her courage and timely service, Dasharatha offered her two boons which she chose to ask for those boons later.

Dasharath performed the putra kameshti yagna with his queens. The Agni Dev appeared before them and gave Dasharath a bowl of payasam (kheer) Kaikeyi grew up without any maternal influence and always harboured a sense of insecurity about the male community, who she thought were fickle.

What if Dasharath did not love her in his later life, as he had other wives too? What if her son, Bharata did not care for her at her old age? Thanks to all these thoughts and Manthara fuelling latent ambitions, resulted in Kaikeyi seeking two boons. One, Bharata to be appointed the king and second, Ram to be banished for fourteen years.

Dasharath had no other option than fulfilling her boons being a Raghuvanshi. Ram was accompanied by Sita and Lakshman to the exile. Eventually, Dasharath abandoned her and died. After Bharat abandoned her saying that he was ashamed to call her his mother, Kaikeyi realised her actions and repented it alone.

A tale says that Kaikeyi's father Ashwapathi had heard the conversation of two migrating birds that Ravan was growing powerful day by day and only the incarnation of Vishnu who is born as the prince of Ayodhya Ram can defeat and kill him. Hearing it Ashwapathi sent a letter to Kaikeyi about the same and instructed her to send ram on exile very well known about the boons. After Aswapathi sent the letter, his health deterioted and when Kaikeyi received the letter and read it, King of Kekeya takes his last breath.

Before receiving the letter from her father, Manthara had began her try to use her boons and make Kaikeyi's son Bharat the King while Kaikeyi ignored it. But after receiving the letter from her father, she was ready to become the 'villain' in everyone's eyes including her loving husband and dear son for the welfare of the world.

She was abandoned by her husband and son. She became a widow but she didn't have her son beside her consoling. She begged everyone to let her accompany them to Chitrakoot to bring back Ram. She knew her beloved son Ram very well and knew that he would not agree to come back. And that's what happened too. Bharat declined the crown and asked for Ram's padukas that he would place on the throne and he would administrate the kingdom in Ram's name from Nandigram.

She felt proud of her 4 sons. Ram faithfully followed his father's order. Bharat didn't accept the crown rightfully. Lakshman devotedly accompanied his elder brother to the forest. Shatrugna dutifully managed the kingdom for 14 years.

For 14 years she led a life feeling proud of all her sons and daughters for carrying out their duties extremely well. She had gained Kaushalya and Sumitra's faith and trust back. Manthara was in the dungeons not disturbing the peace of the palace. Though many people and citizens despised her for her actions she bravely overcame it with the help of her family.

14 years later, she couldn't help but feel prouder of Ram for defeating and killing the demon king Ravan and delivering peace to the whole Bharatvarsh (India). She heartfully welcomed Ram, Sita and Lakshman back to the palace and forgave Bharat happily. She supported Ram and his actions as a king when Sita was sent to second exile.

She stood with Ram throughout his reign as a king and aided him in the kingdom's administration. She led her life with bravery and courageous always in her. Death of Kaikeyi is unknown.

A/N: Kaikeyi, the iron lady of Bharatvarsh and the most misunderstood character in the epic. She was forsaken by her own loved ones but she overcame it with courage. Kaikeyi is not the ‘villain’ she is one of the main lady in the Ramayan. Life tests us in many ways, but one should overcome with bravery and a smile on their face. Never give-up.

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17th May 2021
Monday