Written by Bhu__2007

The daughter of Sukaushal and Amritaprabha, The princess of Dakshina Kosal, The wife of Dasharath, The Queen of Ayodhya, The sister figure of Kaikeyi and Sumitra, The mother of Shanta and Ram, The mother in law of Rishyashringa and Sita, The incarnation of .She is KAUSHALYA!

Kaushalya was the daughter of King Sukaushal and Queen Amritaprabha of Dakshina Kosal. Legends say that she was the incarnation of Dhara (Brahmini) wife of Dronavasu.

When Kaushalya attains the age of marriage, she is married to Dasharath, son of Aja. She was the first wife of Dasharath and the head Queen of Ayodhya.

After few years, a daughter was born to King Dasharath and Kaushalya, whose name was Shanta. She too was a dharma follower like her mother. One day, Kaushalya's sister Varshini came to Ayodhya with her husband Sompad. Sompad was the king of Angadesh but had no child. Seeing their sorrow, Dasarath gave him his daughter Shanta for adoption.

This decision of Dasharath was taken by him alone without discussing with the mother of Shanta and his wife. Kaushalya was heartbroken with Dasharath's decision, but being a son of the great RaghuKul, Dasharath didn't wanted to break the promise that he had given to Sompada and tainting the powerful lineage.

Kaushalya was depressed when she got to know Dasharath's marriage with Kaikeyi, the princess of Kekeya. She loved her husband truly, but in turn Dasharath gave her just sadness in different forms. Shanta was with her mother at that time consoling her mother and bridging the gap between the 2 wives of Dasharath. And very soon, Kaushalya and Kaikeyi were close and became sisters!

The time when Dasharath married Sumitra, Kaikeyi was broken but Kaushalya gave her the support she needed that time. She was sad too. Her husband married soo many times for a heir to the great clan. Just for a son, he married many girls. (A/N: It is said in Valmiki Ramayana that Dasharath had 350 other wives EXCLUDING Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. So totally, Dasharath had 353 wives.)

Sumitra also became like a little sister to both Kaushalya and Kaikeyi. They spent most of time talking and laughing to their heart's content. They used to share everything with each other. Pain, Cry, Happiness, Joy. Everything!

Dasharath desperately wanted a son. But, his wishes were not fulfilled. One day, according to the advice of Vasistha, Dasharath sent the girls of the kingdom to make Rishi Rishyashringa to let him get to know about the existence of women in the world and eventually marry him so that he can perform the putra kameshti yagna. (Read the part 'Shanta' if you want a detailed information about this in this book)

And unfortunately, no women could succeed in it. Lastly, Shanta, the daughter of Kaushalya asked her father the permission for her to go and try. Kaushalya tried to make her understand with the help of Kaikeyi and Sumitra. But, Dasharath didn't pay heed to a mother's request and made the arrangements for Shanta to go.

Kaushalya's pleads didn't effect Dasharath. And unfortunate to Kaushalya, Shanta succeeded in the accomplished task. Kaushalya's world broke down. Her daughter, who was a princess and who had the capability to rule the whole Bharatvarsh was being married to a rishi. She just hoped and blessed for a happy life.

Dasharath wanted a heir who could continue the dynasty and he just wanted a son. And for that if he had to sacrifice his wives and daughter's happiness, then he would do it.

After the wedding of Shanta and Rishyashringa, Rishyashringa did the putra kameshti yagna. The putr kameshti yagna performed by the son in law of Dasharath succeeded. The dark-skinned deity of fire Agni, gave Dasharath a bowl of Payasam (kheer) and instructed him to give the kheer to his wives.

It is said that Dasharath gave 3/4th of the kheer to Kaushalya and the rest to Kaikeyi. Kaushalya and Kaikeyi gave some kheer of their share to Sumitra. Months later, Kaushalya gave birth to Ram, Kaikeyi to Bharat and Sumitra to Lakshman and Shatrugna. As Lakshman and Shatrugna were born from the share of the kheer of Kaushalya and Kaikeyi respectively, the twins would always be devoted to their elder brothers. Lakshman to Ram and Shatrugna to Bharat.

Kaushalya always had worry for her daughter. Sacrificing her royal life, Shanta had married Rishyashringa just to see her father happy. Kaushalya had developed a strong bond with all sons of Dasharath. Though Kaikeyi and Sumitra had given birth to Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrugna, she treated all 3 of them equal to Ram.

The Gurukul period of the scions of Ikshvaku was another pain for Kaushalya. The pain of the separation of a mother from her sons. But she didn't become a hurdle for her kids but encouraged them to be fierce warriors. She waited for her sons to return from the Gurukul to embrace them once again in her motherly affection.

After the princes coming back from Gurukul, Brahmarishi Vishwamitra requested Dasharath to send his son Ram with him to kill the demoness and her sons Tataka, Subahu and Maricha.

But Dasharath did not wanted to let Ram go with him. After much of explanation from the rishi, he agreed to send him with him. But not whole heartedly. Kaushalya too objected this. "How can a 'mere' teen boy kill a demoness whom even mighty kings couldn't defeat?" was the question of concern.

Kaushalya blessed her son for victory whole heartedly and prayed the Almighty to keep her sons safe. After a few days, information came to the waiting mother that her both sons Ram and Lakshman had defeated and killed Tataki and Subahu. Her happiness knew no bounds. Her prayers and her son's hardwork were answered. She also got to know that the trio Vishwamitra, Ram and Lakshman were off to Mithila to have a look at the great Pinaka.

Everytime a messenger came with an information, Kaushalya felt proud of her son even more. Firstly, it was her son defeating and killing the most feared demoness Tataki, the next was her son when he made Ahalya get rid of the curse, and the last one filled Kaushalya with abundance of joy. Her son lifting the heavy divine bow and winning the hand of the eldest daughter of Mithila.

Dashrath along with Bharat and Shatrugna made their way to Mithila to grace the wedding. After seeing the the younger daughter and the nieces of Janak, Dasharath asked him for his 3 sons. Mandavi to Bharat, Urmila to Lakshman and Shruthakirthi to Shatrugna to which Janak gladly agreed.

The 3 Queens went ecstatic knowing about the wedding of their 4 sons and made all the preparations to welcome the daughters in law of the great clan of Raghu. When the newly wedded brides arrived to Ayodhya for the first time, Kaushalya along with Kaikeyi and Sumitra made sure that their 4 daughters were comfortable in the palace and showered them immense love.

After a few months, Dasharath announced the coronation of her son, Ram in the absence of Bharat and Shatrugna. But that was not the time to think about it as they had lot of preparations to be made as the coronation was announced the very next day. Everything was going well. Kaushalya was so happy with the events happening but it didn't last long.

The day of coronation she got to know that it was cancelled as Kaikeyi had asked her 2 boons from Dasharath which he had given to her as she had saved him in a battle against the demons. Kaushalya got to know that her sister Kaikeyi had used her boons. First one to coronate Bharat and the second one was to send Ram to 14 years of exile in the Dandakaranya forest.

The hour of examination of the character and patience of Kaushalya came at this point of time. Kaushalya then told Ram to rebel against his father's decision and pleaded not to go to the forest, but the same Kaushalya had filled his son's mind with qualities that told him not to do so. With this, Kaushalya's daughter-in-law Sita and Sumitra's son Lakshman also decided to go to exile.

She pleaded her son to take her also with them but he politely refused asking her to take care of his wailing father. In the end, Kaushalya, while showing patience, accepted Ram's exile and took care of her weeping husband. With a heavy heart, Kaushalya sent both her sons and daughter-in-law away for exile.

After, Ram, Sita and Lakshman leaves Ayodhya taking the blessings of everyone, Dasharath's health starts deterioting while he tries all the possible ways to bring back Ram. But all in vain. He also abandoned his favourite wife Kaikeyi blaming her for the turn of events.

Dasharath eventually becomes blind and after a few days of continuous wailings and regrets, he takes his last breath chanting the name of his son, Ram. All this while, Kaushalya puts her pain aside and takes care of her husband but he too dies leaving her back.

While all this was happening, Bharat had gone to his maternal grandfather's house in Kaikeya with Shatrugna and their wives. When he came back, he came to know about the whole event. Hearing this, he abandoned his mother Kaikeyi and went to Kaushalya to apologize.

It is mentioned in the Ramayana that on seeing Bharat, Kaushalya started crying and in that she started seeing the image of her Ram.

Bharat and Shatrugna completed the final rites of Dasharath and decided to go to Chitrakoot to bring back Ram, Sita and Lakshman. Kaushalya along with the remorseful Kaikeyi and other members of the Royal family accompanied Bharat and Shatrugna.

They pleaded to Ram to come back to Ayodhya, but Ram refused to return to fulfil his father's word. Kaushalya was very happy to see these ideals of her son but for fourteen years she was being devoured by her son. As Bharat declined the throne, he brought back Ram's padukas and placed it on the throne and administrate the kingdom in Ram's name.

These fourteen years were the harshest years of Kaushalya's life as the royal family of Ayodhya was completely destroyed. Her husband had died, Sumitra was aiding her, Kaikeyi became far from everyone and locked herself up, her son had gone into exile along with Lakshman and Sita, Bharat was living in Nandigram near Ayodhya, Shatrugna was busy in the administration work with the assistant of Mandavi, Urmila and Shruthakirthi. The whole palace was deserted.

Finally, after 14 years of long wait, Ram, Sita and Lakshman returned back to Ayodhya and Ram was crowned as the Emperor of Ayodhya and her daughter in law Sita as the Empress. They together came out from the memories of the past.

The news of Sita being pregnant was spread to the whole kingdom like fire. The whole royal family were joyous with it. But again, it didn't sustain long. Sita was exiled alone as the citizens doubted her character. A dark gloom surrounded their lives once again.

After few years, Ram performed the Ashwamedha Yagna. He had the faith in er son that he won't remarry. And that faith remained the same all throughout her life. But the Ashwamedha horse was stopped by her own grandsons. Unknown that fact, Bharat, Lakshman, Shatrugna and even the monkey king Sugreeva fought with the two kids but were defeated.

Hanuman, using his power of devotion got to know their real identity and surrendered to the sons of Sita. Ram, who had also been to fight with his sons was timely stopped by Sita and revealed the identity breaking the ice between the father-son duo.

Once Sita had witnessed the acceptance of her children by Rama, Sita sought final refuge in the arms of her mother . Hearing her plea for release from an unjust world and from a life that had rarely been happy, the Earth dramatically split open; Bhoomi appeared and took Sita away.

Few years later, Kaushalya too died due to ageissues. It is said that she is born as Devaki in her next birth.

A/N: Kaushalya, the mother of the 7th incarnation of Vishnu never had an easy life. But she didn't lose it. She stood up strongly and bravely overcame the hurdles in her life. Destiny tests us in many ways. One has only 2 options, overcoming it with a strong will or bowing your head down to the destiny's plays. Option is yours.

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10th May 2021
Monday