CharacterRaghuvamsha
Bharata: FAQ & Sources
भरतPrince of Ayodhya; regent during Rama's exile. Also called Kaikeyinandana.
Bharata, son of Dasharatha and Kaikeyi, refused the throne his mother won for him. He went to Chitrakoot to bring Rama back and, when Rama refused, ruled Ayodhya for fourteen years as a hermit at Nandigram with Rama's sandals on the throne.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bharata?
Rama's brother, son of Dasharatha and Kaikeyi, who refused the throne and ruled as Rama's regent.
Why did Bharata put Rama's sandals on the throne?
To show that Rama was the true king and that he ruled only in his name.
Where did Bharata live during Rama's exile?
At Nandigram, outside Ayodhya, as an ascetic.
What is Bharat Milap?
The re-enactment of Bharata's reunion with Rama, held after Dussehra, famously at Varanasi.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya and Yuddha Kandas
- Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand
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