Character
Kaikeyi: FAQ & Sources
कैकेयीQueen of Ayodhya; mother of Bharata. Also called Daughter of Kekaya | Dasharatha's favourite queen.
Kaikeyi was the favourite queen of Dasharatha and mother of Bharata, whose two boons — demanded under Manthara's influence — sent Rama into fourteen years of exile. One of the Ramayana's most complex and human figures.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kaikeyi?
The favourite queen of Dasharatha and mother of Bharata, whose two boons sent Rama into exile in the Ramayana.
Why did Kaikeyi want Rama exiled?
Her maid Manthara convinced her that once Rama became king, she and her son Bharata would lose their place; swayed by fear, she claimed her two boons.
What were Kaikeyi's two boons?
That her son Bharata be crowned king, and that Rama be banished to the forest for fourteen years.
Did Bharata support his mother Kaikeyi?
No — Bharata was horrified by what she had done, refused the throne, and ruled only as caretaker with Rama's sandals on the seat.
Is Kaikeyi a villain?
Tradition is divided; she caused great suffering, but some see her as an unwitting instrument of the divine plan that required Rama's exile.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda
- Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas
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