Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi was born to King Ashvapati of Kekeya shortly before her mother was exiled. She was raised with her only mother figure being her hunchbacked nursemaid, Manthara. She was very fierce as she was raised with seven brothers, including her twin Yuddhajit.

Later, Dasharatha, with the approval of the royal assembly, selected Ram to be crowned King. Kaikeyi was delighted and as happy as she would have been had it been her own son, Bharat's, coronation. However, Manthara, Kaikeyi's nurse, became worried that Kaikeyi would lose her status as Chief Queen at Court if Ram ascended the throne, as Kausalya would thus become Queen Mother. She decided to instigate trouble. She tried to fuel Kaikeyi's jealousy and envy of Kausalya by reminding her that her son's coronation would give Kausalya her former status as the most important of Dasharatha's Queens and would cut Bharat out of the royal lineage forever, but this had no effect on Kaikeyi at the time.[1]

Manthara later convinced Kaikeyi to demand the two boons granted to her years earlier by Dasharatha. King Dasharatha was obliged to fulfill them. Kaikeyi demanded that Bharata be crowned king and Ram be sent to the forest for fourteen years. Hearing this, Dasharatha fell into a swoon and passed the night in a pitiable condition in Kaikeyi's palace. Kaikeyi said that according to the two boons granted by Dasharatha, Ram should go to the forest for 14 years and Bharat must become the king.[1]

After sending Ram into exile, a grief-stricken Dasharatha died of a broken heart six days after Ram left Ayodhya. Kaikeyi came to blame herself for this death. Furthermore, Bharat swore never to ascend the throne as it was his older brother's birthright. He further blamed her for his father's death and swore never to address her as "Mother" again. It is reported that this is the reason why the name Kaikeyi is seldom heard of. Realizing her mistake, Kaikeyi repented sending her most beloved son away for 14 years.

After Ram's return, she apologized to him for her sins. Ram touched her feet and said there was no need to ask for forgiveness as he did not feel bad about what happened. He insisted to Bharat that he should forgive his mother. Further defending Kaikeyi, Ram also argued to Bharat that this is just what mothers do, whether it is good or bad, it is for the betterment of their children, not for themselves, so it is not good to be angry and sour with them.

Kaikeyi said that according to the two boons granted by Dasharatha, Ram should go to the forest for 14 years and Bharat must become the king.

Kaikeyi's nature and her relationships are quite revealing in Ayodhya Kand of Valmiki Ramayan.[2] Kaikeyi maintained strong relations with her maternal family even after her wedding to King Dasharath. Her brother Yudhajit visits her many times and takes a keen interest in the life of her son Bharat, often taking Bharat and Shatrughna away to the Kaikeya kingdom for vacation.[3]

Kaikeyi helped her husband Dasharath in the Dandaka forest while he was at war. While Kaikeyi saved the king in the war, as per mythology her left hand was strong as a diamond (a boon from a Saint) so the king accompanied her during wars.

Kaikeyi was the king's favorite queen. Kaikeyi's nature is described as being temperamental and unpredictable. While mostly she was sweet mannered, it is evident that she disliked the king spending time with his other queens. King Dasharatha mentions that he did not treat his queen Kausalya deservedly due to fear of Kaikeyi's tantrums.

Kaikeyi seemed almost naive when it came to understanding the rights of the four princes to Ayodhya's throne. She naively mentions to her maid Manthara that Bharat can rule Ayodhya after Ram, not really understanding the genealogical inheritance to the throne. It is Manthara who educates Kaikeyi of the rights to ascension to the throne.

Kaikeyi's naive nature and sweetness were transformed into obstinacy and power-hunger; all in the name of her son Bharat's welfare. Bharat contests her views vociferously and despises her for her act of banishing the rightful heir Ram to forests as if punishing him for no fault of his. King Dasharath tries to reason with her in terms of internal security of the kingdom, people's will, the Court's decision to crown Ram; none of which seems reasonable to her. Dasharath appeals to Kaikeyi to give the kingdom to Ram which was in her power but she fails to do so. Finally, King Dasharatha renounces her, yet he is unable to separate himself from her. He lingers on in grief in her chambers for fear of humiliation from everyone outside those chambers.

• Mata Kaushalya Temple