Kaikeyi

Featuring in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, Kaikeyi was the third consort of King Dasharatha, making her the Queen of Ayodhya. A Princess of Kekeya, she was also a fierce and powerful warrior and a mother, as well as a stepmother to Rama, her husband’s son.

 

Kaikeyi was initially loving and kind towards Rama, even rejoicing when he was selected to be the next King, after her husband. However, her maid, Manthara, worked to turn Kaikeyi against her stepson, fearful of her mistress losing her place and power at court. Manthara poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind, convincing her that if Rama became King, his own mother would have more status at court and be the most important of all Dasharatha’s Queens. In addition, Kaikeyi’s own son, Bharata, would be cut out of the royal lineage forever.

 

Though this didn’t convince Kaikeyi immediately, she was eventually turned against her stepson and asked her husband for two things. He had granted her two boons early in their marriage and this she demanded of him now: that her son, Bharata, be the next in line for the throne and that Rama be banished to the forest for fourteen years. Dasharatha was deeply upset by these requests, but eventually complied, exiling his eldest son.

 

Six days later, the King died of a broken heart and Kaikeyi blamed herself for his death. To make matters worse, Bharata swore he would not claim the throne that he knew belonged to his brother. In addition, as he blamed Kaikeyi for his father’s death, he also swore never to call her mother again.

 

Kaikeyi repented sending Rama away and, upon his return, apologised to him. Rama touched her feet and told her there was nothing to forgive, insisting instead that Bharata forgive his mother. Rama defended Kaikeyi further, explaining to Bharata that what she did was what any mother would have done for their children. He claimed that for better or worse, a mother will always protect their child and so Bharata should not be angry with her.

 

There is a lot said about Kaikeyi; mainly that she was a jealous woman and a wicked stepmother. But at heart, she was thinking of her son and acted to protect him.