#1 - KAIKEYI

The role of Kaikeyi in Srimad Ramayana is known to everybody, as she forms the basis of entire epic. In the list of persons who had done good and who had resorted to bad deeds were well said in the end of this divine drama. Kaikeyi though responsible for Rama's exile was given an exalted status. So if we analyze Kaikeyi with her exceptional qualities, characters and special merits, we can understand goodness in everyone in Valmiki's kavyam.

1.Kaikeyi chose to ask boons only after long period, and she was not in hurry to demand the two boons, which was offered by Dasaratha for her timely service to fix the wheel of a chariot while it was broken in a war.So she had patience and had helping tendency in time of distress.

2. Kaikeyi is not hard natured, hard fibred, hard hearted woman and she did repent, reformed and realized. Kaikeyi came to regret her actions when Dasaratha died of the grief of having banished his son. She came to blame herself for his death.PeriAzhwar's Thirumozhi,"Nerintha Karunguzhal (3.10)",contains what Hanuman informed some episodes to Sita as told by SriRama . In this ,it is found as "Kalakkiya mamanasththinalai Kaikesi varam venda ". He states Kaikeyi by nature is a good woman. But unfortunately her mind being confused once and asked her boons at that time . Dasaratha also reluctantly told Rama to go to forest first .So Azhwar also followed in his Thirumozhi only about Rama as "kulakkumara Kaduraiyappo". The above lines are found even in Periavachan Pillai's DivyaPrabhanda Pasura Ramayanam.

3.For a woman to plot to get the kingdom for her own son is nothing extraordinary. She exercised her right and in the direction of natural affection towards an only son. She had in her possession boons granted by the husband long kept in suspense. Kaikeyi's status in Ramayana helps to establish that no son should criticize his mother at any cost.Rama thought it was ungracious on Bharatha's part to denounce his mother in such unlimited language and says the mother is as good as father. "Mathapithrubyam mukthohm ".A sentiment which we must remember and such authority resides in the mother's wish as in the father's. (II .104.22) . So Kaikeyi behaved like a sincere mother only,but Bharatha's affection was only on his brother Rama and not on his mother.

4. Kaikeyi's affection,and love bore first for SriRama only.It was genuine and steady. It was not easily dislodged from mind not till Manthara painted to her in lucid colours the fate would overtake. When Bharatha went to bring Rama back, Kaikeyi came along with Kausalya and Sumitra, in the same carriage shows that she also desired return of Sri Rama. Kaikeyi's belief in Rama is proof , greater than any in the world of Rama's real greatness. Kaikeyi a strong willed woman loved Rama more than she loved Bharat.

5. Kaikeyi married Dasaratha after the latter had promised her father that the son born of her womb would succeed him as King of Kosala. Dasaratha was able to make this promise as his first wife, Kausalya, was childless and not likely to produce a son of her own. Kaikeyi's personality is worth examining and provides a strong clue to her motivations which later led to her insisting on the exile of her stepson from Ayodhya.

6.Kaikeyi's compliments on Rama when Bharata was in angry on noting Rama banished by Dasaratha shows her firmness. When Bharata on return from kekaya ,asked Kaikeyi on messages of his father, "Ramethi raja vilapan ha seethe lakshmanethi cha" which means people seeing Rama, lakshmana and sita returning are lucky one.Then when asked details ,she told about their forest life. Bharatha then asked "why they have gone to forest , what harm they did". Kakeyi then said as Na Rama paratharamscha chakshubyarmapi pasyathi'. This testimony on Rama as '"Rama won't even look at another woman" shows she loved all sons of Dasaratha equally. Rama loved and respected her more than Kausalya. Only a temporary weakness in her executed the plan of Rama's exile.

7. She had abilities , talents of a kind, but abused them for self aggrandizement. God used her as an instrument in His mission. Before Rama vanquished Ravana he had to exaggerate the differences between power, greed, arrogance and meekness, selflessness and humility. Therefore the drama of being exiled and cut off from Ayodhya was crucial to his plan. And thus made Kaikeyi as an unwitting partner.

8. Dasaratha did not yield to the charms of Kaikeyi. He was no longer under voluptuous influence .He was bound by solemn oaths. Infatuation for Kaikeyi is not there, but the promise he had made to her in days gone by. Kaikeyi believed as a man who would fulfill his father's promise at all cost. Rama only said as Dasaratha's promise to Kaikeyi must be kept.

9. In Ashok Banker’s series on the Ramayana, he has resolved the issue of Kaikeyi’s character beautifully. Manthara is an agent of Ravana and versed in the dark arts. She drugs Kaikeyi to keep her in her room and transforms a slave to the splitting image of the queen. Then the slave, looking like Kaikeyi, acts out the events of that fateful night. Kaikeyi remains true to her character and her honor is maintained.

10. Kaikeyi was highly talented and skilled in many arts, including the training needed for charioteering during war times. It is one thing to hold the reins and drive a chariot in ordinary times and it is an entirely different art when it comes to do the same thing in a battlefield. There, the charioteer should be able to read the situation and act tactfully.

Sri Rama was the upholder and embodiment of Dharma. He protected it by his mental courage and disciplined life. When he left for the forest for fourteen years to honour the pledge by his father given to Kaikeyi , people praised him as "He is a talisman, the very dharma which he protected , so that dharma in turn protect him from all harms.". So Kaikeyi can be said as more tha a normal woman and we can name our child as Kaikeyi as she was daughter of Kekaya Rajya.