villainous acts in the Ramayana: She
forces Rama into fourteen years of exile
in the forest, a major event in the epic’s
plot. Despite her evil action, she is not
considered an evil person, but rather a
person who acts out of love for her son
yet who is burdened with extremely bad
judgment and bad advice. When
Dasharatha announces that he intends
to anoint Rama as the heir to the throne,
Kaikeyi is as happy as everyone else.
Rama has always respected her as much
as his own mother, Kausalya, and has
treated Bharata as his equal. But as the
day of the ceremony approached,
Kaikeyi’s mind is slowly poisoned by her
maid, Manthara. Manthara convinces
Kaikeyi that after Rama has been
crowned the heir-apparent, she and
Bharata will be treated as little more
than chattel, or objects, if they are
allowed to live at all.
Kaikeyi’s concern for her son leads
her to drastic action. Many years before,
Dasharatha gave Kaikeyi two boons, or
rewards, for her help in winning a great
battle. She has never redeemed theseboons, but now demands that
Dasharatha exile Rama to the forest for
fourteen years and crown Bharata as
ruler in his place. Dasharatha pleads
with Kaikeyi, but she does not change
her mind. He is finally forced to grant
her wish. Kaikeyi’s request brings her
disgrace not only from her husband,
who curses her for separating him from
Rama, but also from her son. Bharata
rebukes Kaikeyi for depriving Rama of
what is rightfully his, and refuses to rule
until Rama orders him to serve in his
place during the exile. The only person
who does not condemn her is Rama,
whom the epic portrays as serenely
happy to obey his parents’ commands,
whatever they might be.Kailas
Himalayan peak in southwestern Tibet
renowned as a pilgrimage place (tirtha)
for both Hindus and Buddhists. In
Hindu mythology, Kailas is believed to
be Mount Meru, the center of the uni-
verse. It is also believed that the top ofKailas
Mount Kailas, overlooking the Chiu Monastery in Tibet. Kailas is considered to be the mythic
Mount Meru, home of the god Shiva and the center of the universe.