Bharata (Ramayana)
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In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Bharata (Sanskrit: भरत, IAST Bharata) was the second brother of the main protagonist Lord Rama, and the son of Emperor Dasaratha and Kaikeyi of the Solar Dynasty. It is said that after Rama, he was the symbol of dharma and idealism. A few commentators, however, deem Bharata to be even greater than Lord Rama himself in virtue. He is considered to be born in the aspect of the Sudarshana Chakra, the most famous of Vishnu's Panchayudhas.
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[edit] Birth
Bharata was the second of the four sons of Dasaratha. Although the Ramayana describes all four brothers as loving and devoted to one another, Bharata was generally closer to Shatrughna and Lakshmana was closer to Rama..................
[edit] Exile of Rama
The Ramayana relates how Kaikeyi beytrayed the king into promising to put Bharatha on the throne of Ayodhya and banish Rama into exile in to the forest for 14 years.
[edit] Bharata's response
Bharata was away from Ayodhya when Rama went into exile. When he learned of the exile, he was mortified. He severely reprimanded his mother, and immediately declared his intention of bringing Rama back from the forests, and if need be, of serving out his exile for him. When the people of Ayodhya and the numerous allies of Rama learned of this, their scorn and hatred towards Bharata (born out the assumption that he had a role in Rama's exile) dissolved, and he was immediately made immortal in fame to the world by his selflessness, honour for his family's fame and tradition, adherence to truth and righteousness and last but not least, love for his older brother.
Ayodhya's guru Vasishta stated that no one had learned the lessons of dharma better than Bharata.
[edit] 'King' of Ayodhya
After delivering the painful news of their father's death to Rama and Lakshmana, Bharata argued in vain to convince Rama to return, or to allow himself to stay with him. When both Rama and the Guru Vasishta said that this would be unrighteous, Bharata was deeply disappointed. Bharata then returned to Ayodhya after receiving a promise from Rama that he would return promptly at the end of the fourteen years of exile. He vowed to Rama that if Rama did not return immediately when the fourteen years elapsed, he would give his life up by immolation.
He agreed to govern Ayodhya, not as its ruler, but only as Rama's representative. The people supported Bharata, as he became the 'king' of Kosala and Ayodhya, but Bharata himself placed Rama's sandals at the foot of the royal throne, and neither sat upon the throne nor crowned himself.
Bharata's reign was righteous, and the kingdom was safe and prosperous, but Bharata continuously longed for Rama's return. During this time he did not forgive his mother Kaikeyi, and diligently served Kousalya, Rama's mother, and Sumitra, Lakshmana's mother.
The deep love and esteem that Rama had for Bharata is evidenced from Rama's declaration that his love for Hanuman was on par with that of his love for Bharata.
[edit] King of Takshshila
It is also known that Bharat conquered the Gandharavas and created his kingdom of takshisila conprising of present day, Punjab region, Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia. It is evident by the Uzbek capital city's name Tashkent that it is derived indeed from the word "Takshishila." The present-day Indian city of taxila is also a mark of his rule.
[edit] Return of Rama
When the fourteen year period of exile elapsed, Rama had just vanquished Ravana, the rakshasa emperor of Lanka.
Remembering Bharata's vow, an anxious and worried Rama sent Hanuman ahead of himself to prevent Bharata from sacrificing his life.
Upon Rama's return to Ayodhya, Bharata led the procession to greet the rightful king and queen, and his brother Lakshmana. Although Rama intended to crown Lakshmana the Yuvaraja, or Crown Prince after his own coronation, Lakshmana pointed out that Bharata's great virtues and years of experience as Ayodhya's administrator qualified him better, and thus he was immediately made Yuvaraja by Rama.
[edit] Retirement
When Rama decided to retire, Bharata and Shatrughna joined him. When Rama walked into the river Sarayu, he transformed into his eternal and original Mahavishnu form, which Bharata and Shatrughna walked into the river also and united with him.
[edit] External links
| The Rāmāyaņa by Valmiki |
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| Characters |
| Dasaratha | Kausalya | Sumitra | Kaikeyi | Janaka | Manthara | Rama | Bharata | Lakshmana | Shatrughna | Sita | Urmila | Mandavi | Shrutakirti | Viswamitra | Ahalya | Jatayu | Sampati | Hanuman | Sugriva | Vali | Angada | Jambavantha | Vibhishana | Tataka | Surpanakha | Maricha | Subahu | Khara | Ravana | Kumbhakarna | Mandodari | Mayasura | Indrajit | Prahasta | Akshayakumara | Atikaya | Lava | Kusha |
| Other |
| Ayodhya | Mithila | Lanka | Sarayu | Treta Yuga | Raghuvamsa | Lakshman Rekha | Aditya Hridayam | Oshadhiparvata | Sundara Kanda | Pushpaka Vimana | Vedavati | Vanara |
| Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa |  |
|---|---|
| Female Deities: Gayatri | Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Sita | Devi | Radha | Mahavidya | more... | |
| Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Kartikeya | Hanuman | Lakshmana | Indra | Surya | more... | |
| Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | |
