Kekeya Kingdom
Kekeya Kingdom (also known as Kekaya, Kaikaya, Kaikeya etc.) was a kingdom mentioned in the ancient Indian epic
In Mahabharata, a Kekaya prince was mentioned, who joined the
References in Valmiki Ramayana
There are several references to Kaikeyi in the epic Ramayana. Kaikeyi was one of the three queens of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya. She was a Kekaya princess, and the daughter of Ashwapati. Ramayana testifies that the capital of Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama.[3] River Sudama has been identified with river Saranges of Arrian which flowed also flowed through Kekians.[4] The Vedic texts do not mention name of the capital of Kekaya but Ramayana does inform us that the Kekaya metropolis was Rajagriha or Girivraja.[5] which A. Cunningham has identified with Girjak or Jalalpur on river Jhelum in the Jhelum district [6] but this view has not been accepted by scholars.[citation needed] Ramayana further attests that Kekaya lay beyond Vipasa or Beas [7] and abutted with the country of Gandharava or Gandhara vishaya (country). Ravana, the son of Vishrava and Kaikesi (Princess of Kaikeya may be an early predecessor of Bhagawan Rama’s Step mother)[citation needed] was born in Devagana.[8] [9]
References in Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana
According to Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana also, the capital of the Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama which flowed some distance westwards from the Vitasta or Jhelum river. Prince Bharata, son of princess Kekayi, while going to Kekaya country from Ayodhya had to cross river Vitasta and then after crossing river Sudama, he reached the land of the Kekayas.[10]
References in Mahabharata
Kekaya is mentioned as an ancient Indian kingdom at (6,9).
Alliances of Kekaya brides with Puru kings
- Puru king Sarvabhauma married Sunanda, the daughter of the Kekaya prince, having obtained her by force. (1,95)
- Puru king Parikshit's son Bhimasena married Kumari, the princess of Kekaya and begot upon her Pratisravas whose son was Santanu. (1,95)
Kekaya Kings
King Sahasrachitya
There was a ruler of the Kekayas, named Sahasrachitya and he was the grandfather of king Satayupa, who was the contemporary of Kuru king Dhritarashtra. Abdicating his kingdom to his eldest son, king Sahasrachitya retired into the woods. (15,20)
King Satyayupa
Satayupa was the great king of the Kekayas. Having made over the sovereignty of his kingdom to his son he had come into the woods. Kuru king Dhritarashtra, after the Kurukshetra War was over, installed the victorious Pandava king
King Vrihatkhsatra
The Kekaya brothers (six each) who fought the Kurukshetra War, on the side of Pandavas as well as on the side of Kauravas, belonged to the next generation of Kekaya's royal family. The foremost of them was Vrihatkshatra, the eldest of the brothers who sided with the Pandavas. He was described as a king of Kekaya. He had a son named Visoka, who also fought in Kurukshetra War.
Kekaya bowmen Dyumatsena
Not much is known about this warrior from Kekaya except the following passages.
After Bhima completed his learning with Balarama, he became in strength like unto Dyumatsena himself (1,141). Dyumatsena, the chief of bowmen among the Kekayas was present in Yudhishthira's court, newly inaugurated at Indraprastha (2,3).
Kekaya's friendship with the Pandavas
The five Kekaya princes, allied with the
The five Kekaya brothers, on the Kauravas side
The five Kekaya brothers who battled on the Kauravas side in Kurukshetra War is mentioned at many places (5–61,83,144).
At (5,22) is mentioned:- deposed from the throne of the Kekaya land, and desirous of being reinstated thereon, the five mighty brothers from that land, wielding mighty bows, are now following the Pandavas ready to fight. The Panchalas and the Matsyas, along with the very herdsmen that attend on their kins and sheep, are rejoicing and gladdening Yudhishthira (5–50,53). Only one Kekaya brother is on Pandavas side.
The five royal brothers of Kekaya, accepted the Kekaya warriors (on Dhritarashtra’s side) as antagonists. And in their share are included the
host who have sworn to conquer or die. (5,57).The princes of Kekaya, and Dhrishtaketu, and the son of the
The hundred Kekaya brothers on Kaurava side
Kekayas on Kaurava side is mentioned at many places (5–19,30,198), (6,16)
The five Kekaya brothers, (probably those who sided with Duryodhana) were equated with the five
Jayadratha (the brother-in-law of Duryodhana), assisted by the Kekayas, endeavoured to ravish Draupadi (the wife of Pandavas) (11,22)
The five royal brothers, the princes of Kekaya, hastened to Duryodhana with an Akshauhini of troops, and gladdened his heart. (5,19). Kekayas were mentioned along with the Vasatis, the
The camp of the Kekayas used to have loud sound of song and slapping of palms which their soldiers, engaged in dance and revelry, used to make. (7,84)
The appearance of Kekaya brothers on Pandava side
The Kekaya brothers, were all of the hue of Indragopaka insects (mix of red and black colors) (5,141). All of them had purple flags (5,57). The five Kekaya brothers, resembling (in hue) the insects called Indragopakas, had red coats of mail, red weapons and red banners. (7,10). The five Kekaya brothers were borne by steeds of deep red hue. They were of the splendour of gold and had standards of the red hue, and were decked with chains of gold (7,23).
The Kekaya brother is lying on the ground, slain by Drona. Their coats of mail, of the splendour of heated gold, and their tall standards and cars and garlands, all made of the same metal, are shedding a bright light on the earth like so many blazing fires. (11,25)
Kekayas in Kurukshetra War
The Kekayas are said to have fought on both sides in the
Karna Parava refers to the
Mahabharata associates the Kekaya peoples with the Madras (Madraschasca saha Kekayaiha).[12] Madra-Kekayah [13]
On Pandava Side
(7–21,83,107), (8–3) Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, became protectors of
- Kekaya king is mentioned as fighting for the Pandavas at (6,52).
- The king of the Kekayas, owning an akshauhini, formed the right wing of a Pandava battle-array (6,69). The five Kekaya brothers consisted the left wing of another array at another day of the war (6,75)
- Dushasana fought with the five Kekaya brothers. (6,79)
- The chief of the Kekayas, who was equal to Bhima himself in battle and surrounded by Kekaya warriors, has been slain by Kekaya, the brother by the brother. (8,6)
- 1700 Kekaya troops, skilled in smiting, united with a body of the Panchala troops checked the Kauravas trying to capture Yudhishthira. (8,62)
- Drona, with his swift-going shafts, slew all the Kaikeyas (7,152)
- The five Kekaya brothers are lying on the ground, slain by Drona. (11,25)
Battles of Vrihadkshatra
Kripa rushed against Vrihadkshatra, the ruler of the Kaikeyas. (6,45). Excellent steeds of the Sindhu breed, of beautiful limbs, and of the hue of the smoke of straw, quickly bore the Kaikeya prince, Vrihatkshatra. (7,23). Vrihatkshatra and others rushed against Drona (7,33). The mighty car-warrior among the Kaikeyas, viz., Vrihatkshatra, incessantly scattering keen shafts that resembled the thunder in force, proceeded towards Drona; then Kshemadhurti of great fame quickly rushed against Vrihatkshatra (7,103). Having slain his foe, Kshemadhurti, the mighty car-warrior Vrihatkshatra became filled with joy (7,104). Vrihadkshatra and others rushed against Ashwatthama (7,198).
Death of Vrihatkshatra
The mighty car-warrior of the Kaikeyas, Vrihatkshatra the eldest of five brothers, rushed against Drona, the generalissimo of the Kauravas. He baffled Drona's Brahma weapon with his Brahmna weapon. Drona, with a third shaft well-shot from his bow, pierced Vrihatkshatra himself in the chest. Thereupon, the latter, thus struck in the chest, fell down from his car, slain. (7,122).(8,5)
Death of Kekaya Prince Visoka and Kekaya commander Ugrakarman
Karna slew Visoka, the son of the ruler of the Kaikayas. Upon the slaughter of the Kaikaya prince, the commander of the Kaikaya division, Ugrakarman, rushed with speed and striking Prasena, Karna's son. Then Karna, with three crescent-shaped arrows, cut off the arms and the head of his son’s assailant. (8,82)
On Kaurava Side
The Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis, the Salwas, the Matsyas, the Amvashtas, the Trigartas, and the Kekayas, the Sauviras, the Kitavas, and the dwellers of the Eastern, Western, and the Northern countries,--these twelve brave races protected the Kaurava generalissimo, Bhishma. (6,18)
- Kekayas along with the Trigartas, the Matsyas (Matsays in the western region) and the Vatadhanas were mentioned as part of the Kaurava army at (6,56)
- The Trigartas and the Madras, with the Kekayas, numbering 25000 urged by Duryodhana, surrounded Arjuna (6,61)
- The mighty car-warrior, the son of the ruler of the Kaikeyas stayeth on the field for battling for Duryodhana's sake. (8,6)
Kekaya and Avanti
At some places in Mahabharata, people of Avanti is mentioned as Kekayas. This could be an oral-transmission error crept into Mahabharata, or a translation error, or could mean some tribal-link between Avanti and Kekaya. Similar to other western rulers, like the
- Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, with their troops encountered Virata, the ruler of Matsyas at the head of his forces. That awful encounter between the Matsyas and the Kekayas was terrible. (7,23).
- Satyaki (a Pandava general, belonging to the Yadava clan, who was a disciple in arms, of Arjuna) checked the Kaikaya princes Vinda and Anuvinda. The two Kaikaya princes, in that battle, shrouded Satyaki. Satyaki shrouded the Kaikaya brothers. Satyaki cut the head of Anuvinda with a razor arrow, sorrowing the Kaikeyas. Satyaki next slew Vinda in a sword fight. Amazingly these Vinda and Anuvinda resemble in name to the two other princes named Vinda and Anuvinda who were from Avanti. They however were slain by Arjuna (7,96)
Other References
- A lady named Sumana of Kekaya’s race is mentioned at (13,123)
- Conversation of Kaikeya King and a Rakshasa is mentioned at (12,76)
Reference in Bhagavata Purana
There are several references to the Kekayas in the Bhagavatam Purana.
The five Kekaya brothers were the sons of Kunti's sister Srutakirti, wedded to Kekaya king Dhristaketu. Srutakirti, who was also a sister of Vasudeva, and Dhristaketu were also the parents of Bhadra, who married her cousin, Krishna. Kunti's sister Srutadevi was wedded to the Karusha king Vriddhasarma, whose son was Dantavakra. Kunti's sister Srutasravas was married to the Chedi king Damaghosha whose son was Shishupala. Kunti's sister Rajadhidevi was married to the Avanti king. (Bhagavata Purana, Canto 9, Chapter 24 (The history of Yadavas), Verses 37–40)
Kekayas visit Samantapancaka
Kekayas join Rajasuya of Yudhishtra
Bhagavata Purana also testifies that the Kekayas and other nation like those of the Yadus, Srnjayas, Kurus and Kambojas had participated in the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhishtra. "The massed armies of the Yadus, Srnjayas, Kambojas, Kurus, Kekayas and Kosalas made the earth tremble as they followed Yudhishira Maharaja, the performer of the Rajasuya sacrifice, in procession" [15] [3].
Kekayas fight Yadavas
The Kekayas, Madras and Kambojas from north are stated to have sided with king Jarasandha of Magadha and had participated in a war against Krishna and his Yadava army [16][17] [4].
Other references in Bhagavata Purana
Kekays had participated in the marriage ceremony of Rukmini, queen consort of Krishna, the daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha.[18] One of the wives of Krishna was a Kekaya princess. When Krishna was going to Mithila, the Kekays had met him with presents.
Traditional origin of Kekayas
Bhagavata Purana further states that the Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants of Yayati's son Anu. Sibi or Sivi is stated to be son of Usinara [19]
The same tradition is also furnished by other
Kekays in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyayi
Pāṇini refers to the Kaikeyas or Kekayas in his
Jaina accounts
The
See also
- Kingdoms of Ancient India
References
- ISBN 0226742210.
- ^ Content mirrored from this map
- ^ Ramayana 2.71.1.
- ^ Ancient India as Described by Megasthenes, p 196.
- ^ Ramayana II.67.7; II. 68.22.
- ^ Ancient Geography of India, A. Cunningham, p 64.
- ^ Ramayana II.68.19-22; VII.113.14.
- ^ Rajarajan, R. K. K. "Woven Threads of the Rāmāyaṇa the Early Āḻvārs on Brahmā and Rāvaṇa". Romanian Journal of Indian Studies.
- ^ "Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency - Nasik". www.maharashtra.gov.in. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Vishnu Dharmotari, I.207.62-71
- ^ Mahabharata 8.5.
- ^ MBH VI.61.12
- ^ VII.19.7, Madra-Kekayah
- ^
- Tatragataste dadrshuh suhrt-sambandhino nrpan
- Matsyoshinara-kaushalya-vidarbha-kuru-srnjayan
- Kamboja kaikayan madrn kuntin ānarta-keralan
- Anyamsh caivatma-paksiyan paramsh ca shatasho nrpa
- Nandadin suhrdo gopan gopish cotkanthitāś ciram
- (Bhagavata Purana 10.82.12-13)
- Trans: "The Yadavas saw that many of the kings who had arrived were old friends and relatives-- the Matsyas, Usinaras, Kosalas, Vidarbhas, Kurus, Srnjayas, Kambojas, Kaikayas, Madras, Kuntis and the kings of Ānarta and Kerala. They also saw many hundreds of other kings, both allies and adversaries. In addition, my dear King Parikshit, they saw their dear friends Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men and women, who had been suffering in anxiety for so long".
- ^
- yadu-srnjaya-kamboja-kuru-kekaya-kosalah |:kampayanto bhuvam sainyair yayamana-purah-sarah ||(Bhagavata Purana 10.75.12).
- ^ Bhagavata Purana 10.52
- ^
- See also:
- ye ca pralamba-khara-dardura-kesy-arishta-
- mallebha-kamsa-yavanah kapi-paundrakadyah
- anye ca shalya-kuja-balvala-dantavakra-
- saptoksha-shambra-viduratha-rukmi-mukhyah
- ye va mridhe samiti-shalina atta-capah
- kamboja-matsya-kuru-srnjaya-kaikayadyah
- yasyanty adarshanam alam bala-partha-bhima-
- vyajahvayena harina nilayam tadiyam
- Trans: "All demonic personalities like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Kesi, Arishta, Canura, Mushika, Kuvalayapida elephant, Kamsa, Yavana, Narakasura and Paundraka, great marshals like Shalya, Dvivida monkey and Balvala, Dantavakra, the seven bulls, Śambara, Viduratha and Rukmi, as also great warriors like Kamboja, Matsya, Kuru, Srnjaya and Kekaya, would all fight vigorously, either with the Lord Hari directly or with Him under His names of Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhīma, etc. And these demons, thus being killed, would attain either the impersonal brahmajyoti or His personal abode in the Vaikunha planets" (Bhagavata Purana 2.7.34-35).
- ^ Bhagavatam Purana 10.54.58.
- ^ "Anu, the fourth son of Yayati, had three sons, named Sabhanara, Caksu and Paresnu. From Sabhanara came a son named Kalanara, and from Kalanara came a son named Srnjaya. From Srnjaya came a son named Janamejaya. From Janamejaya came Mahasala; from Mahasala, Mahamana; and from Mahamana two sons, named Usinara and Titiksu.The four sons of Usinara were Sibi, Vara, Krmi and Daksa, and from Sibi again came four sons, named Vrsadarbha, Sudhira, Madra and atma-tattva-vit Kekaya...." (Bhagavata Purana, 9.23.1-4). [1]
- ^ Matsya Purana, 48.10-20; Vayu Purana, 99.12-23
- ^ Political History of Ancient India, p 63, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury
- ^ VII.3.2
- ^ India as Known to Panini, p 54, Dr V. S. Aggarwala
- ^ Indian Antiquary, 1891, p 375; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 58, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury.
External links
- Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
- Ramayana of Valmiki
- Mahabhagavata Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa