Kaikeyi, Kaikeyī, Kaikēyi: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Kaikeyi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी).—General information. One of the wives of Daśaratha, who had three wives, Kausalyā, Kaikeyī and Sumitrā. It is mentioned in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, Sarga 70, Stanza 28 that Kaikeyī was the sister of Yudhājit, the King of Kekaya. Kekaya was seven days' journey away from Ayodhyā. (See full article at Story of Kaikeyī from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी).—Wife of Ajamīḍha, a King of the Pūru dynasty. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Stanza 37).
3) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी).—Sudeṣṇā, the wife of the King of Virāṭa was known by the name Kaikeyī also. She was the daughter of Kekaya, the King of Sūta, born of his wife Mālavī. As she was the daughter of Kekaya, she got the name Kaikeyī. (Mahābhārata Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 16). Besides, it is stated in the Purāṇas that all the princesses of the kingdom of Kekaya were called by the name Kaikeyī.
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी).—Surname of Bhadrā, a wife of Kṛṣṇa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 57. 56.
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. ). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kaikeyī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी) refers to one of the “thousand names of Kumārī”, as mentioned in the Kumārīsahasranāma, which is included in the 10th chapter of the first part (prathamabhāga) of the Rudrayāmala-Uttaratantra: an ancient Tantric work primarily dealing with the practice of Kuṇḍalinī-yoga, the worship of Kumārī and discussions regarding the Cakras. This edition is said to be derived of the Rudrayāmalatantra and consists of 6000 verses in 90 chapters (paṭalas) together with the Saralā-Hindīvyākhyopetam (i.e., the Rudrayamalam Uttaratantram with Sarala Hindi translation).—Kaikeyī is mentioned in śloka 1.10.15.—The chapter notes that one is granted the rewards obtained by reciting the text even without the performance of pūjā (worship), japa, snāna (bathing) and puraścaryā.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी): She was the youngest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of Bharata.
Kaikeyi is the second wife of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. She gave birth to Bharata, as a result of partaking the sacrificial offering from the Ashwamedha sacrifice performed by her husband for the purpose of obtaining children.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
1) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी) is the mother of Nārāyaṇa: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly: “[...] There will be nine black Vāsudevas, enjoyers of three parts of the earth, with half so much power as the Cakrins. [...] The son of Kaikeyī and Daśaratha, named Nārāyaṇa, in Rājagṛha, in the interval between Muni and Nami, living for twelve thousand years, sixteen bows tall, will go to the third hell at the end of his life”.
2) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी) refers to one of the wifes of Daśaratha, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa].—Accordingly, “[...] Though a child, ruling, King Daśaratha attained growth in age and strength gradually. [...] Daśaratha married in Kamalasaṅkula the daughter of Subandhutilaka and of Queen Mitrā, named Kaikeyī for a first name, with another name, Sumitrā, because she was born of Mitrā and was good-tempered, like the moon marrying Rohiṇī. [...]”.
3) Kaikeyī (कैकेयी) is the daughter of Pṛthvīśrī and king Śubhamati from Kautukamaṅgala, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4.—Accordingly, “Maithila (Janaka) and Aikṣvāka (Daśaratha) wandering together, united, in the same condition, friends, went to the north country. They heard of a svayaṃvara of Kaikeyī, the daughter of King Śubhamati in the city Kautukamaṅgala, borne by Pṛthvīśrī, sister of Droṇamegha, a depository of the seventy-two arts, and they went to the pavilion. They sat down on the platform in the midst of the kings headed by Harivāhaṇa, like haṃsas on a lotus. [...]”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
kaikēyī (कैकेयी).—f (S) Proper name of the wife of janaka, or the stepmother of Rama. Hence, appellatively, a shrew, scold, virago.
kaikēyī (कैकेयी).—f The wife of daśaratha. Hence ap- pellatively, a shrew, a scold, virago.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी):—[from kaikeya > kaikaya] f. the daughter of a prince of the Kekayas (one of the wives of Daśa-ratha and mother of Bharata, [Rāmāyaṇa; Raghuvaṃśa]), [Mahābhārata; Daśakumāra-carita]
Kaikeyī (कैकेयी):—(yī) 3. f. One of the wives of Dasharatha, mother of Bharata.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Tamil dictionary
Kaikēyi (கைகேயி) noun < idem. See கைகேசி. கைகேயி நினைந்த கருத்திதுவோ [kaigesi. kaigeyi ninaintha karuthithuvo] (கம்பராமாயணம் பிராட்டிகளங். [kambaramayanam pirattigalang.] 15).
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+47): Manthara, Bharataprasu, Shatrughna, Bharata, Kekeyi, Kaikeya, Dasharatha, Kekaya, Gandhara, Kaikaya, Timidhvaja, Sumitra, Kaikai, Kegaya, Matrigandhini, Lakshmana, Kekasamavashi, Sanubandha, Takkatu, Nang kaiyakesi.
Relevant text
Search found 52 books and stories containing Kaikeyi, Kaikeyī, Kaikēyī, Kaikēyi, Kaigeyi, Kaigaeyi, Kaikeyi's; (plurals include: Kaikeyis, Kaikeyīs, Kaikēyīs, Kaikēyis, Kaigeyis, Kaigaeyis, Kaikeyi'ses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Paumacariya (critical study) (by K. R. Chandra)
I.2. Marriage of Kaikeyi and the granting of a Boon < [Chapter 3 - Comparative study of the Rama-story]
I.1. Queens of Dasaratha < [Chapter 3 - Comparative study of the Rama-story]
10.1. Influence on works composed in India < [Chapter 6 - Sources, contribution and influence of Paumacariyam]
Ramayana of Valmiki (Griffith) (by Ralph T. H. Griffith)
Chapter XXI: Kaushalya Calmed < [Book II]
Chapter IX: The Plot < [Book II]
Chapter LXXVIII: Manthara Punished < [Book II]
Words and Pictures: Rāmāyaṇa Traditions and the Art of Ekphrasis < [Volume 11, Issue 7 (2020)]
So That It Might Become Clear < [Volume 10, Issue 6 (2019)]
Śravaṇ Kumār: Rethinking a Cultural Ideal for Indian Youth < [Volume 14, Issue 6 (2023)]
Manthara < [January – March, 1985]
The Concept of Greatness in the Ramayana < [April – June, 1982]
The Hand of Destiny < [January – March, 1978]
Bhasa (critical and historical study) (by A. D. Pusalker)
Chapter 7.10 - Study of the Bhasa’s Pratima
Chapter 12 - Marriage laws and customs (during Bhasa’s time)
Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu (by A. Mohan)
Summary of Ramayana (2), Ayodhya-kanda < [Chapter 1 - The Ramayana in Literature]
Part 1 - Ramayana in Aryan Languages < [Chapter 1 - The Ramayana in Literature]
Part 3 - Tamil bhakti Hymns < [Chapter 2 - The Ramayana Tradition in the Tamil Nadu]