| Bharata | |
|---|---|
 Bharata places Rama'spaduka (sandals) on the throne | |
| Affiliation | Avatar ofPanchajanya ofVishnu |
| Texts | Ramayana andits other versions |
| Genealogy | |
| Avatar birth | Ayodhya,Kosala (present-dayUttar Pradesh, India) |
| Parents |
|
| Siblings |
|
| Spouse | Mandavi |
| Children | |
| Dynasty | Raghuvamsha-Suryavamsha |
Bharata (Sanskrit:भरतIAST:Bharata) is the younger brother ofRama in Hindu epicRamayana, and the regent ofAyodhya during Rama's exile. Bharata is considered as an incarnation of thePanchajanya of godVishnu, and was married toMandavi.[2]
Bharata is regarded for his devotion towards his elder brother Rama. He went against his mother and refused the throne of Ayodhya while elder brother, Rama, was exiled. Bharata also lived a life in exile, inNandigram, Ayodhya, till Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya. He is mostly worshipped inKerala.[1]
The name Bharata is ofSanskrit origin. His name means "one to be [or being] maintained".[3]
KingDasharatha ofAyodhya had three wives:Kausalya,Kaikeyi, andSumitra. Bharata was born to Kaikeyi, whileRama was born to Kausalya, andLakshmana andShatrughna were born to Sumitra.[4] In theRamayana, he is described as an incarnation ofPanchajanya. While Lakshmana was a loyalist of Rama, his twin, Shatrughna, was a loyalist of Bharata.[5]
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After Rama won thesvayamvara ofSita, their marriage was fixed. King Dasharatha arrived in Mithila for his son's wedding and noticed that Lakshmana had feelings forUrmila, but according to tradition, Bharata andMandavi were to marry first.[6][7] King Dasharatha then arranged for Bharata to marry Mandavi and Shatrughna to marryShrutakirti, allowing Lakshmana to marry Urmila. Ultimately, all four sisters married the four brothers, strengthening the alliance between the two kingdoms. Bharata and Mandavi had two sons namedTaksha andPushkala.[8]
Prior to Dasharatha's attempt to abdicate and hand over the throne to Rama, Bharata had left for the kingdom ofKekaya along with Shatrughna; his grandfather, KingAshvapati, had requested his presence, as he had been ill. During his absence, his mother Kaikeyi, under the influence of her maidManthara, invoked two of the boons granted to her by Dasharatha, forcing him to overturn his decision for Rama to ascend the throne. Under duress, Dashratha named Bharata as his heir, and banished Rama from his kingdom for a period of fourteen years. Rama complied to his father's bidding, departing Ayodhya to live in Chitrakuta, accompanied by his wife Sita and half-brother Lakshmana.[9] Soon after the departure of Rama, Dasharatha died of grief.[10] Upon returning to Ayodhya, Bharata and Shatrughana were mortified to learn the events that had transpired in their absence. Bharata grew estranged from his mother and attempted to recall Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana from their exile.
After meeting the tribal kingGuha of theNishadas, and crossing the riverGanga, Bharata, along with Shatrughna and the army of Kosala, reached Chitrakuta. Lakshmana grew threatened by the presence of Bharata, and suggested that Rama prepare to defend himself.[11] Watching Bharata approach alone in his ascetic garments, Rama allayed his fears. Bharata prostrated himself before Rama, and informed the trio of Dasharatha's passing. After expressing his desire to see Rama assume the throne, the half-brothers offered libations for their father's soul. The following morning, Bharata once again entreated Rama to assume the kingship, and undo the harm that had been caused by Kaikeyi's actions. If Rama refused, Bharata told him, he would live with him in the forest. Rama, however, told his half-brother that he was presently living in exile to fulfil his father's pledge, and that that latter must do the same. When Bharata realised that Rama could not be persuaded otherwise, he urged his half-brother to give him his sandals. He proposed to place Rama's sandals upon the throne of Ayodhya, and rule as a regent for the period of Rama's exile, as an ascetic. Rama consented to this idea. Bharata carried Rama's sandals upon his head, proceeding to Nandigrama, a village on the outskirts of Ayodhya. He had the throne of Ayodhya brought to the village, along with other royal paraphernalia. Placing the sandals on the throne to represent Rama, Bharata assumed the regency of Kosala for fourteen years, the kingdom administered from the village.[12][13]
Bharata metHanuman in Nandigrama, who informed him about all the events that had transpired during Rama's exile. When Rama returned, Bharata approached him, with Rama's shoes above his head, and returned them to him. After Rama's coronation as the king of Kosala, Bharata reconciled with Kaikeyi.[14]
Bharata vanquished thegandharvas on the banks of the riverSindhu, and established his son, Taksha as the ruler ofTakshashila, and his other son, Pushkala as the ruler ofPushkalavati,Gaur rajput dynasty are the descendants of Bharata.[15] Bharata assisted Rama in the performance of hisashvamedha sacrifice.[16]
Bharata performedsamadhi by drowning in the riverSarayu alongside Rama and Shatrughna. Later, he restored as an attribute of Vishnu.[17]
Bharata is known for his love and devotion towards his brother Rama. Despite him not willing to take up the throne of Ayodhya, Bharata decidated himself for the people's welfare as the regent.[18]
Rama had donned garments made of tree bark when he went to the forest. His hair was matted. Bharata had no need to dress like Rama for, he was in Ayodhya. Anyone else in his place would have enjoyed all the royal comforts at his disposal. But Bharata chose to shun all the royal riches. Like Rama, he dressed in the bark of trees and kept his hair matted.[19]
Nowadays most of the Bharata worship in India occurs in Kerala. There are rare temples dotted across the state for the worship of Lord Bharata.
Among them, the most important is theKoodalmanikyam Temple in theThrissur district ofKerala, an ancient temple dedicated to the worship of Bharata and an integral part of the state's most famousNalambalam circuit.
Some other Bharata temples in Kerala are:
In theMedak district ofTelangana, there is a temple called Sri Kalyana Ramachandra Sannadhi that is dedicated to Bharata and Mandavi.[20][21]
The following people portrayed Bharata in the film adaptation of Ramayana.
The following people portrayed Bharata in the television adaptation ofRamayana.
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