TheKekeya kingdom (also known as Kekaya, Kaikaya, Kaikeya etc.) was a kingdom mentioned in the ancient Indian epicMahabharata among the western kingdoms of then India. The epicRamayana mentions one of the wives ofDasharatha, the king ofKosala and father ofRama, was from Kekeya kingdom and was known asKaikeyi. Her sonBharata conquered the neighbouring kingdom ofGandhara and built the city ofTakshasila. Later the sons and descendants of Bharata (Gaud kshatriya)ruled this region fromTakshasila.
InMahabharata, a Kekaya prince was mentioned, who joined thePandavas in theKurukshetra War. He was the eldest among the six brothers and was described as a king known as Vrihatkshatra who is banished from his kingdom by his own kinsmen, like the Pandavas who were banished from theirKuru Kingdom, by their cousin brothers viz theKauravas headed byDuryodhana. Thus this Kekaya brother was circumstantially inclined to ally with the Pandavas. Besides this, the 6 Kekaya brothers were sons of the sister ofKunti, the mother of the Pandavas, making them cousins. In the Kurukshetra War, the Kekaya brother fought against his own kinsmen, viz the other 5 Kekaya brothers who sided with Duryodhana.
There are several references toKaikeyi in the epicRamayana. Kaikeyi was one of the threequeens ofDasharatha, the king ofAyodhya. 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 ofArrian 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 orJalalpur 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 Gandharavishaya (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]
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 fromAyodhya had to cross river Vitasta and then after crossing river Sudama, he reached the land of the Kekayas.[10]
Kekaya is mentioned as an ancient Indian kingdom at (6,9).
There was a ruler of the Kekayas, named Sahasrachitya and he was the grandfather of king Satayupa, who was the contemporary ofKuru kingDhritarashtra. Abdicating his kingdom to his eldest son, king Sahasrachitya retired into the woods. (15,20)
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 kingYudhishthira, on the throne of the Kuru capital,Hastinapura. He then retired to woods. Then Satayupa, received king Dhritarashtra with due rites. Accompanied by him, the latter proceeded to the retreat ofVyasa. Arrived at Vyasa’s retreat, Dhritarashtra received his initiation into the forest mode of life. Returning he took up his abode in the retreat of Satayupa. The high-souled Satayupa, instructed Dhritarashtra in all the rites of the forest mode, at the command of Vyasa. (15,19)
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 namedVisoka, who also fought in Kurukshetra War.
Not much is known about this warrior from Kekaya except the following passages.
AfterBhima completed his learning withBalarama, he became in strength like unto Dyumatsena himself (1,141). Dyumatsena, the chief of bowmen among the Kekayas was present inYudhishthira's court, newly inaugurated atIndraprastha (2,3).
The five Kekaya princes, allied with theKauravas and Eldest sixth one allied with Pandavas and visited the Pandavas when they were banished into woods along with other Pandava allies vizVasudeva Krishna,Dhristadyumna andDhrishtaketu (3–12,22,51,120), (5,55).
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 theMalavas also, and theSalwakas, as also, the two famous warriors of theTrigarta host who have sworn to conquer or die. (5,57).
The princes of Kekaya, and Dhrishtaketu, and the son of theking of the Kasis, and Srenimat, and Vasudana, and the invincible Sikhandin, all hale and hearty, cased in armour and armed with weapons and decked with ornaments, marched behind Yudhishthira (5,152).
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 fiveAsuras viz Ayahsira, Aswasira, Aysanku, Gaganamurdhan, and Vegavat. (1,67)
Jayadratha (the brother-in-law of Duryodhana), assisted by the Kekayas, endeavoured to ravishDraupadi (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, theSalwakas, the Amvashthas, and theTrigartas as allies ofDuryodhana at (5,30). The Kekayas on the Kaurava side marched underDrona along with Vinda and Anuvinda, both ofAvanti and theVahlikas. (5,198). 100 Kekaya brothers were generals in the Kaurava army along with others like Vinda and Anuvinda, ofAvanti (6,16).
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 Kekaya brothers, were all ofthe 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 byDrona. 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)
The Kekayas are said to have fought on both sides in theKurukshetra war. The five Kekaya princes, led by their elder brother Vrihatkshatra, had joined thePandava army while other Kekaya brothers opposed Vrihatkshatra had sided with the Kauravas. The other numerous kingdoms of ancient India viz.Dwaraka,Kasi,Magadha,Matsya, Mahishmati,Chedi,Pandya and the Yadus of Mathura were allies of Pandavas while the allies of the Kauravas were nations of Pragjyotisha,Anga, Kekaya, Sindhudesa,Avanti in Madhyadesa, Madras, Gandhara,Bahlika,Kamboja (withYavanas,Sakas, Tusharas) and many others had sided with Kauravas.
Mahabharata associates the Kekaya peoples with the Madras (Madraschasca saha Kekayaiha).[11] Madra-Kekayah[12]
(7–21,83,107), (8–3) Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, became protectors ofArjuna’s car-wheels, along with the Kekaya brothers, andDhrishtaketu, andChekitana of great valour. (6,19). The Kekaya brothers at the head of their troops, encountered in battle the fiveGandhara princes with their troops. (6,45).
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 againstAshwatthama (7,198).
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)
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)
The Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis, the Salwas, the Matsyas, the Amvashtas, the Trigartas, and the Kekayas, theSauviras, the Kitavas, and the dwellers of the Eastern, Western, and the Northern countries,--these twelve brave races protected the Kaurava generalissimo, Bhishma. (6,18)
At some places inMahabharata, 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 theKambojas, the Kekayas also had migrated to east, hence in principle, could reachAvanti. In fact, inRamayana, there is some indication of a Kekaya kingdom in the eastern sea-shore !
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 ofVasudeva, and Dhristaketu were also the parents of Bhadra, who married her cousin,Krishna. Kunti's sister Srutadevi was wedded to theKarusha king Vriddhasarma, whose son wasDantavakra. Kunti's sister Srutasravas was married to theChedi king Damaghosha whose son wasShishupala. Kunti's sister Rajadhidevi was married to the Avanti king. (Bhagavata Purana, Canto 9, Chapter 24 (The history of Yadavas), Verses 37–40)
Bhagavata Purana attests that the prince of Kekaya along with princes from Matsya,Kosala, Vidharbha,Kuru, Srnjaya,Kamboja,Uśīnara, Madra, Kunti, Anarta,Kerala was present atSamanta-pancaka in Kurukshetra at the occasion of the solar eclipse.[13][2].
Bhagavata Purana also testifies that the Kekayas and other nation like those of the Yadus, Srnjayas, Kurus and Kambojas had participated in theRajasuya 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"[14][3].
The Kekayas, Madras and Kambojas from north are stated to have sided with king Jarasandha ofMagadha and had participated in a war againstKrishna and his Yadava army[15][16][4].
Kekays had participated in the marriage ceremony of Rukmini, queen consort of Krishna, the daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha.[17] One of the wives of Krishna was a Kekaya princess. WhenKrishna was going to Mithila, the Kekays had met him with presents.
Bhagavata Purana further states that the Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants ofYayati's son Anu. Sibi or Sivi is stated to be son of Usinara[18]
The same tradition is also furnished by otherPuranic texts likeVayu Purana andMatsya Purana as well.[19] The Anavas, derived from Anu, were atribe of theRigvedic period[20] and are said to belong to theIranians.
Pāṇini refers to the Kaikeyas or Kekayas in hisAshtadhyayi[21] and mentions their land as a part of the Vahika country. The other three countries which formed parts of the Vahika land were the Madra, the Usinara and the Savasa lands.[22]
TheJaina texts say that one half of the Kekaya wasAryan and refer to the Kekaya city called Seyaviya.[23]
.png){kind=link}