Why did Mother Kaikeyi ask for 14 years of exile for Lord Shri Ram
Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : Ramayana is a sacred book of Hinduism which contains many instances, which impart great life lessons. According to the Ramayana, Mother Kaikeyi seeks two wishes from King Dasharatha of Ayodhya: 1) Thrown for Bharata 2) Lord Shri Ram's exile for 14 years. But do you know why Mother Kaikeyi seeks Lord Shri Ram's exile for 14 years? Let us tell you about this special instance in Ramayana through this article if you don't know. Why did it get fixed at 14 years?
As per the Valmiki Ramayana, in the reign of the Treta Yuga, there was a special law governing the kingdom if a king stays away from the throne for 14 years then the throne would cease to belong to him. Mother Kaikeyi, who was a skilled maid-servant, was informed about this law of the Treta Yuga by Manthara, that if Lord Rama goes far away from Ayodhya for 14 years, then Lord Rama would have no right on Ayodhya and thus Bharata would sit on the throne of Ayodhya. Although Bharata was not ready to sit on Rama's throne at all, ruling the kingdom in the name of Lord Rama.
It takes a very long time for a king of any kingdom to win the trust of his ministers and army and consolidate his position. Mother Kaikeyi was thinking it would take a very long time to make her son Bharata's position solid in 14 years and when Lord Rama came back after 14 years of exile the power of Ayodhya will have fully consolidated to Bharata, that's why Mother Kaikeyi asked King Dasharatha to banish Lord Rama for 14 years. The incident when Mother Kaikeyi demands 14 years exile for Lord Shri Ram is stated in the Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Who is Mother Kaikeyi in Ramayana? Kaikeyi was one of King Dasharatha's three queens. King Dasharatha had a son named Bharata from Queen Kaikeyi. Under Manthara's influence, Queen Kaikeyi demanded two boons from King Dasharatha, so that Bharata would sit on the throne of Ayodhya and Lord Rama would be exiled for 14 years.
