Dasharatha

Dasharatha (दशरथ, IAST: Daśaratha; born Nemi) was the king of the Kosala kingdom and a scion of the Ikshvaku Dynasty in Hinduism. He ruled from his capital at Ayodhyā. Dasharatha had three primary consorts: Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra, and from these unions were born Shanta, Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. He is mentioned in the Rāmāyana epic and the Vishnu Purana. King Dasharatha was believed to be an incarnation of Svayambhuva Manu, the son of the Hindu creator god, Brahma. Dasharatha was the son of King Aja of Kosala and Indumati of Vidarbha. He was originally named Nemi, but he acquired the moniker Dasharatha ('ten chariots') as his chariot could move in all ten directions, fly, and return to earth, and he could fight with ease in all of these directions. Dasharatha became the ruler of Kosala after the death of his father. He was a great warrior who subjugated many of the neighbouring kingdoms with his prowess and slew many asuras in battle. According to the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the Ramayana (in chapter 34, verses 10–13), King Dasharatha had around 350 wives, three of whom were his favourite queens: Kausalya was Dasharatha's chief queen, while Sumitra and Kaikeyi were his other favoured consorts. Kausalya hailed from the kingdom of Dakshina Kosala, Sumitra from Kashi, and Kaikeyi from the Kekeya Kingdom. Dasharatha ruled over Ayodhyā, but he lacked a son to carry on his dynasty. He decided to perform an aśvamedha in order to beget a son. His counsellor and charioteer, Sumantra, told him of a prophecy that by bringing the sage R̥śyaśr̥ṅga to Ayodhyā, he would beget sons. To fulfil the prophecy, Dasharatha traveled to Aṅga, where king Romapāda's daughter Śāntā was married to R̥śyaśr̥ṅga. Bringing R̥śyaśr̥ṅga to Kosala, he instructed the Brahmins to perform the aśvamedha. After the aśvamedha was properly performed, a Putrīyā Iṣṭi was performed for the attainment of sons. During its performance, a figure emerged from the fire carrying a vessel of celestial porridge.