Bharata was the younger brother of Lord Rama, the protagonist of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. He was the son of King Dasharatha and his second wife, Queen Kaikeyi.
When Dasharatha was on his deathbed, he named Rama, his eldest son, as his successor. However, Kaikeyi, who was misled by her maid Manthara, demanded that Bharata be made king instead of Rama. In a moment of weakness, Dasharatha granted her wish and banished Rama to the forest for fourteen years.
Bharata was devastated when he learned of his mother’s actions and begged Rama to return to Ayodhya and claim his rightful place as king. However, Rama refused, stating that he must fulfill his father’s wishes and complete his exile.
Bharata then decided to go into exile himself and seek out Rama in the forest. When he finally found him, he begged Rama to return to Ayodhya and become king, but Rama refused once again, insisting on completing his exile.
Bharata – Wikipedia
Bharata then decided to return to Ayodhya and rule as Rama’s representative until he returned. He refused to sit on the throne and instead placed Rama’s sandals on the throne as a symbol of his rule.
For the next fourteen years, Bharata lived a simple life, ruling justly and always keeping Rama’s sandals by his side. When Rama returned to Ayodhya after his exile, Bharata returned the throne to him and asked for his forgiveness.
Rama was deeply moved by Bharata’s love and devotion and declared that Bharata’s rule was just as significant as his own. He then crowned Bharata as the king of the city of Nandigrama, where he had lived during Rama’s exile.
Bharata’s story is often seen as an example of true brotherly love and devotion. Despite his mother’s actions, he remained loyal to his brother and refused to accept the throne that rightfully belonged to him. His simple and just rule during Rama’s exile demonstrated his commitment to dharma, or righteousness, and his willingness to serve his brother’s interests over his own. His story continues to inspire people to this day to put their family’s needs above their own and to uphold righteousness in all their actions.