Kishkindhā was the great capital of the vānara kingdom in the southern forests. It lay in a mountain region, and the royal palace was set inside a great cave in the hills. Dense woods surrounded it.

It was the seat of the vānara line that came from Indra. Vāli ruled it first. After Bhagavān Rāma killed Vāli with an arrow, Sugrīva ruled it. Kishkindhā is the main place of the Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. From this city the great vānara army set out to search for Sītā, and in the end to fight Rāvaṇa in Laṅkā.

The city and its setting

Kishkindhā stood among the mountains of the southern forests. Śrī Rāma told Sugrīva to return to his city after the coronation. He spoke of Kishkindhā as decked with many kinds of forest, in full bloom, and full of the sounds of the vīṇā, the veṇu (flute), the mṛdaṅga (drum) and cymbals. It was a city of joy and plenty.

Forest groves, flowering trees and the wooded slopes of the hills enclosed the city. It lay not far from Mount Prasravaṇa, where Rāma and Lakshmaṇa stayed through the rainy season. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 27)

Vāli’s rule

Vāli, the elder son of Indra, ruled Kishkindhā for a long time. His father had given him a divine golden garland. Under Vāli the city thrived.

His strength was so great that he had defeated even the rākshasarāja (king of the rākshasas) Rāvaṇa. He held Rāvaṇa captive under his arm while he did his sandhyā rites, and he shamed him before he let him go.

No one could challenge the city’s gates and live. Dundubhi, the mahishāsura (buffalo-bodied asura), came roaring outside them to challenge Vāli, and he was destroyed within moments. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 11, 20)

Sugrīva’s exile and return

Vāli drove Sugrīva out of Kishkindhā after a misunderstanding that grew out of the Māyāvī cave episode. Vāli also took Sugrīva’s wife Rumā, so the exile came with a personal shame. Sugrīva found shelter on Mount Ṛshyamūka. Vāli could not enter that mountain because of the śāpa (curse) of Mataṅga Muni.

After Rāma killed Vāli, Kishkindhā was given back to Sugrīva. He entered the city with the vānaras who had gathered. The citizens came out in devotion and bowed before their new king. Sugrīva went into the inner rooms of the palace that had been Vāli’s, and sat in the assembly hall. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 15, 26)

Sugrīva’s coronation

The coronation of Sugrīva was a full and grand ceremony, done by Vedic rites. Brāhmaṇas who knew the mantras were invited. They were honoured with gifts of precious gems, new clothes and sweet food. A sacred fire was lit and ringed with darbha grass, and offerings were made with Vedic mantras.

Sixteen young unmarried women brought many holy things. These were precious gems, seeds, medicinal herbs, white cloths, flower garlands of divine scent, sandalwood, saffron, golden akshata (rice grains), honey, ghee, yoghurt and more.

Holy waters were brought from rivers, lakes, tīrthas (pilgrimage places) and all the oceans. Sugrīva sat on a throne with golden legs, facing east. The chief vānaras poured the pure, sweet-smelling waters over him from golden vessels and bull horns. They were Gaja, Gavāksha, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana, Mainda, Dvivida, Hanumān, Jāmbavān, Nala and others. It was done as the devas did the consecration of Indra. Thousands of vānaras greeted Sugrīva with cries of joy. Straight after, Aṅgada was consecrated as yuvarāja (crown prince) in the same gathering. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 26)

Rāma himself did not enter Kishkindhā. His father Daśaratha had ordered a forest exile of fourteen years, and for all that time Rāma could not enter any village or city. Lakshmaṇa watched over the arrangements from outside. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapter 26)

The long wait at Kishkindhā

After the coronation, Sugrīva gave himself to the pleasures of his regained kingdom through the four months of the rainy season, as Rāma had allowed. The search for Sītā was put off until the rains ended. This delay tried Rāma’s patience to the limit.

The rains passed and autumn came, and still Sugrīva made no move. Rāma then sent Lakshmaṇa to Kishkindhā with a stern warning. Lakshmaṇa came in barely held fury and tore up trees as he came. Kishkindhā shook, and the vānaras fled. Aṅgada went out, received Lakshmaṇa with due respect and led him in.

Sugrīva was found in a drunken state with Tārā. The ministers Plaksha and Prabhava quickly woke him to the danger. Sugrīva then came to himself and set the great gathering of the army in motion. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 28–31)

Why Kishkindhā matters

Kishkindhā is the turning point of the middle part of the Rāmāyaṇa. The talks, the battle, the coronation and the long wait at this city fixed who was in the army, when it moved, and how the mission to rescue Sītā would end.

From Kishkindhā the countless armies of divine-born vānaras marched south towards Laṅkā under Sugrīva’s command, with Rāma and Lakshmaṇa at their head. These vānaras were the sons of Indra, Agni, Vāyu and other devas.

Sahadeva’s southern conquest

Sahadeva went on a southern digvijaya (tour of conquest) for the Rājasūya of Yudhishṭhira, and the Pāṇḍava army came to Kishkindhā. The vānara heroes Mainda and Dvivida still lived there. They were grandsons of the divine line. They challenged Sahadeva, and a battle of seven days followed.

After seven days of hard fighting, Mainda and Dvivida accepted that Yudhishṭhira’s aim was lawful and in keeping with dharma. They gave way and agreed to send tribute to the Rājasūya. (Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva)

Sources

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa, Chapters 11, 12–31
Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva (Sahadeva’s southern digvijaya)