Sumitra came from the ancient Kashi kingdom and is the queen of King Dashratha of Ayodhya. King Dasharatha’s three wives were Kaikeyi, Kausalya and Sumitra. Amongst his three wives, Sumitra is his second consort, his wisest wife. As per Ramayana, the Hindu epic, she has mothered the two twins, Shatrughna and Lakshmana. It was Sumitra who motivated Lakshmana to go with Rama, his brother, to exile.
Dasharatha got a lot of assistance from Sumitra in resolving problems. Sumitra loved her daughter-in-law immensely and stood by her side all the while Lakshmana went to exile.
As compared to Kaikeyi, Sumitra is chronicled as more powerful and forceful. One of her major characteristics is her servitude, being devoted to her husband single-mindedly as well as devoted to Kaushalya, the principal queen. Her sacrificial characteristic is seen when she lets Lakshamana her son, leave for exile with his brother Rama.
King Dashratha was advised by Vasishtha to take assistance of Sage Rishyasringa to perform a Yajna. Accordingly the Putrakameshti Yagna was performed on the Manorma River Bank. Later Shanta (Rishyashringa’s wife) was born to Kaushalya and Dasharatha.
As the Yajna was ending, the Agni deity springs out from the sacrificial fire pita and offers a dish of Kheer to King Dasharatha also offering a advice that he should distribute it amongst his wives. While Kaushalya consumed half the kheer, Sumitra consumed a quarter of it, Kaikeyi ate some and returned back the kheer pot to Sumitra, eating it the second time. Accordingy Rama was born to the wife Kaushalya, who ate the biggest portion, Bharata was born to Kaikeyi and Shatrughna and Lakshmana were born to Sumitra.
