Dasharatha is described in the Hindu epic Ramayana and Vishnu Purana as the king of Kosala and the father of Rama. His capital was known as Ayodhya. Dasharatha was the son of Aja and Indumati. He had three main throne queens: Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, and from these unions were born Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.