The five Kekeya brothers had purple flags with an Akshauhini of troops and joined the Pandavas. Some Kekeya brothers had also sided King Duryodhana. The Kekayas on the Kaurava side marched under Drona along with Vinda and Anuvinda, both of Avanti and the Vahlikas. Kekeya brothers served as generals in the army. The Kekeya brothers were attired in mix of red and black colours. They resembled the insects called Indragopakas as they had red coats of mail, red weapons and red banners. They were decked with chains of gold. The five Kekeya brothers were killed by Drona. Some of the major Kekeya Kings included King Sahasrachitya, Satayupa and Vrihatkhsatra. King Sahasrachitya King Sahasrachitya was the grandfather of king Satayupa, who was the contemporary of Kuru king Dhritarashtra. He handed over his kingdom to his son and retired to the forests. King Satayupa King Satayupa was one of the greatest kings of the Kekayas. He had also transferred the sovereignty of his kingdom to his son. King Vrihatkhsatra The Kekeya brothers, who fought the Kurukshetra War by joining the Pandavas as well as supported the Kauravas, belonged to the next generation of Kekaya's royal family. Vrihatkhsatra was the foremost among them as he was the eldest among the five brothers who had aided the Pandavas. At some places in the epic Mahabharata people of Avanti are mentioned as Kekayas. This has also been considered as an error. The Kekayas also had migrated to the east. The five Kekeya brothers were the sons of Srutakirti. |