In the Ramayana, who is traditionally identified as Rama’s father?

In the Ramayana, Dasharatha is traditionally identified as Rama’s father.

Dasharatha was the king of Ayodhya and a member of the Ikshvaku lineage. He had three principal wives—Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra—and four sons: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna. Rama was born to Kausalya.

Dasharatha’s promise to Kaikeyi drives the story’s central succession crisis. After Kaikeyi demanded Rama’s exile and Bharata’s installation as heir, Dasharatha was forced to honor his vow. He was devastated when Rama left Ayodhya and died soon afterward.

Janaka, king of Videha, is a different important father figure: he is traditionally Sita’s adoptive or father figure. Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, while Shantanu belongs to the dynastic history of the Mahabharata.