Hunchbacked maid of Queen Kaika. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Manthara’s past Life
Even Manthara was one of good nature. She was only acting as a consequence of an incident that had happened in her previous birth. She was a deer then. One day she was playing with her husband in the forest. The king of Kekaya had come to the forest on hunting. He saw both the deer playing with each other. In an attempt to capture them, he killed the male deer with an arrow. The female deer was grief stricken. She went to her mother and complained about the cruel act of the king. The mother consoled her saying, ‘My dear child, pain and pleasure, good and bad coexist in this world. We have to withstand the vicissitudes of life with equanimity. You may go to the king to seek justice,’ Then the female deer went to the king and poured out her anguish thus, ‘Oh king! We were leading our lives peacefully and blissfully. You have inflicted untold grief on me by killing my husband. You have ruined my life.’ The king ruefully said. ‘Nobody can escape the sequence of his actions. You are grieving over death of your husband. I can also understand the agony of your mother having lost her son–in-law. As a result, one day I too will suffer from the loss of my son-in–law.’ The female deer took birth as Manthara and caused the death of Dasharatha who was the son-in–law of the King of Kekaya. This life is nothing but an ocean with the waves of union and separation. Everybody has to pass through the adversities of life. (SSS Vol.36, p. 62)
Manthara heard the conditions for Kaikeyi’s Marriage
(Dasharatha) approached the King of Kekaya Kingdom with a request to give his daughter Kaika, (known as Kaikeyi) in marriage to him. The king of Kekaya kingdom, however, insisted on a promise from Dasharatha that a son born to Kaika shall be crowned as the King of Ayodhya. (SSS Vol.40, p. 187) Manthara, who was the main associate of Kaikeyi, was hearing all their conversation. Accordingly, the marriage was performed with great rejoicings. (SSS Vol. 41, p. 55)
Kama and Krodha (desire and anger) the reason for sending Rama to:
Rama broke... that bow with His left hand. Experiencing the joy of victory festivities.... held in Ayodhya with great joy and enthusiasm. The people celebrated that function... to propagate the power of Rama and the devotion of Sita to the world. Manthara became jealous to see all those festivities. You can find people like Manthara everywhere. Manthara became very angry when King Dasharatha decided to crown Rama instead of the son of Kaikeyi; she started poisoning the mind of Kaikeyi fabricating many false stories against Rama. (SSS Vol.40, pp. 108-109)
After we are born, we get all kinds of desires. The getting of these desires and harbouring them has been called ‘Kama’ and when these desires are not fulfilled to the extent you want them to be fulfilled, then you become angry. That is called ‘Krodha.’ These two qualities, ‘Kama’ and ‘Krodha’, the desire and anger are responsible for all our troubles and sorrows. In these respects, we should ask ourselves the questions what is the reason and who is responsible for sending Rama into forest? In replying to such a question, some people put the blame on Kaika, some people put the blame on the foolish father Dasharatha, some people put the blame on Manthara who was the attendant and so on. But when we read the appropriate sections of Ramayana and try to secure the basis for the particular act in Ramayana, we will find that in some sections it has been said that Rama when he was a very young child was playing with a ball and that ball fell on the ugly looking attendant Manthara, who accompanied Kaika. (SSB 1972, p. 82)
It so happened that Manthara happened to be at a place where the four brothers were playing with a ball. When Rama kicked the ball, it went straight to Manthara and hit her on her back. Manthara jumped up as soon as the ball struck her. All brothers except Rama, laughed aloud at the action of Manthara. She felt deeply insulted, and from that day harboured ill-feelings toward Rama. (SSB 1996, p. 36)
From that day Manthara had entertained some hatred and jealousy towards Rama. In addition to this, because Manthara was an attendant who came with Kaika from the Kingdom of Kaikeyi, from where Kaika came, it so happened that she was not very happy with or friendly to the sons of other queens. She was only attached to the son of Kaika. Because she could not do anything when the ball which was hit by Rama came and hit her on her back, which was an ugly hunch back, she was letting the hatred grow inside herself. She was waiting to take revenge at an appropriate time. (SSB 1972, pp. 82-83) When she heard about Rama’s impending coronation, her anger increased by leaps and bounds, and she desperately sought an outlet. (SSB 1996, p. 36)
This is the normal worldly explanation of things but for all these things to happen, the original root cause is Rama s own wish. When the time came for putting Rama on the throne, then she found the opportunity and she schemed and she did everything by which circumstances were so brought about and she had achieved what she wanted to achieve by sending Rama to the forest. (SSB 1972, p. 83)
Manthara’s resolve poisons Kaikeyi’s mind
Manthara never forgot her past resolve and therefore decided to poison Kaikeyi s mind against her natural affection and her duties towards Dasharatha. Outside Kaikeyi s palace, there was fanfare, trumpeting joyous noise of some procession. It was actually Dasharatha coming with all his regal paraphernalia to inform Kaikeyi about his decision to crown Rama. The hunchback Manthara looked out of the window to see what the noise was about. The glory of Dasharatha was distasteful to Manthara. (SSS Vol.34, p. 79)
She came to know about the imminent Coronation of Ramachandra, which was the cause of all the joy and exultation. She also saw the maids of the Palaces of Kausalya and Sumitra dressed in jasmine-white saris and bedecked in costly jewels, hurrying hither and thither. She could not bear the sight any longer. She had creeps all over her body like scorpion stings in plenty. (RKRV Part I, pp. 227-228) As Manthara was coming down, she encountered Kausalya s servant-maid. She was on her way to Kaikeyi to show off all the dress and fineries that Kausalya had given her. Manthara asked her wherefrom she got all this finery. She replied, ‘Kausalya s son Rama is going to be crowned as king and in the joy of that news Kausalya has given all of us, her servitors, fine clothes, jewellery, etc.’ Manthara was infuriated by this. She was even jealous of the fact at none of it was coming her way also. Even that rankling was persisting in her mind. (SSS Vol.34, p. 79)
She ran towards the palace of Kaikeyi, and finding that the queen had already retired into inner apartments, she neared the door and shrieked, ‘Mother! Mother! Open the door! A very urgent matter, now! Your life itself is in mortal danger! An earthquake is afoot.’ Hearing her excited announcement in words that rolled one over other, the Queen hastily opened the door and enquired in fear, ‘Why? What has happened? What is the calamity? Has anything caved in? Why all this anxiety and pain?’ ‘No, nothing of mine is destroyed. Your life is being destroyed, that is all. You have to live henceforward as a crazy careworn woman,’ Manthara said. All in tears, she elaborated the pitiable state that waited the queen and with many a gesture and groan. She lamented loud and long.
Kaikeyi could not make out why. ‘The Maharaja is quite well, isn’t it? And Rama and Lakshmana? Kausalya? Sumitra? There is nothing the matter with them? If these are quite well, and no danger threatened them, I am not worried at all. What can happen to me? Has any danger come to them, tell me, Manthara! Tell me soon,’ the Queen insisted. She turned the maid’s head towards her, held her chin in endearing appeal and pleaded for an answer.
Manthara replied, ‘Nothing evil has happened to those whom you mention! But they decided to wring the neck of your son!’ and she broke into a pathetic wail. At this Kaikeyi retorted ‘You are committing a mistake, Manthara! The Maharaja is not such a person; nor is Rama, or Lakshmana or my sisters, Kausalya and Sumitra! These sisters love my son even more than their own sons. Your statement reveals your warped mind that is all. It is not the truth! Well, you have not told me yet what the matter really is. Come on. Tell me the full story.’
Manthara answered, ‘Matter? At dawn tomorrow, Ramachandra is to be crowned Yuvaraja! Senior Queen, her mind full of unrestrained joy, is giving away costly silk saris and jewels to the maids. She is asking Rama to give away gold and cows in plenty. Engaged in all these activities of celebration, they are neglecting you! I cannot bear this in silence. I cannot tolerate. You are unable yet to understand the implications. You revel in the empty boast that there is none so fortunate. Your fortune is drying up fast. For your husband and co-wives, you have become a negligible person. Before long, you will be reduced to the despicable status of a maid. Be advised to be a little alert ere that humiliation overtakes you. Awake from sleep. Plan your course of action with full awareness of consequences. Decide upon means by which you can escape from the calamity that yawns before you. It is approaching you fast.
When Rama becomes Yuvaraja the entire empire will be held in the grasp of Kausalya, remember! Just as everyone else, you too will have to dance to her tune.’ Manthara was acting her role and shedding false tears to reinforce her wily stratagem. (RKRV Part I, pp. 228-229)
Kaikeyi reprimands Manthara and gives her rewards for bringing happy tidings
Kaikeyi was impressed by her loyalty, but was not convinced of the rightness of her arguments. ‘Manthara! What has happened to you? Have you become insane? Why do you talk like mad! Rama becoming the Yuvaraja is the happiest augury for the entire empire.’ I will not listen to such imputations against a pure and loving person, Kaikeyi reprimanded Manthara sharply. (RKRV Part I, p. 230)
Kaikeyi gave a reward, gifting her a necklace for bringing the great good news first (RKRV Part I, p. 230). Manthara became furious when Queen Kaikeyi gifted her a pearl necklace, she immediately flung it away, for she could not brook the idea that Rama, who had once insulted her, was going to be crowned as the Emperor of Ayodhya. Inflamed with anger, she began poisoning the mind of Kaikeyi, though the queen had nurtured deep love for Rama. Indescribable is the damage done by anger
When anger seizes a person,
He cannot perform any work successfully.
He gathers sin and is humbled.
Anger extinguishes one’s reputation,
And separates him from people who are
near and dear. (SSB 1996, p. 36)
Manthara used many a specious and cunning arguments to cloud and poison the pure and unselfish mind of Kaikeyi
Manthara said; ‘My reason is clear and fresh. It is yours that has suffered!’ You are not concerned about the evil fate that awaits you. You hug blindly your old faith and fond attachment. I am anxious and worried for the sake of your happiness and self-respect. The others are all play-acting and pretending, just to deceive you. The Maharaja has no love towards his other Queens; he is enamoured only of Senior Queen, Kausalya. Just to please you, he might use endearing words now and then, that is all; but, he has no love in his heart towards you. Consider this. These people did not inform you. They did not consult you about this proposal, for they have no respect for you. Have they spoken to you about it even once, on a single day? Consider how many months they usually deliberate and plan in order to come to such a decision. You cannot have Coronation so suddenly. It doesn’t drop from sky one fine day on its own – can it? But they have decided silently and secretly.’ The whole thing is the intrigue of Kausalya,’ asserted Manthara. (RKRV Part I, p. 231)
Kaikeyi burst out: ‘Maharaja is much nobler, more righteous than my sisters – You cannot find him a trace of subterfuge or meanness’ - They must have resolved upon the Coronation; quickly, for good reason. The wedding celebration of Rama would have involved months of preparation took place at short notice, didn’t it? So too, the Coronation of Rama might have been decided at short notice. Why should it not be? The Maharaja himself will reveal to me the special reason that induced him to arrange it so. You have not cared to know the truth. Kaikeyi admonished the maid severely. (RKRV Part I, p. 231)
Manthara stooped to even worst tactics of persuasion:
Manthara feared that her stratagem will fail ignominiously. So, she stooped to even worse tactics of persuasion. ‘Dear Mother! Ponder over the matter a little deeply. I have listened to many things while moving about outside the palace. In fact, this Coronation affair has been decided upon months ago. That is the reason why Bharata and Shatrughna were packed out of the capital. They were apprehending that their presence here will cause complications. And there must be good ground for such fears; or else who will arrange for the Coronation when they are away? Have you become incapable of asking this simple question? Formerly, when you were accepted in marriage, Dasharatha had promised and given his plighted word that the son born of you will be crowned king of the realm. You might forget it, but I refuse to. It is the fear that the presence of Bharata here at the present juncture might rouse the memory of that promise and prove an obstacle to their plan, which made them keep Bharata out of the way, by sending him to his grandfather’s palace. Once the Coronation is accomplished, nothing can be done to reverse it. To promote this mean trick, they kept the idea secret and kept it from you so long. Think about this for a while, the inner design. You do not spend any thought on such matters. You believe ‘all that is white is milk! Your foolishness and innocence are taken advantage of by others. You simply exult in your love for Rama and recite ‘Rama. Rama,’ in your infatuation. Well, leave everything else aside. Did that Rama, whom you love so greatly, did he at least inform you of this great good fortune happening to him?’
She said, ‘Mother who is there in this City of Ayodhya willing to pay some little regard to us? Who treats you here as worthy of count? They are all one, united against you. You are stranger here. They might even throw you out of Ayodhya shortly. They will desist from even such meanness. The Emperor will not desist from even such meanness. The Emperor is a crafty trickster, a clever juggler. When he approaches you, he speaks soft endearment to satisfy his whims, and then he departs triumphant! You do not realise the fault in you which is preventing you from attaining the high status you deserve. Mother! You may remember, the kings are ever ruled by lust, and not by love. Your father knew this fact, and so he did not agree to give you in marriage to this aged suitor. After prolonged negotiations, and confabulations, through the intercession of the Sage Garga, when it was decided that you be given in marriage, the suitor was compelled to agree to many conditions.
This day those arrangements have been cast into flames and your son has been cheated. All the while, they are quietly playing their merry drama! Else, why should they take advantage of this chance of your son being away? Why Coronation from any State beyond the bounds of the empire? Consider how their low mentality reveals itself! How full of mischief and deceit are they!
When neighbouring Rulers are invited, your father will certainly not miss the opportunity to attend. Naturally he will then bring to the notice of all the promise made to him. So, the plan is to get through Coronation without informing anyone; and once that is over, they know, nothing can be done to undo it. This conspiracy is hatched by wily with this objective. So, be warned in time. Once this moment is missed, your fate will be contemptible as that of a dog. Therefore, do not delay. Ponder deeply; decide upon the method of preventing the Coronation from taking place.’ Manthara fanned the flames of anger and hatred.
Kaikeyi succumbed to her machinations at last. She said. ‘Hearing your words I feel that each statement is more convincing than the previous one! Yes indeed! This is no matter that can wait. What has to be done next? If you can indicate the step I have to take, I shall put into action.’
When Kaikeyi gave this sign of having been won over by her wiles, Manthara was overwhelmed with pride and joy; She spoke with greater assurance now. ‘Mother! There is no need to spend further thought. The arguments that can support your demand are ready and strong. Ask for the two boons.’ You can now demand that he grant them now. Can’t you? (RKRV Part I, pp. 231-234)
Manthara tapped on the shoulder. By this mere contact, all the evil seething inside Manthara entered into Kaikeyi. It is very dangerous to cultivate with anyone with evil habits. Even a little contact with them can pollute you with their qualities. Kaikeyi was so fond of Rama till then turned against Him in a moment - Swami keeps reminding you,
tyaja durjana-samsargam
bhaja sadhu-samagamam
kuru punyam aho ratram
smara nityam anityatam
(Leave association with people of evil habits). Don t associate with anyone who is afflicted with jealousy even at the cost of losing your life. (SSS Vol.34, pp. 80-81)
When Manthara spoke plainly and emphatically, Kaikeyi raised her head as if she was startled, and said, ‘Oh Manthara, how clever you are! Though in appearance you are an ugly hunchback, in resourcefulness and intelligence, you are extremely charming. Though wanting in beauty, you make up by being an expert in intellectual attainments. Tell me how I am to secure these two boons, and what these boons are to me. Manthara replied, ‘Mother! One boon shall be that your son shall be crowned Yuvaraja. The second can well be that Rama shall not stay in the empire.’ (RKRV Part I, pp. 234-235)
Manthara was born to fulfil a Vow
Manthara was the personification of jealousy. Her jealousy was so potent as to change the motherly love that Kaikeyi had for Rama. Any amount of persuasion from Dasharatha was fruitless. Just then Rama entered all dressed-up ready for coronation, to pay His respect to His parents. Looking at the situation there, He asked Kaikeyi, ‘Amma, what is the problem? Kaikeyi did not reply, but Manthara told Him Kaikeyi s boons. She told Him, ‘Your father promised that day, but is now going back on his promise’. Rama after hearing everything in full told Kaikeyi, ‘Mother, I shall uphold the words of father. One should never go back on the promises given. Such an act will bring dishonour on the Ikshvaku clan. So, I shall depart for the forest immediately.’ At once, Manthara came with bark clothes for Rama to wear. Jealousy is so ready when it decides to act. Rama changed His clothes right there. Rama saluted His father, but Dasharatha unaware of all that was happening. Kaikeyi then told Him, ‘Rama, do you look on Your father and mother differently? As a mother, I am telling you to go forest straightaway.’ Rama complied without demur. (SSS Vol.34, p. 82)
Manthara ultimately succeeded in changing the mind of Kaikeyi and caused the departure of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita from Ayodhya. (SSB 1996, p. 37)
Manthara’s Qualities
The Ramayana gives examples of Ravana and Manthara as both had evil propensities in them. Ravana was slain in the battle, but Manthara is alive even today in the form of jealousy. There is none who can destroy Manthara . We have to ignore this Manthara and carry on with our duties. When Lakshmana wanted to kill her, Rama stopped him, saying, ‘One should not kill a woman.’ Jealousy is the worst of all evil qualities. Three-fourths of the world is ruined because of jealousy.
Jealousy has no limits whatsoever. People are jealous of others’ prosperity, beauty and education, and try to cause their downfall. One should not speak bad words, listen to bad things and indulge in evil activities. This is the main teaching of Ramayana. Manthara indulged evil talk and Kaikeyi paid heed to her. What happened to them ultimately? They were put to disrepute. Today, do you find any woman bearing the name of Kaikeyi or Manthara? You come across women having the name Kausalya, but not Kaikeyi or Manthara. Kichaka cast evil looks on Draupadi, and consequently met his doom at the hands of Bhima. Do you find anybody having the name of Kichaka? None. All those who indulge in evil talk and evil actions should be banished from this world. The Ramayana shows us the way to lead an ideal life. That is why people of all countries and all languages hold the Ramayana in high esteem. This sacred epic is ever new and ever inspiring. Its glory has not diminished even a bit with the passage of time. It has stood the test of time because of the sacred ideals it stands for. (SSS Vol.34, p. 83)
The Krodha (anger) of Manthara, and the Kama (desire) of Surpanakha, are responsible for the entire Ramayana. The anger of Manthara sent Rama to the forest and the desire of Surpanakha sent Sita to Lanka. (SSB 1996, p. 37)
Bharata and Shatrughna are angry:
Bharata walked first and Shatrughna followed him. They were heavy with grief and resentment that Kaikeyi, putting her trust in Manthara, had brought about such havoc. They tried hard to suppress the anger that rose within them. At last, they entered the palace. They were at the entrance, when Manthara herself, elaborately bejewelled was waiting to receive them. Shatrughna could not tolerate that sight. He dragged her down by hair and rained blows on her. She bawled out ‘Ayyo’ ‘Ayyo’ and when the sound reached the ears of Kaikeyi, she ran to the spot, and started berating Shatrughna for his action. (RKRV Part I, pp. 414-415) Shatrughna was prepared to kill Manthara. Bharata and Shatrughna were prepared to cause hurt and harm to their own mothers, but they were not prepared to displease Rama by their acts. (SSB 1977, pp. 59-60)