#6 - MANTHARA

Anubhavam

In the last week, ' Woman in Epics' Trijata was highlighted with her precious dream .Trijata's dream was a vision of future happenings, in which good triumphs and evil perishes. But before that Bharatha’s dream, took place in Ramayana. In that he sees his father fall from a lofty mountain into a deep filthy pit. Then loss of his majesty and power, his blind and thoughtless acceptance of Kaikeyi's demands leads him into trap laid by the cunning Manthara takes place. So, his dignity and command reduced to the position of slavish petitioner, and his powerless threats and humble entreaties alike fail to impress Kaikeyi or change her mind.  Thus Manthara plays a role after dream, as a cruel woman in Ramayana.

Avataram

In GIta , Lord Krishna says as'' Rama sastrapratham aham " (11.31) ,Krishna declared Him as Rama among warriors. So He opted for fighting Ravana  in war , and so it is God's will that He should be exiled for 14 years to carry out killings of Ravana and other demons in forest by going on exile for some years. Also we can see that in Gita,

"Avajananthi mam muda manushim dhanumasritham /
 param bhavamajanantho mama butha maheswara //(9-11)

When HE dwell in human form,, HIS higher being as the great lord of beings is not known to us. Similar to this Tulsidas tells in his Ramayana that  Rama is born as a man , a human personality, and if we realize this fact, we can be free from the worldly  bondages, and attain the feelings of divine powers. Lord Rama favored for all such ordeals to kill Ravana as per the request of Devas. Though Manthara is a woman with qualities of egoism, desire, innocence, cruelty etc, she just acted in such a way as per saraswathy's instructions. Manthara is just instrumental one. Hence there is nobody to be blamed for Rama's exile and there need be no feelings for sufferings to Rama. So, blaming the old lady, who already being cursed with hunchback may be stopped.
 In All His incarnations Vishnu has chosen to assume important forms and modes of conduct for the fulfillment of the purpose for which he has come into the world. He has incarnated as man and played the role of man, as such assumptions also meets with the urgencies of His mission, namely the elimination of Ravana.

Ahankaram (Ego)

Once, when the King of Kekaya went for hunting, he aimed an arrow and killed a male deer. The female deer then complained to her mother about this. She had a device (yantra) to revive dead persons .The mother deer then brought the male deer to life, but went to the King of Kekaya and told him, not to indulge in such actions, creating a separation. She then cursed the similar suffering of the loss of son-in-law, to King of Kekaya. It was told that mother deer was born as Manthara and caused all such actions of exile to Rama. 
Manthara never forgot her past resolve and therefore decided to poison Kaikeyi's mind against her natural affection and her duties toward Dasaratha. The glory of Dasaratha was actually paining to Manthara, and she encountered Kausalya's servant-maid first. She was  showing  the dress and fineries that Kausalya had given her and said as  "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 and jewels , etc." .Manthara was infuriated by this, and  was even jealous of it. Immediately, she went to Kaikeyi and told her, though Dasaratha loves her more than anyone else, it is really false one, and future happenings will prove that. So saying, Manthara tapped on Kaikeyi's shoulder.
 It is very dangerous to cultivate association with anyone with evil habits. Even a little contact with them can pollute us with their qualities. Kaikeyi, who was so fond of Rama till then, turned against Him in a moment. Manthara reminded about the two boons for that and suggested to banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years and insist on the coronation of Bharata immediately. She also said to remove all her ornaments and to throw them on floor and to lie down in anger .Kaikeyi followed her advice in total then. she expressed her demands, as tutored by Manthara. On hearing this, Dasaratha fell unconscious.  Manthara pushed Kaikeyi into this plight. Anyone possessed by the demon of jealousy will not be spared. The incident conveys a message as "Don't associate with anyone who is afflicted with jealousy even at the cost of losing your life".
Manthara was the personification of jealousy. Her jealousy was so potent as to change the great motherly love that Kaikeyi had for Rama. Then Rama dressed up and ready for coronation, came to pay His respects to His parents. As Kaikeyi was silent, Manthara told Him about Kaikeyi's boons. She told Him, "Your father promised that day, but he is now going back on his promise." Rama after hearing everything in full told Kaikeyi, that He will uphold the words of HIS father. As one should never go back on the promises given, He will depart for the forest immediately. At once, Manthara came in with bark clothes for Rama to wear. Jealousy is so ready when it decides to act.

Aram (moral )

Among teachings in Ramayana, this one " Never should one try to create rift between a couple' is also to be understood by all.  This sin was committed by a servant maid, who not only corrupted her mistress' mind but also painted a grim picture about her future should Rama become the king as His mother would assume a dominant role. Indoctrination transformed Kaikeyi's attitude and she forced Dasaratha to send Rama away.
Though Manthara's distinguishing features is a hunched back, Valmiki never makes sport of Manthara's deformity. This is done not only for the sake of humor but also for the sake of moral instruction, picking up on the old idea that ugly souls are housed in ugly or distorted bodies. As Manthara was a crooked baby, when she was born, her parents left her in a forest. Kaikeyi’s father saw the forlon baby her in forest while he went for hunting and took with him. She became caretaker of Kaikeyi,and served her with full heart. After Kaikeyi’s wedding with Dasaratha, she came with her to Royal place and attended as her servant maid.  By nature she was cruel, sin seeking, sour, malicious, and crooked woman. But Manthara loved both Kaikeyi and Bharatha ,and she wanted Bharatha only to be the next king.So she planned to thwart Rama’s coronation.
There is a version as although Manthara agrees to do Indra's bidding, she curses Indra that, for the wrong he made to Rama, he would never be prayed to by any Hindu family. This is claimed to be the reason why Indra, despite being king of the devas, is never worshipped in any temple or family.

Azhwar Pasuram

Kulasekara Azhwar in Perumal Thirumozhi, sings a lullaby for Rama as a baby in cradle. Azhwar sings in that about the omnipotent divinity in more enchanting and charming manner. Rama's exile with Lakshmana was in Azhwar's mind and he narrates it in 8th Thirumozhi, and sings lullaby, as  Aravanbu ilaiyavanodu arunkanam adainthavane .
 In 9th Thirumozhi, he describes Dasaratha's heart rending cry for Rama's exile due to Manthara's attitude in 10 songs. It is difficult to read this without shedding tears, as the entire incidents were informed with realistic and touching sentiments. The entire episode of Manthara's malicious is informed asKoonuruvir kodun thozhuthai sorketta kodiyavalthan sorkondu .

Readers may please note that Only important points are discussed in this article. The next topic in this is SABARI  .