Manthara

Manthara (Sanskrit: मंथरा; Telugu: మంథర; Kannada: ಮಂಥರೆ), (also Kooni in some versions) ^[1] in the Hindu epic Ramayana, is a servant who convinced Kaikeyi that the throne of Ayodhya belonged to her son Bharata and that Rama should be exiled from the kingdom.

Manthara is described in the Ramayana as a hunchback, and extremely ugly. A family servant of Kaikeyi, she lived with her from the time of her birth. When she hears that King Dasaratha is planning to make his oldest son, Rama prince regent (rather than Bharata, his child by Kaikeyi), she flies into a rage and reports the news to Kaikeyi. Although Kaikeyi is initially pleased, Manthara convinces her that is Rama comes into power, he will have Bharata exiled or killed in order to eliminate a possible threat to his power. After convincing Kaikeyi of her danger, she suggests that scheme that will result in Rama's banishment.^[2]

Manthara appears only once in the Ramayan after Rama's banishment. Having been rewarded by Kaikeyi with costly clothing and jewels, she is walking in the palace gardens when Bharata and his half-brother Satrughna come upon her. Seeing her, Satrughna flies into a violent rage over Rama's banishment, and assaults her murderously. Kaikeyi begs Bharata to save her, which he does, telling Satrughna that it is a sin to kill a woman, and that Rama would be furious with them both if he does such a thing. He relents and the brothers leave, while Kaikeyi attempts to comfort Manthara.^[3]

Although in the Ramayana, Manthara's motives for inducing Kaikeyi to have Rama banished are never stated, other sources turn her into a divine agent, doing what is necessary to ensure that Rama will come into conflict with Ravana. Thus the Mahabharata and Padma Purana describe her as an apsara sent to Earth to accomplish that goal ^[4], while the Ramacharitamanas describes her as a "wicked handmaid" whose mind Sarasvati further corrupts to make her desire Rama's banishment.^[5] Despite appearing in a variety of sources, the idea of Manthara as a divine agent is not universally accepted; in a major commentary on the Ramayana, the Amrtakataka, Kataka Madhava Yogindra rejects the idea, calling its originator (who he does not name) "the master of equivocation." ^[6]

Madhvacharya in his Madhva Ramayana (Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya), clearly mentions her as an Avatara of Alakshmi (The Wife of The Demon Kali).

Portrayal in film and television

In Ramanand Sagar's highly successful television series Ramayan, Manthara is played by veteran character actress Lalita Pawar.

References

1. ^ Manthara, Mythfolklore.net. Retrieved on 28th September 2007
2. ^ Pollock. The Ramayana of Valmiki, Volume II. Princeton University Press,2007. Sargas 7-9.
3. ^ Pollock. The Ramayana of Valmiki, Volume II. Princeton University Press,2007. Sarga 72.
4. ^ Pollock. The Ramayana of Valmiki, Volume II. Princeton University Press,2007. Endnotes for Sarga 7
5. ^ Growse. The Ramayana of Tulasidasa. Indological Publishers & Booksellers. 233-234
6. ^ Pollock. The Ramayana of Valmiki, Volume II. Princeton University Press,2007.