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was a hunchback named Manthara. Being
a distant relation of the Queen, she
claimed great intimacy with her.
Manthara is one of the best known
characters in the Ramayana. Every man,
woman and child in our land knows and
detests her, as the cause of Rama's exile,
Dasaratha's death and all the sorrows
which befell the royal family.
On
the
day
on
which
Dasaratha
summoned the Assembly and decided to
anoint
Rama
as
Yuvaraja,
Manthara
happened to climb up to the terrace of the
women's apartments and stood surveying
the town below. She saw the streets were
sprinkled with water and gaily decorated.
Flags flew from the house-tops. Wearing
new clothes and bright jewels, smeared
with sandal paste and decked in flowers,
people moved about in crowds, engrossed
in happy talk.
Musical
instruments
played
in
the
temples. Manthara could not understand
the reason for all this, for she did not
know what the King had decided. Some
celebration was on, she guessed. Manthara
turned to a servant and asked her: "Why
are you wearing this silk dress? What is
on in the City? Kausalya seems to be
distributing gifts to Brahmanas. She is a
thrifty lady and would not be doing this
for nothing. There are festive sights and
sounds everywhere. Do you know what all
this is about?"
The
little
servant
girl
answered,
dancing with joy: "Why, do you not know
that our Ramachandra is going to be
anointed Yuvaraja tomorrow morning?"
This
was
news!
Manthara
was
overpowered with sudden anger. Quickly
she
hobbled
downstairs.
Straight
she
entered Kaikeyi's room. Kaikeyi was
resting on her bed.
"Rise, rise, foolish woman! A flood of
misfortune is rising to drown and swallow
you! You are betrayed and ruined. Your
star is setting. Foolish girl, is this the time
to sleep?"
Kaikeyi, fearing that some calamity
had overtaken Manthara, asked her gently:
"What is troubling you? Why are you thus
upset?"
And
the
clever
Manthara
began:
"Destruction has come upon both you and
me, my girl. Dasaratha has decided to
make Rama Yuvaraja, the real ruler of this
land. What greater cause for sorrow need I
have? When grief comes to you, how can
I remain unconcerned? I have come
running to you. You were born and bred
in a royal family. You were married into a
royal family. Now, alas, all is over. Like
the simple woman you are, you have been
deceived. Your husband has cheated you
with sweet words. It is a deep plot, as any
one can see. He put Bharata out of the
way by sending him to the distant place of
his uncle, and is taking advantage of his
absence by hurriedly crowning Rama. By
tomorrow it will all be over. And you
watch all this, lying in bed and doing