We had seen
the epic unfolding in Ayodhya with the wishes from everyone to coronate Rama as
heir apparent of the kingdom. Everyone thinks he is the most qualified person
to occupy the throne after seeing his innumerable good qualities and virtues.
All of these qualities were laid out at the beginning of this book, as he grew
up from his youth. There is nothing that seem to go against this wish of his
father and all the subjects concerned. Let us look at how this further develops
to realize the wish and the conspiracy that begins to hatch against this wish.
In the chapter 4, let us look at the haste of Dasaratha in Rama’s
coronation and the joy of Kausalya in the same. The citizens departed with the
great news and the king told his counselors, "Tomorrow when the pushya
star is in ascendance Rama shall be consecrated as heir apparent." Once
more Rama was sent for and the king told his son that he had ruled long and had
enjoyed every pleasure. "I have achieved all that I ever wanted to. In you
who have no equal, I have an heir for whom I had pined so intensely. Now
nothing remains for me to do and my subjects desire you as their lord. I see
signs and omens that do not augur well for me. I wish to see you coronated.
" "This may be a favorable time to do so, as Bharata is absent.
Surely your brother is noble and full of love for you, but fickle is the mind
of man. The most virtuous of them act on impulse." Rama bowed away and
went to see his mother Kausalya, who was in the temple praying for him. By her
side stood Sita, Sumitra and Lakshmana. Rama, paying his respects to her said,
"The next sunrise will see my coronation mother! Please do procure all
that is necessary for Sita and me, for the ceremony." Kausalya was
ecstatic, she rejoiced in the great honor that was to be bestowed on her
beloved son and she said, "May you live long. May your enemies perish and
may you bring happiness to all your kin. The prosperity and glory of the
kingdom of the Ikshvaku’s, now rests on you." Rama turning to Lakshmana
said, "Lakshmana you are my very life, my other self. For you alone do I
desire this life and this country. "Bowing in reverence to the two queens
and with their permission, Rama returned to his palace along with Sita.
In the chapter 5, King Dasaratha called for his preceptor
Vasishta and told him to advice Rama and his young consort to undertake a fast
in preparation for the auspicious accession to the throne. Vasishta made his
way to Rama's abode where he was received reverently. Vasishta, happy with the
warm welcome said, "Tomorrow you will be installed regent by your sire as
Yayati was by Nahusha." Rama's imposing and splendorous mansions bustled
with charming people and reverberated with the happy sounds of men and women.
They had abandoned themselves to great revelry, giving full vent to their joy
in anticipation of Rama soon becoming their Lord. The streets of Ayodhya
thronged with people pouring in from towns and villages. The entire city was
immaculately spruced up, beautifully decorated and the atmosphere was charged
with excitement amid great expectations. On the way to the king's palace
Vasishta observed this festive atmosphere in Ayodhya anticipating Rama's
coronation the next day.
In the chapter 6, the preparations and atmosphere before the
coronation day are further described. After Vasishta departed, Rama and his
beautiful consort purified by the holy bath began their worship of Lord
Narayana. Offering libations to the sacrificial fire and completing other
rituals, the royal couple spent a night of fasting and meditation seated on a
pile of kusa grass, in the ancient temple of Lord Vishnu. Rising at dawn, Rama
listening to the divine Vedic chants turned east, to worship the Sun God and
recite the holy Gayatri. Deep and harmonious rang the peace chants, rendered by
the Brahmins. Vibrant sounds emanated from all directions in Ayodhya and Rama
clad in spotless white, awaited the auspicious moment. The people of the land
in anticipation of the great event about to take place bustled around
decorating the city. Flags and banners fluttered on every possible building and
tree, actors and dancers entertained people with their skills to the sweet
music of exotic instruments. Streets were strewn with flowers and great torches
large as trees were readied to illuminate the darkness of the nights. People
gathered in groups discussing the decision of their beloved king and of their
good fortune to have Rama as their lord and protector. The noises of Ayodhya,
akin to Indra's Amaravati in splendor, rose to a crescendo, sounding like the
tempestuous waters of the ocean at full tide, as people poured in from all
directions to participate in the coronation.
The chapter 7 introduces the plot in antithesis to Rama’s
coronation. While Ayodhya rejoiced, in the palace of queen Kaikeyi, her
hunch-backed maid Manthara, from the home of her royal parents, noticed the
sudden surge of the populace. The bustling and gaiety aroused her curiosity and
she asked Rama's nurse as to what was causing all the festivity and why queen
Kausalya was giving away so many gifts of kind and wealth. "Tomorrow shall
witness the installation of Rama as king" was the answer and it made
Manthara furious. A woman full of evil, Manthara was consumed by anger. She
rushed to Kaikeyi saying, "Are you deluded? Sleeping are you? Wake up, a
great calamity is about to befall you". Listening to this violent tirade,
the queen wanted to know what made Manthara so angry and unhappy. The cunning
woman, pretending to seek her mistress's welfare, invoked Kaikeyi's hostility
towards Rama, saying "You are about to be destroyed Kaikeyi. Rama is to be
regent and I am afraid for you whose prosperity is my prosperity. The king is
devious and crafty. Taking advantage of your innocence he is deceiving you and
Bharata by crowning that son of Kausalya. Act now and act speedily, to save
yourself, your son and me. Born a princess, queen of the great king, are you
not aware how harsh the laws of the realm can be? Do not hesitate, for like an
enemy will Dasaratha do unto you and your son". Kaikeyi glowing like the
crescent moon rose from her couch and bestowed on Manthara a marvelous jewel,
saying "What wonderful news Manthara. I see no difference between Rama and
Bharata and I am so happy at Rama becoming regent. Ask what you want and it
shall be yours".
Manthara with her wicked thoughts tries to convince Kaikeyi
of the possible misfortune that could occur to Kaikeyi and her family if Sri
Rama becomes the King. Although Kaikeyi's initial reaction is to praise Rama's
qualities; her mind is slowly but surely poisoned by Manathara's sinful words. This
is described in Chapter 8 as the following.
Angry and disappointed,
Manthara flung the jewel from her saying, "How can you rejoice when there
is reason for despair? You are in great peril. The fortunate Kausalya, whose son is to be king, will rid herself of all
rivals. You will be her slave and your son will serve Rama". Manthara's
tirade did not shake Kaikeyi's love for Rama. She extolled his virtues saying, "Rama
is most worthy of being Lord of Ayodhya. Pious, subdued and loyal he has been
sinless and truthful all his life. He will protect his brothers and his
servants like a father. Why do you mourn? Do not
distress yourself on the eve of the coronation. Bharata is noble, but nobler still is Rama who
loves and serves me more than he serves his mother. If Rama is king so will be Bharata, for Rama
regards all his brothers as his equals." Kaikeyi's words plunged Manthara
into deeper gloom. The evil hunchback refusing to accept failure continued with
her persuasion. Manthara, after hearing
Kaikeyi's words, felt very sad and after a long and hot sigh, spoke to her the
following words.
“On one side, you are getting
immersed in an ocean of sorrow filled with misery and danger. But due to
stupidity, you are not able to perceive the truth and you fail to assess your
real position. O, Kaikeyi! If Rama becomes the king, his son will become the
king after him in succession. Thus, Bharata's name itself will be removed from
the royal clan. All the sons of a king will not be crowned for a kingdom. If
all are installed, there will be a great lawlessness. I came here in
your interests. But you have not understood me. You think it fit to give me a
present when your step-wife is getting prospered. Rama, ascending the
throne without hindrance, will either send away Bharata to some other country
or have him put to death. This is certain.
Lakshmana protects Rama. Rama
protects Lakshmana. Their brotherly love is as famous as that of Aswini
celestials. Hence, Rama will not do a sinful act of killing Lakshmana.
However, there is no doubt that he will do so in the case of Bharata. Hence,
I feel that it is better for your son to go to forest directly from his uncle's
house. This is good for you too. If Bharata gets his father's kingdom as
per law, it will be beneficial to you and your side of relatives. Your
youthful son, habituated to comforts, is a natural enemy to Rama. How can
Bharata who failed to achieve his purpose live under control of Rama; whose
flourishing object has been realised? Rama is chasing and bringing down
Bharata as a lion chases an elephant-king in forest. You ought to protect
Bharata. Previously, you treated Kausalya with disrespect due to
arrogance that you were fortunate. Will not Kausalya, your rival wife, revenge
for that animosity? The day Rama becomes lord of this earth with its
great oceans, mountains and towns; that day you and your Bharata will get a bad
and pitiable position of ignominy. When Rama gets power of the kingdom
Bharata will certainly get ruined. Hence, think of a solution to get your son
Bharata the kingdom and to send Rama, your enemy, to exile.”
The chapter 9 describes
Manthara's success in turning Kaikeyi's mind away from good towards evil and a
complete plot to upend the coronation.
Kaikeyi's ever-pure mind at
first resisted Manthara's counsel but soon underwent a terrible transformation.
Spurned by fate, instigated by evil, the virtuous woman, discarding all her
natural grace grew furious. Flushed with anger she said, "Me, a slave? Never!
Tell me how I can banish Rama this moment to crown Bharata as king of Kosala?"
Crafty Mantara with a
malicious smile that displayed her diabolic mind said, "Many years ago in
a conflict between the gods and the Asuras, king Dasaratha went to aid the gods
taking you along with him. Upon reaching the city of Vaijayanta, ruled by
Timidhvaja also known as Sambara, a fierce battle ensued, in which Dasaratha
was riddled with arrows. Wounded by the missiles and unconscious, he was borne
away by you and saved. It was then that the grateful monarch had granted you
two boons. You had said that you would ask for their gratification, whenever
you so desired. Demand them now! Seek the kingdom for Bharata as one of the two
boons. Use the other to banish Rama into the forest for fourteen years".
"Go now into the chamber
of anger. Wearing soiled clothes throw yourself on the floor and when the king
sees you, unable to bear your distress he will not only honor your wishes but
will sacrifice his very life for you. Disregard offers of gold, gems and wealth
of every kind as consolation. Do not forget the purpose."
Thus prevailed upon, Kaikeyi
fell prey not only to her maid's sinister designs, but also to her scheming
mind and physical appearance, "You are the world's first hunch-back who is
most consistent and intelligent. Most crippled people are hideous, but you are
like the lotus, bent by the wind. A beautiful gold ornament will cover your
hump and a gold crown will sit on your head soon as Bharata is crowned, and Rama
is banished into the forest. I shall bejewel and bedeck you with the most
beautiful of ornaments and clothes, which will make you, look like a goddess
and those of your kind will minister to you, as you have ministered to
me." Overwhelmed by Kaikeyi's flattering eulogy Manthara said, "Rise
and do that which you must do. It is of no use to build a dam, after the waters
have drained away".
Kaikeyi went to the chamber
of wrath with Manthara. Casting away her jewels and her very precious pearls,
laying her golden hued body on the ground she said, "Inform the king that
Rama is to be exiled and Bharata installed king. Until such a thing comes to
pass, I want neither carpets, crowns, unguents, food nor drink. Not even life
itself. If my wishes are thwarted, I shall be the cause of my own death".
The defiant queen having pronounced the terrible threat, her face darkened by a
wrath she could not contain, flung herself on to the bare earth. Unkempt and
unadorned, she was like the night sky bereft of stars.
This concludes chapters 4,5,6,7,8
and 9 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen the great atmosphere preceding the succession
of Rama to the throne and the sinister plot not just against it but to send
Rama into exile. The evil Manthara is the manifestation of such people who are at
play to pollute minds and inject doom into a paradise. Let us see how this plot
makes way to reality in the subsequent posts.
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