The Stratagem of Manthara

Balancing the World Order was a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the Gods since puranic times. Just like the present Military Governments, in the past too ambitious Kings acquired weapons of mass destruction and machines of sophisticated technology to dominate the rest of the world. These constant battles of power-struggle existed since the Satyayug, and so in Treta Yug, Dwapara Yug, and of course one can witness in Kaliyug, the present times. ‘Astras’, were the weapons similar to modern day powerful guided missiles having a code to launch and a fixed target of the enemy in a remote location for destruction. Whereas other hardware weapons such as Mace, Sword, Bow and Arrow, etc., were like the Revolvers, Machine Guns or Bazookas, which can be handled to confront the enemy in person which are called ‘Shastras’ meant to attack and kill the opponent within proximity. Astras were of high technology and humans had no capacity to conceive such weapons by themselves. They could be acquired only with the grace of the Trinity and Devas. Brahma Astra, Narayana Astra, Pasupathi Astra were some of the weapons of mass destruction. The most fascinating feature in some of these Astras was, they were invisible, but appears in the hands of its Master when its code or mantra was chanted. They were reusable, unlike the modern weapons. Astra is a weapon released from one's hand or machine. It could also be released from machine called 'Yantramukta' e.g. Arrow launcher etc.

Ascetics acquired these ‘Astras’ by performing deep and arduous penance seeking the grace of Devas to acquire such powerful weaponry. Gods tried their best to avoid granting such weapons of mass destruction to ambitious and evil. They were only sanctioned to the wise and virtuous Ascetics, Kings, or even to some common men who were born for a specific purpose. The balance or order in acquiring weapons is carefully watched by the‘Mother Nature’ and to restore its balance, it gave birth to Heroes to destroy those Tyrants who had acquired the Astras with their extraordinary tenacity and endurance by penance. The Nazi regime after coming to power in Germany had invented many modern Weapons but it was America that produced the nuclear deterrent first, or else how devastating the world would have been in the hands of the Third Reich. Protective shields in defense from weapons launched by their opponents were also secured especially by the evil and powerful Warriors.

In Tretha Yug, when the order of the Dharma (truth or justice) deteriorated one part and maintained stability by only three parts. Ravan who was though a Brahmin by birth and a great scholar, was the Demon King who ruled from Lanka a highly advanced and sophisticated city with extensive wealth and beauty. Ravan acquired many celestial weapons sanctioned to him especially by Shiva. Ravan attacked Kubera and occupied his Kingdom of Lanka, confiscated his wealth, and even seized his aircraft, the Pushpaka Vimana. He was one of the greatest tapasvi capable to concentrate and release his soul from the bondage of his body and unite with the divine. Pleased with his penances and extraordinary capabilities, Shiva had granted him many powers and weapons. One of the epic wishes granted by Shiva was that Ravana cannot be destroyed by any God or Celestial beings such as Devas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinneras etc. Accordingly, the King Ravana of Lanka acquired invincible powers to dominate the World.With power comes arrogance, and resultantly it brings out all the inner evil intentions and wishes of the person. Ravan having possessed extraordinary powers squandered them to quench his sexual desires and by expanding a highly militarized evil army. His military might of Rakshas were cannibals, inhuman, and anti-ascetic. They also spied wandering around the globe to identify women of extraordinary beauty and kidnap them for the Lankan King’s harem of concubines.

The World was manifestly in disorder with the rise of the evil empire of Ravan. The Gods had to rescue those who were suffering due to this disorder in nature. Alakshmi, the elder sister of Adi Lakshmi, known as the Goddess of poverty. For when she settles in any home, the householder’s wealth and wisdom deteriorate without trace and leaves only unhappiness. She was also the consort of Kali Purush who is capable of contaminating anyone’s mind with impure thoughts. In view of the dark character of Alakshmi, the Creator Brahma condemned her to be born as a hunchback human. But Parvati, the consort of Shiva planned a secret mission for her. Parvati assigned Alakshmi, “you shall be born in the kingdom of Kekaya and be the Royal Servant and Mentor to the daughter of King Ashwapati. You shall gain complete control of the King’s daughter Kaikeyi who is destined to be one of the queens of Maharaj Dashrath,” She continued her brief, “My Brother will later be born human as the eldest Son of Dasarath from the womb of Queen Kausalya” Parvathi paused and called Alakshmi near and whispered into the ear “Your mission is …” Manthara was bewildered and she said in fright with teary eyes, “Shall I not be universally condemned as evil forever?” Parvathi assured her, “Have faith in my Brother,” She smiled and stated wittingly, “He is not like my Husband. Trust Me”

King Ashwapati of Kekaya had seven sons and only one daughter by name Kaikeyi. Due to unexplained reasons, the Queen of Kekaya became distorted in her mind, hence was abandoned by King Ashwapathi, to exile. Kaikeyi’s was raised by the Royal servant Manthara who was a scholar, hence later became not only her teacher but also her mentor. Manthara was ambidextrous and skilled in all the arts, hence chosen by the King to be the caretaker to Kaikeyi. What the King did not know was that Manthara was Alakshmi the celestial agent and by nature she was capable of harboring negative thoughts in anyone’s mind. Her assignment was to pollute the mind of Kaikeyi to develop hatred against Prince Ram whom she loved even more than her own son Bharath. Years later, at the appointed hour exactly as planned Manthara planted the seeds of hatred in the mind of Kaikeyi against Prince Ram, and distrust in her husband King Dasarath. Manthara created insecurity about Kaikeyi’s survival in Ayodhya as the queen; and threatened her that Prince Ram would eliminate Her and her son Bharath soon after he was crowned as the King of Ayodhya. And so, Prince Ram who was about to be coronated, was sent to exile into forests for a period of 14 years, a day before the appointed hour.

Everyone in Ayodhya despised Manthara who had harboured the idea of such evil conspiracy in the mind of Kaikeyi, and dispatched Prince Ram to the forests. Sita, the wife of Ram insisted that she will accompany him in his journey and so did Lakshmana. The scheme became easy with the radiant love between Ram and Sita who became inseparable after their marriage. When the Royal three set out into the forests, the citizens of Ayodhya scorned and spit on Manthara for her evil deeds. But the scheme of Manthara was not just dispatching Prince Ram into the forests, she knew that the daughter of the great King Janaka was trained to be unattached with Royal Luxuries, and she would not hesitate to accompany her husband despite the ordeal in the wild. It was the scheme that Ravan through his rakshasa spies in the thick and terrifying forests would inform their King of the beauty of Sita and then a confrontation was inevitable. The scheme of banishing Prince Ram for the Coronation of Bharat was a front, but unfortunately the King Dasarath died in agony of separation from his beloved son Ram. The pell-mell and aftermath of the horrific turn of events with the demise of King Dasarath, and Prince Bharath’s confrontation with his mother Kaikeyi, did not cause even a minor disturbance in the mind of Manthara. She was stable and undeterred. This continued for 14 years and the mounting agony of insults and despise did not bother Manthara. She only waited for the final hour of accomplishing her mission.

At the final hour and the end of exile period, Prince Ram was in a fierce battle with the powerful Ravan, the King of Lanka, who had kidnapped his wife, Sita. There was no doubt that the Demon King was the most powerful on earth; he was just undefeatable in war. All the skills that Prince Rama had acquired in warfare proved futile, and today he was helpless, losing strength, and feeble without vigor. Prince Ram stood on the ground stunned with the strength of Ravan who was laughing loud victoriously from his chariot. Ram’s body was glistening red with his sweat mixed with blood oozing from his wounds. His thoughts and worries were not filled about his beloved wife Sita, but were about his brother Bharatha, who took a woe that he would give away his life if Ram did not return to Ayodhya on the last day of the exile.

The fiery war field on the Lankan beaches suddenly came to a deathly silence; for everyone anxiously stood still watching the duel between Ram and Ravan. The world knew that good will prevail over evil, but the scenario was otherwise. The Gods were too watching with eagerness. It was then that the earth came to a standstill. Sage Agasya who has bestowed Brahmastra, the powerful of all weapons to Prince Ram during the exile, descended in his astral form, but visible only to the virtuous Prince. The effulgent Sage consoled Ram and said that he was destined by Nature to annihilate the Demon King. He reminded that it was only the doubt in His mind that Ravan was able to conjure and influence. The immortal Sage advised Prince Ram to pray the Sun God and draw energy from the celestial entity who had been a witness to all good and evil since the time of creation, and then put to use his powerful Brahmastra. The Sage then disappeared. Accordingly, Prince Ram prayed to the Sun God with devotion, seeking his grace and energy to make him strong enough for this final battle; and then fired the Agni Missile first. The flaring weapon hit the navel of Ravan with the speed of light with mercurial heat vaporizing the hidden nectar of the Demon King’s life. Ravan who was celebrating his momentary victory was shocked at the strike of the powerful Agni Astra which devoured his energy instantaneously. It was then Prince Ram meditated and recalled the Brahmastra which materialized in his right hand, and within a split second the Prince launched the most powerful deterrent in the universe which ripped into the heart of Ravan with a devastating effect that none can ever survive. The Demon King of Lanka fell from the chariot with a heavy thud that shook the ground. Peace and world order was at last restored.

As the first light broke, there were loud cheers heard everywhere in Ayodhya, Prince Ram had returned victoriously from his exile in time. Manthara looked out from the window and she heard messengers running from door to door giving the good news that Ram, Sita and Lakshman had returned safely. Then she heard the news she was waiting for, “Our Prince Ram had killed the demon King Ravan in a fierce battle”. Tears flooded from the eyes of Manthara. She could not control her happiness. Her mission was accomplished. Manthara prayed Parvathi to now relieve her for she was sure that she will hereafter be treated worse than before. Moreover, her presence would only bring unhappiness in the rule of the future King Ram. That night she planned to leave silently into the wild but the celebrations in Ayodhya were continuous and loud even during night. The citizens were dancing and singing songs in glory of Prince Ram. She sat in the dark corner of her chamber chanting for Parvathi to rescue her.

There was a sound of someone approaching the door. She dared not to open and see, for she knew that one of the beloved brothers of Ram will slice her into pieces as punishment to her conspiracies and deceptive advises rendered to Kaikeyi. Suddenly she heard someone knocking, ‘Manthara”, “Manthara”. It was Kaikeyi. “Look who has come to see you.” Manthara’s apprehension was true and she wept now for not having been relieved of her mission. Slowly the door opened, Queen Kaikeyi came inside and there was a tall and glorious figure behind her with aura as the Sun itself. It was Prince Ram, in celestial beauty, handsome as he was years ago while in the palace with unblemished charm. The aroma and fragrance of his pure love spread throughout the room and suddenly the fear in Manthara vanished with the inviting and sparkling smile of Prince Ram. She got up feebly and tried to fall on His feet. But, the would be crowned King of Ayodhya caught her firmly from falling and held her in his arms. “Rama”, “Rama …..”, she started in panic to confess in a disoriented voice like a child to reveal her innocence. “Shhh, I know” He stopped her from further deliberation, wiping away all her tears with those strong rugged fingers that launched powerful deterrents to kill the world’s archvillain; but now they were soft and tender. The Lord who would be the King embraced Manthara warmly and acknowledged in a soft tone “you have played your part in bringing Universal Peace and security to Mankind,” He whispered, “your stable mind undeterred by consequences, shall be remembered forever.” Manthara, with a beaming smile, experiencing the graceful embrace of King Ram, left her mortal body, in satisfaction.