CharacterIkshvaku royal family
Manthara: FAQ & Sources
मंथराMember of the Ikshvaku royal family. Also called Kubja.
Manthara is the hunchbacked maid of Queen Kaikeyi who turns her against Rama on the eve of his coronation. Her whispered fears set off the chain of events that sends Rama into fourteen years of exile.
RoleMember of the Ikshvaku royal family
Appears inRamayana
GroupIkshvaku royal family
KingdomAyodhya
First appearsAyodhya Kanda, Sarga 7
Sargas4 in the Valmiki Ramayana
Frequently asked questions
Who was Manthara?
She was Queen Kaikeyi's maid, who persuaded Kaikeyi to demand Bharata's coronation and Rama's exile.
Why did Manthara oppose Rama's coronation?
She convinced Kaikeyi that Rama's rule would reduce Bharata and Kaikeyi to servants.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda (sargas 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.78)
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