“What should I do?” Kaikeyi asked Manthara who stated, “Do you remember the two boons king Dasharatha had promised he would grant to you? Ask him to make Bharata his successor and send Rama into exile in the forest for fourteen years! Go to the sulking chamber and throw a tantrum!” Kaikeyi followed her advice. […]
Manthara was a close companion and maid to Queen Kaikeyi. Manthara came with Kaikeyi at the time of marriage. Manthara did not like the idea that the coronation of Rama should take place when Bharata and Shatrughna were away at Kekaya. She felt that it was done on purpose. She wanted Kaikeyi to be the
Preparations for Coronation Ceremony One day, king Dasharatha felt that, as he himself was growing old, suitable arrangements must be made to appoint a successor. Next day, he consulted with Sage Vasishtha in this regard and called an assembly of his ministers and courtiers. There, he proposed Rama as his successor as he was the
Seeta grew as beautiful as the moon. Many princes had their eyes on her. That’s why king Janaka was worried about her. Once, Seeta lifted the unique ‘Pinaka’ bow given by Shiva. Thereafter, king Janaka announced the swayamvara of Seeta.When, Sage Vishwamitra with Rama and Lakshmana reached Mithila, they were received by king Janaka with
The solar kingdom of Videha was established by Ikshvaku’s son Nimi. The area which was formed by the churning or drying of the swamp as a result of the conduct of yajna was called Mithila.The kings of Mithila were known as ‘Janak’. At that time, Sheerdhwaj Janak occupied the throne of Mithila. Sheerdhwaj was also
After a few days, Sage Vishwamitra got an invitation to the Swayamvara of Seeta. He took both the princes to Mithila. On the way, they came to a beautiful but deserted ashrama. Rama wanted to know the reason behind it.Sage Vishwamitra told Rama that long ago, Sage Gautama used to live there with his beautiful
Sage Vishwamitra was going to perform a great sacrifice and wished to do so without the demons spoiling it. So, he demanded Rama and Lakshmana from king Dasharatha. But king Dasharatha was stunned by the demand. How could he send his beloved Rama and Lakshmana, who had just returned from the hermitage and were too
King Dasharatha in consultation with the Royal Priest Vasishtha sent them to his ashrama (hermitage). During those days, the centre of learning was Gurukul alone. They soon mastered the scriptures and state-craft.Sage Vasishtha was pure-hearted. Once, when Sage Vishwamitra was the king, he at the head of his army reached the hermitage of Sage Vasishtha
Birth of Rama One of the two chief dynasties of the Kshatriyas was the Solar Dynasty. The Solar Dynasty (Surya Vansha) worshipped the Sun-god tracing their ancestry to the son of the Sun-god, Shraddhadev (Vaivasvata Manu). Many great kings belonged to this dynasty, like Harishchandra, Sagar, Bhagirath, Dileep, Raghu, and the suchlike. King Raghu was
Long ago, Persia was a very peaceful and prosperous kingdom but it was ruled by a very restless and ambitious King named Kaiqus. One day, he heard that the neighbouring kingdom of Mazendaran was beautiful, with mountains, rivers, lush greenery, flowers and birds, and lovely maidens. But it was also inhabited by demons, under the
Sage Valmiki is the First Poet. According to the Puranas, Pracheta was his father and Charshani his mother. Varuna is also known by the name of Pracheta. That is why Sage Valmiki is also called Prachetas. He was possessed of immense knowledge. Once, while the Sage was in deep meditation, an ant-hill covered his whole
Outside the shop of a tailor in Kashgar sat a little hunchback, singing and playing a tambourine. The tailor took him home so that his beloved wife, too, might enjoy the music. They invited the little hunchback to share their dinner; his wife served fish. Unluckily, a fishbone stuck in the hunchback’s throat and he
In a farm, a strange man was born with horns and a tail like a cow. He was called Masang. He found a very dark-skinned friend and servant named Iddar, son of the forest. Further on, they were joined by a man with green skin, son of grass, and another with white skin, son of
Two evil, monstrous frogs lived in a marsh and blocked the flow of water into the fields of the kingdom. They would only allow the water to flow if a human being was sacrificed to them every year. Now, the King’s son was to be sacrificed but his best friend offered himself to the frogs.
In a kingdom, there lived six friends: a rich man, a mathematician, a mechanic, a smith, a physician and a painter. They set off to find their fortunes. Reaching a land full of rivers, they each planted a tree. “We will follow one river each to its source and return here. If anyone’s tree is