After the Swayamvar episode at Mithila the father of Devi Sita and King of Mithila, Janak, invited King Dusseratha to his palace. Dusseratha was overwhelmed at hearing the news of the Swayamvara being won by his son. He at once along with his family left for Mithila.
On reaching Mithila, Janak proposed to marry his remaining daughters to rest of Rama's brothers. The proposal was readily accepted by Dusseratha and his wives. In this way, Laxman, Bharatha and Satrughana got married to Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutkeerti respectively. King Janak arranged a grand marriage for her daughters and departed her daughters with their husbands. The four couples were highly welcomed in Ayodha. The couples started to lead there married life happily.
Eventually Dusseratha decided to give up the responsibility of his kingdom to his eldest son Rama and throned him as the King. He advised with his royal gurus and decided to organise the function for Rama's throne-taking. The news for the same was spread across the kingdom and all the preparation was started to welcome their new king.
Everyone across the kingdom was happy except for one, Manthara. As the family servant of Kaikeyi, Manthara lived with her from the time of her birth. At the time of Kaikayi's marriage she too came along with her. When she heard that King Dasaratha was planning to make his eldest son, Rama, prince regent (rather than Bharata, his child by Kaikeyi), she flied into a rage and reported the news to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi too was delighted to hear such a good news from Manthara and handed her a necklace as a gift. Manthara however threw the gift and poisoned Kaikeyi's mind against Rama. She convinced Kaikeyi that if Rama comes into power, he will have Bharata exiled or killed in order to eliminate a possible threat to his power. Although Kaikeyi loved Rama more than his son, but eventually she started to find logic with Manthara and realised that Bharata and not Rama should be made the king.
Kaikeyi than asked Manthara what she should do in order to change the King's decision. Manthara reminded Kaikeyi of the two boons Dusseratha had given her when she had once saved his life in a celestial battle. Kaikeyi had kept these boons for later and Manthara declared that this is the right time to ask for them. She advised Kaikeyi to lie in her room wearing soiled clothes and no ornaments. She should weep and cry, pretending anger. When Dusseratha would come there to console her, she should immediately ask for the boons. The first boon would be that Bharata would be made the king. The second boon would be that Rama should be sent into the forest for exile for fourteen years. Manthara reckoned that the fourteen-year banishment would be long enough for Bharata to consolidate his position in the Empire and weave his way into people's hearts.
On reaching Mithila, Janak proposed to marry his remaining daughters to rest of Rama's brothers. The proposal was readily accepted by Dusseratha and his wives. In this way, Laxman, Bharatha and Satrughana got married to Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutkeerti respectively. King Janak arranged a grand marriage for her daughters and departed her daughters with their husbands. The four couples were highly welcomed in Ayodha. The couples started to lead there married life happily.
Eventually Dusseratha decided to give up the responsibility of his kingdom to his eldest son Rama and throned him as the King. He advised with his royal gurus and decided to organise the function for Rama's throne-taking. The news for the same was spread across the kingdom and all the preparation was started to welcome their new king.
Everyone across the kingdom was happy except for one, Manthara. As the family servant of Kaikeyi, Manthara lived with her from the time of her birth. At the time of Kaikayi's marriage she too came along with her. When she heard that King Dasaratha was planning to make his eldest son, Rama, prince regent (rather than Bharata, his child by Kaikeyi), she flied into a rage and reported the news to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi too was delighted to hear such a good news from Manthara and handed her a necklace as a gift. Manthara however threw the gift and poisoned Kaikeyi's mind against Rama. She convinced Kaikeyi that if Rama comes into power, he will have Bharata exiled or killed in order to eliminate a possible threat to his power. Although Kaikeyi loved Rama more than his son, but eventually she started to find logic with Manthara and realised that Bharata and not Rama should be made the king.
Kaikeyi than asked Manthara what she should do in order to change the King's decision. Manthara reminded Kaikeyi of the two boons Dusseratha had given her when she had once saved his life in a celestial battle. Kaikeyi had kept these boons for later and Manthara declared that this is the right time to ask for them. She advised Kaikeyi to lie in her room wearing soiled clothes and no ornaments. She should weep and cry, pretending anger. When Dusseratha would come there to console her, she should immediately ask for the boons. The first boon would be that Bharata would be made the king. The second boon would be that Rama should be sent into the forest for exile for fourteen years. Manthara reckoned that the fourteen-year banishment would be long enough for Bharata to consolidate his position in the Empire and weave his way into people's hearts.
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