Manthara in Ramayana was the old maid servant of Queen
Kaikeyi. It was her cunning and deceitful nature that poisoned the mind of
Kaikeyi and which eventually resulted in the exile of Bhagvan Sri Ram. The
story of the previous life of Manthara and why she was deceitful and cunning is
mentioned in the Ramopakhyan in the Mahabharata.
To console Manthara, Bhagvan Sri Ram narrated her story. In
her past life she was a beautiful Gandharvi – celestial beings who entertained
the Devas through music and songs. She was told by Brahma to take birth as
Manthara and was the given the mission to exile Sri Ram to forest so that he can
bring end to the rule of the demons and convert them to the path of Dharma.
Bhagvan Sri Ram also told her that in her next life she will
be known as Trivakra and this will happen when Krishna Avatar will take place
on earth. Sri Krishna will then embrace her and this will straighten her back
and she will become beautiful again.
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