Monday, April 13, 2015

A-Z April Challenge 2015: K for KAIKEYI AND KING DASARATHA

K for Kaikeyi
Google Images
Queen Kaikeyi’s joy knew no bounds. Her favourite Prince Ram was going to be crowned Heir to the throne of Ayodhya. She sang as she went about her duties, organising the function. She would not allow Prince Ram’s mother Kausalya to lift a finger. Kausalya and Sumitra watched in amusement as Kaikeyi went about the palace, ordering a number of maids and man-servants to do her bidding. 

 The palace appeared like Devaloka when King Dasaratha rode on his chariot through the ornate gates, flanked by his four sons who were riding on horses. A smile broke out on the old king’s face. He knew that it was Kaikeyi who was in charge. She was the one who enjoyed the flamboyance of royal life more than anyone else.

 Getting out of the chariot, the king’s eyes fell on Manthara, Kaikeyi’s faithful servant. Her half-bent figure was distinct in the twilight. His instincts told him that something was afoot. He went directly to Kaikeyi’s chambers to meet his favourite queen. 

 Kaikeyi greeted the king with a wide smile. She held out her hands to him, “Where have you been the whole day? Have you forgotten it’s our dear Ram’s coronation tomorrow? There are so many arrangements to be made.”

 Dasaratha smiled at her enthusiasm. Was the king expected to do the work of organising the coronation? He did not utter the words as he did not want to curb her enthusiasm.

 Manthara stopped outside the chambers, hiding behind a pillar, when she saw that Kaikeyi was not alone. She bided her time, waiting for the king to leave, before poisoning Kaikeyi’s mind.

 It was sad that all of Kaikeyi’s enthusiasm for her favourite Prince went to naught by an old maid-servant’s words. In barely a few hours, King Dasaratha found that his world had tilted on its axis. 

 Glossary:
Devaloka – Abode of the Devas (Heaven)



Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal
I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

40 comments:

  1. A Tarkabarka HölgyApril 13, 2015 at 1:42 AM

    I gave your blog a shout out on my blog today :) I liked this little snippet, especially for the enthusiasm of the queen...

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 4:30 PM

      Thank you Tarkabarka Holgy for the shoutout :D
      Yeah, she is quite enthusiastic to begin with... until... :(

      Delete
  2. SoumyaApril 13, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    I always thought Kaikeyi was the bad one. Was she poisoned by Manthara throughout?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 4:31 PM

      Kaikeyi loved Ram the most, even more than she did Bharat. And she was the one who loved Ram more than Kausalya actually. Manthara poisoned her mind on the eve of the coronation.

      Delete
  3. AathiraApril 13, 2015 at 4:09 PM

    Thank you for refreshing my memory with these stories. I had heard them so many years back!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 4:32 PM

      You are welcome Aathira. I am refreshing my mind too :D

      Delete
  4. iluvfictionApril 13, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    People who mentor are the ones who can poison a mind as well!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Devika FernandoApril 13, 2015 at 6:34 PM

    Good grief, what on earth is / was happening?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 8:11 PM

      If you are familiar with Ramayana, you will know that Kaikeyi is Dasaratha's favourite queen and she adores her stepson Ram more than her own son. All that changes when her maid Manthara poisons her mind. The very next day, Dasaratha is on his death bed and Ram, Sita and Lakshman are on their way to live in the forest for 14 years. :)

      Delete
    2. Devika FernandoApril 15, 2015 at 7:59 AM

      I had no idea the consequences would be that huge! Goes to show how easily people are poisoned if you know how to manipulate them... :-(

      Delete
    3. Sundari VenkatramanApril 15, 2015 at 11:42 AM

      Yeah, very true. Manthara thoroughly washes Kaikeyi's mind. Maybe the forerunner of KGB ;)

      Delete
  6. deepti menonApril 13, 2015 at 7:37 PM

    I can visualize the scene so vividly, Sundari! How easily the love of a mother for her stepson gets diluted by a wicked half bent maid, the moment that turns the entire epic on its head! I love the way you have described the loving Kaikeyi!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shanaya TalesApril 13, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    Nicely narrated, Sundari. This is a relatively lesser known side of Kaikeyi. She was not the complete villain that she is normally portrayed to be. However, one error in judgement cost her a lot.
    *Shantala @ ShanayaTales*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 8:12 PM

      Thank you Shanaya. Yeah, so true. I remember this tale vividly, having heard it from my grandparents so many times :)

      Delete
  8. Swathi ShenoyApril 13, 2015 at 8:35 PM

    Loved the narration Sundari :) It is so hard to believe that Kaikeyi, who loved Rama so much, could pay heed to Manthara's words :(

    Kaleidoscope of Hopes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 8:48 PM

      Really sad! But then otherwise, Ram wouldn't have had an opportunity to meet Ravana and that's the main reason why Lord Vishnu was born on earth, right? :)
      Thank you for stopping by Swathi

      Delete
  9. Jyotsna BhatiaApril 13, 2015 at 10:15 PM

    Even I wasn't aware that Kaikeyi loved Rama so much. Loved reading this one Ma'am :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shailaja VApril 13, 2015 at 11:00 PM

    Kaikeyi was actually one of the most brave and courageous women who fought side by side with Dasharatha. I like the way you have highlighted the goodness of her nature and the fact that she was swayed by evil.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownApril 13, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Well written Sundari. You brought out the softer side of Kaikeyi. And it is also said that she mourned his departure the maximum. Just because Ram had given his words to his father, he did not return even when Kaikeyi begged him too. Such a waste of life but then Kaikeyi is also the trigger of Ramayana. So maybe it was meant to be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 13, 2015 at 11:54 PM

      Exactly Ina :) It was meant to be. Otherwise Ramayana wouldn't have been possible and Ravana will probably be ruling the earth even today ;)

      Delete
  12. Vinay Leo R.April 13, 2015 at 11:58 PM

    Yes. I knew that part. Thanks in no small part to my grandmother :) And sad that a maidservant can poison the mind of a queen so quickly.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Shilpa GargApril 14, 2015 at 12:12 AM

    Have read about the beautiful side of Kaikeyi. If only she had not listened to Manthra that day!! Beautifully narrated story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 14, 2015 at 1:22 PM

      Thank you Shilpa! If she hadn't listened, there would be no Ramayana and Ramavatar of Vishnu would have been a waste :)

      Delete
  14. the little princessApril 14, 2015 at 12:29 AM

    "his world tilted on its axis"! such an apt description of a lost king, torn between his promise to his queen and his love for his favorite son! loved it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 14, 2015 at 1:23 PM

      :D Thank you Little Princess. Coming from you, that's a great compliment

      Delete
  15. Chicky KadambariApril 14, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    This is why they say that we must carefully choose the company we stay in. Although, if something is meant to happen in a certain way, we end up in the company of people we would normally not associate ourselves with. Vinaashkaaley vipreet buddhi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 14, 2015 at 1:23 PM

      Absolutely true Chicky, every word of yours. Thank you for stopping by

      Delete
  16. SuzyApril 14, 2015 at 1:35 PM

    Oh that Kaikeyi - 180 degree turnaround and that one event took the Ramayana on a very different adventure. Nicely penned.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Debraj MoulickApril 15, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    But Kaikyei was cursed by his own son... :-( ....Madam you gave a different angle...nice one

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 15, 2015 at 11:40 AM

      All mythological stories have more than one angle. This one is what I like - that Kaikeyi is not black, just brain-washed :)

      Delete
  18. LakshmiApril 16, 2015 at 5:23 AM

    Hmm. Main ' if only' I'm Ramayana. Cud see Ayodya palace thru your blog. Picture is also beautiful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sundari VenkatramanApril 16, 2015 at 11:31 AM

      Thank you so much Lak! That's what I wanted to bring across - visualising the scene :D

      Delete
  19. Amrit SinhaApril 19, 2015 at 6:43 PM

    A tragic situation :-(

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)