கம்பராமாயணத்தில் மந்தரையின் சொல்வன்மை (உளவியல் மற்றும் இலக்கியப் பகுப்பாய்வு)

The Eloquence of Manthara in Kamba Ramayanam (A Psychological and Literary Analysis)

Abstract

In the tradition of Tamil literature, the *Kambaramayanam* holds a significant place among the great epics that deeply chronicle the intricate psychological workings of the human mind. The character Manthara, despite possessing neither political authority nor military might, demonstrates the power to alter the political history of Ayodhya through her eloquence. She systematically transforms the mindset of Kaikeyi—who was initially overjoyed at the news of Rama’s coronation—by strategically invoking psychological elements such as fear, maternal affection, a sense of loss, trust, and a sense of entitlement. This study re-examines Manthara’s eloquence not merely as a literary event, but through the lens of modern psychological and communication theories. Manthara’s dialogue is compared with modern psychological theories such as fear appeal, loss aversion, emotional framing, source credibility, the foot-in-the-door technique, and cognitive justification. Furthermore, her eloquence is evaluated in light of the principles of verbal prowess articulated by Thiruvalluvar in the chapter on 'The Power of Speech' (Kural 641–650). The central thesis of this study is that Manthara is not merely a negative character; rather, she is a skilled communication expert who deeply understood the dynamics of the human mind and utilized language as a tool for political communication.