9. Characterisation of Mayavasu

Mayavasu is a new character created by the poet and made to play an important part in the drama. He is a disciple of Marica. In the battle that ensured between Sri Rama and the demons in the mermitage of sage Visvamitra, all the demons except Marica and Mayavasu were killed by Sri Rama. Defeated in the battle by 'Sri Rama he continues to cherish feelings of enemity towards the latter. In fact he becomes more determined than ever to wreak vengeance on Sri Rama not only for his fefeat but also that of his preceptor Marica. The death of his kinsmen Subahu and Tataka at the hands of Sri Rama further aggravaters his anger towards the latter. acaryasya svasaduparatih patanam tatakayah pradhvamsasca pratibhatajayakhyata bahoh subahoh ! yenakari tryamidamaho kuna sa ksatradimbho mayambhodhi mama pariharan pranitu pranipathah || 147. Ibid., Act II, V-1, p.14. 147

31818 Informed of the arrival of sage Visvamitra with Sri Rama and Lakshmana in Mithila, he sends his assistant Karambaka to watch the situation in the court of King Janaka. Karambaka goes and brings him a report of the situation in Mithila. Hearing from Karambaka that Sage Visvamitra has begun his efforts to bring about the marriage of Sri Rama with Sita, he immediately goes with him to Mithila to thwart it. He is very artful and cunning. In the second act he and Karambaka appear as King Dasaratha and Sumantra respectively and try to prevent Sri Rama from wielding the great bow. The scene where the pseudo Dasaratha in vain tries to prevent the marriage of Sri Rama with Sita shows in brilliant colours the deftness and industry of Mayavasu. Though he fails in his scheme, he does not become dispirited. He goes to incite Parasurama by telling him of the action of Sri Rama in breaking the sacred bow of his preceptor and succeeds in rousing his anger against Sri Rama. He thereby plans to kill Sri Rama through Parasurama, in the hope that it would be possible for 148 him to present Sita to his master Ravana The failure of Parasurama to out-beat Sri Rama in the battle does not unnerve Mayavasu. He still continues his hostile designs against Sri Rama. 148. Ibid., Act. II, V-45, p. 38.

3139 319 Mayavasu goes to meet his master Ravana and creates in him passion towards Sita. On hearing that arrangements are taking place in Mithila for the coronation of Sri Rama, he sends a demoness by name Ayomukhi to Mithila in order to thwart it. The demoness taking the guise of Manthara succeeds in poisoning the mind of her mistress. She makes her demand the two promised boons from her lord in the form of sending 'Sri Rama on exile to the forest for fourteen years and coronating her son Bharata instead. Thus Mayavasu sees that the coronation of Sri Rama is wrecked. Mayavasu then sends Ayomukhi to Surpanakha with the direction that she must abduct 'Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana when they arrive in Dandaka. He also desires her to keep with her the two princes as her lords and present Sita to her brother Ravana. After giving these directions, he goes to the forest of Dandaka to watch the working of his scheme. When Surpanakha does not succeed implementing the plan chalked out by him, he thinks of fresh means to harm 'Sri Rama. While Sri Rama is camping in the Rishyamuka mountain awaiting the outcome of the mission of Hanuman, he goes and appears as Vajrangada. He falsely tells them of the death of Sita and Hanuman. But there also he meets with failure.

320820 Mayavasu then goes to Lanka to hoodwing Sita by the magic of showing the severed heads of Sri Rama and Lakshmana. But here again his hopes are dashed to pieces for Trijata, a close friend of Sita exposes to her the trick played by the demon. Mayavasu takes part in the battle between the forces of Sri Rama and Ravana. Soon he is killed by Lakshmana. There is a slight semblance between the characters of Mayavasu and Malyavan in Mahaviracarita. Like Mayavasu, he appears to bear hatred towards 'Sri Rama and draws plans for the extermination of the latter. Though both are scheming and ingenius Malyavan does not take an active part in the execution of his schemes like Mayavasu. Similarly Malyavan in the end becomes desperate by the failure of his plans to kill Sri Rama. But Mayavasu never becomes dejected and fights to the last hoping that he would be able to defeat Sri Rama. The introduction of this character has given the poet an opportunity to create original and thrilling scenes as in Act II. Practically all the calamities that occur to/Sri Rama have been caused by the mischief of Mayavasu. This is very original and bears ample testimony to the originality of the dramatist.