Editing Lakshmana (section)

== Legend ==
=== Birth and early life ===
[[File: Four Sons of Dasaratha.jpg|thumb|250px|Birth of the four sons of Dasharatha]]

King [[Dasharatha]] of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]] had three wives: [[Kausalya]], [[Sumitra]] and [[Kaikeyi]]. He performed a [[yajna]]-[[Ashvamedha|Ashwamedha yajna]] to beget sons and as a result, his queens became pregnant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rys/rys1015.htm|title=The Ramayana in Sanskrit: Book 1: Chapter 15}}</ref> Lakshmana and his brother [[Shatrughna]] were born to Sumitra, while [[Rama]] and [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] were born to Kausalya and Kaikeyi respectively.<ref name="Mani">{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0|author-link =Vettam Mani|pages=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/448 448]-9}}</ref>

In the [[Puranas]], Lakshmana is described as an incarnation of [[Shesha]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Śrīgargasaṃhitā: Kīrtibhāṣāsārasahitā |date=2000 |publisher=Vyāsa Bālābakṣa Śodhasaṃsthāna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r3PXAAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80 |language=sa}}</ref> the multiple-headed [[nāga|naga]] (serpent) upon whom rests the preserver deity [[Vishnu]], whose [[avatar]] Rama is considered to be.<ref>{{Cite book |last=aravamudan |first=krishnan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJe9BAAAQBAJ&dq=lakshmana+adishesha&pg=PA294 |title=Pure Gems of Ramayanam |date=2014-09-22 |publisher=PartridgeIndia |isbn=978-1-4828-3720-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Haq |first=Kaiser |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jCmoCgAAQBAJ&dq=shesha+snake&pg=PT28 |title=The Triumph of the Snake Goddess |date=2015-10-12 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-91511-4 |language=en |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615185004/https://books.google.com/books?id=jCmoCgAAQBAJ&dq=shesha+snake&pg=PT28 |url-status=live }}</ref> When sage [[Vishwamitra|Vishvamitra]] asked Rama to kill the demons in the forest, Lakshmana accompanied them and went to [[Mithila (ancient)|Mithila]] with them. Vishvamitra gives them the knowledge of the ''Devastras'' or celestial weaponry [bala and ati bala], trains them in advanced religion and guides them to kill powerful demons like [[Tataka]], [[Maricha]] and [[Subahu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rama and Lakshmana Slay the mighty tataka|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/apr/28/rama-and-lakshmana-slay-the-mighty-tataka-1806617.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805023717/https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/apr/28/rama-and-lakshmana-slay-the-mighty-tataka-1806617.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Marriage to Urmila ===
[[File:Urmila and lakshmana marriage.webp|thumb|The marriage ceremony of Lakshmana and Urmila. Painting at [[Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam|Ramasamy Temple]]  at [[Kumbakonam]]]]

After Rama won the [[svayamvara]] of [[Sita]], their marriage was fixed. King [[Dasharatha]] arrived in Mithila for his son's wedding and noticed that Lakshmana had feelings for [[Urmila]], but according to tradition, Bharata and [[Mandavi]] were to marry first.<ref>{{cite book|author=Praśānta Guptā|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RazqpUWg3KYC&pg=PA32|title=Vālmīkī Rāmāyaṇa|publisher=Dreamland Publications|year=1998|isbn=9788173012549|pages=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dawar|first=Sonalini Chaudhry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFPAQAAMAAJ&q=Lakshmana|title=Ramayana, the Sacred Epic of Gods and Demons|date=2006|publisher=Om Books International|isbn=9788187107675|language=en}}</ref> King Dasharatha then arranged for Bharata to marry Mandavi and Shatrughna to marry [[Shrutakirti]], allowing Lakshmana to marry Urmila. Ultimately, all four sisters married the four brothers, strengthening the alliance between the two kingdoms.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oQlAQAAIAAJ&q=Lakshmana|title=The History of Puranas|date=2005|publisher=Bharatiya Kala Prakashan|isbn=978-81-8090-062-4|language=en}}</ref> The wedding ceremony was conducted under the guidance of [[Shatananda]]. During the homeward journey to Ayodhya, another avatar of [[Vishnu]], [[Parashurama]], challenged Rama to combat, on the condition that he was able to string the bow of Vishnu, [[Sharanga (Hindu mythology)|Sharanga]]. When Rama obliged him with success, Parashurama acknowledged the former to be a form of Vishnu and departed to perform penance at the mountain [[Mahendra Mountains|Mahendra]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Valmiki |url=http://archive.org/details/TheRamayan |title=The Ramayana |date= |pages=126–145}}</ref> The wedding entourage then reached Ayodhya, entering the city amid great fanfare.<ref name="Parmeshwaranand">{{cite book |author=Swami Parmeshwaranand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FdIkaccgneAC&pg=PA1210 |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionaries of Puranas |date=2001-01-01 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-226-3 |pages=1210–1220 |access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

According to [[Vishwamitra]], Urmila and Lakshmana equals each other in "grace and heritage".<ref>{{cite news|title=Book 1 (Bala-kanda): Chapter 72 - The marriage of the four sons of King Dasaratha|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc423941.html|work=www.wisdomlib.org|accessdate=21 December 2023}}</ref> Urmila and Lakshmana had two sons named [[Angada (Lakshmana's son)|Angada]] and [[Chandraketu]]. Urmila is described as being as dedicated to Sita as he was to Rama.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Ramayana: Conclusion|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/ramaconc.htm|access-date=2020-08-07|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== Exile and war ===
{{Main|Exile of Rama}}
[[File:Lakshmana is stricken by the magic arrows of Indrajita.jpg|thumb|Lakshmana is stricken by the magic arrows of Indrajita a Powerful warrior and Son of Ravana]]
Lakshmana served Rama and Sita reverently during the exile. In Panchavati, Lakshmana also built a hut for Rama and Sita to live in. Lakshmana cut off [[Ravana]]'s sister [[Surpanakha]]'s nose in anger when she tried to seduce Rama and insulted Sita. He played an important role in the war with [[Ravana]] and slew Ravana's sons [[Indrajit]]a (Meghanada) and [[Atikaya]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Richman|first=Paula|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkifYfljHP4C&q=surpanakha&pg=PA74|title=Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia|date=1991-08-29|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-07589-4|location=|pages=|language=en|chapter=The Mutilation of Surpanakha}}</ref>

On the first night of exile, when Rama and Sita were sleeping, the deity [[Ratri|Nidra]] appeared before Lakshmana and he requested her to offer him the boon of not sleeping for the fourteen years.<ref>{{cite book |author=Kavita Kané |year=2014 |publisher=Rupa Publications India Pvt. Limited |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfYWrgEACAAJ |title=Sita's Sister |isbn=9788129134844}}</ref> The goddess asked him that she could grant his wish, but someone else would have to take his place asleep. Lakshmana asked the goddess to enquire his wife Urmila regarding this, who happily accepted the task. Urmila slept continuously for the fourteen years of exile, to complete the sleep of her and her husband's share. Urmila is notable for this unparalleled sacrifice, which is called ''Urmila Nidra.''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/Urmila-The-Sleeping-Princess/2014/03/28/article2134735.ece | title=Urmila, The Sleeping Princess | work=[[Indian Express]] | date=28 March 2014 | access-date=1 June 2016 | author=Reeja Radhakrishnan | place=Chennai | archive-date=25 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625064009/http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/Urmila-The-Sleeping-Princess/2014/03/28/article2134735.ece | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=Ramayana: Check 13 lesser-known facts|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/ramayana-check-lesser-known-facts-1585545052-1|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>

[[File:Rama exiled to Forest.jpg|thumb|Rama in the exile, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana]]

When Sita asked Rama to fetch a magical golden deer for her, Rama asked Lakshmana to stand guard as he sensed danger and evil. The golden deer was the demon [[Maricha]], who distracted Rama. When Rama killed Maricha, he cried out in Rama's voice for help. Although Lakshmana knew that Rama was invincible and beyond any danger, Sita panicked and frantically ordered Lakshmana to go to Rama's aid immediately. Unable to disobey Sita, Lakshmana drew a perimeter line ([[Lakshmana Rekha]]), which Sita must not cross and went in search of Rama. Sita, however, out of compulsion of religious duty and compassion for Ravana, who was disguised as a poor [[Brahmin]], crossed the line to give him alms, following which she was abducted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pauwels |first=Heidi R. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSRXu4pcyCsC&dq=lakshmana+rekha&pg=PA396 |title=The Goddess as Role Model: Sita and Radha in Scripture and on Screen |date=2008-10-09 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-970857-4 |pages=396 |language=en}}</ref>

Through their search for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana meet Hanuman, the biggest devotee of Rama, greatest of ape heroes, and an adherent of Sugriva. Rama befriends Sugriva and helps him by killing his elder brother Vali, thus regaining the kingdom of Kiṣkindha, in exchange for helping Rāma to recover Sita. However, Sugriva soon forgets his promise and this enrage Lakshmana, who was ready to destroy the ape citadel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shabdbooks.com/gallery/392-may-2020.pdf|title=A tail's travel from Treta Yuga to DwaparaYuga|website=shabdbooks.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519175458/http://shabdbooks.com/gallery/392-may-2020.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Indian - Lakshmana Fights Indrajit - Walters W902.jpg|thumb|Lakshmana fights [[Indrajit]] (also known as Meghanada) during the war]]

During the war between [[Rama]] and [[Ravana]], [[Indrajit|Meghanada]] hurls a powerful weapon at Lakshmana and he is mortally wounded. So Hanumana assumes his gigantic form and flies from Lanka to the Himalayas. Upon reaching mountain, Hanuman is unable to identify the herb, sanjeevani, that will cure Lakshmana and so he decides to bring the entire mountain back to Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Mṛtasañjīvanī |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241774.html |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Post his recovery, Lakshmana killed Meghanada and [[Atikaya]], who were the sons of Ravana.<ref name="Ramayana">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wzg6wFJ5xwC | title=Ramayana | publisher=University of California Press | author=B. A van Nooten William | year=2000 | isbn=978-0-520-22703-3}}</ref>

=== Post exile ===
After the end of the Lanka war, Rama was crowned King of Kosala, and Bharata became the crown prince. Rama had offered to make Lakshmana the crown prince, but he refused, saying Bharata was elder to him and more deserving of the title. Rama, hearing this, was very pleased and said "O Lakshmana, in this birth, you served me so well and did your duties as a younger brother, so I will do the same in my next birth as your younger brother". Thus, in the next birth, Rama became Krishna and Lakshmana became Balarama, Krishna's elder brother.<ref name="EB_Balarama">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Balarama|title=Balarama &#124; Hindu mythology|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|date=23 August 2023 }}</ref>

Goddess Nidra had told Lakshmana that he would have to go to sleep as soon as the exile ends, so that Urmila could awake. After the exile, Lakshmana went to sleep and Urmila saw the coronation of Rama.
{{quote box
|quote= "My brother, I have waited for this grand moment for years and just when I was about to witness my Lord Ram being crowned king, the goddess of sleep, Nidra, reminds me of our agreement and demands that I submit to her this very moment and go to sleep and let Urmila awaken."<ref>{{cite book |author=Tulika Singh |year=2018 |publisher=Notion Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyBFDwAAQBAJ&dq=urmila+ramayan&pg=PT24 |title=The Princess Who Slept For 14 Years |isbn=9781948372176 |page=20}}</ref>
|source=—''The Princess Who Slept For 14 Years''}}

Lakshmana was the one who left Sita in the forests near sage [[Valmiki]]'s ashram after she expressed her desire to leave the kingdom. Lakshmana remained loyal to his brother and fought against Rama's sons [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]] later on.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cakrabartī |first=Bishṇupada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FCAqAAAAYAAJ&q=interpolation+uttara+kanda |title=The Penguin Companion to the Ramayana |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-310046-1 |language=en |access-date=12 July 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118062022/https://books.google.com/books?id=FCAqAAAAYAAJ&q=interpolation+uttara+kanda |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'', Lakshmana had ruled over Karupada with Urmila as the queen; which was inherited by his elder son, Angada; whilst Lakshmana's younger son, Chandraketu had inherited [[Malla (tribe)|Mallya]], with its capital Chandrakanti being commissioned by Rama.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/src-vrm:ram7-115 | title=Ram7 115 - AncientVoice }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-26|title=Uttara Kanda of Ramayana was edited during 5th century BCE - Puranas|url=https://www.booksfact.com/puranas/uttara-kanda-ramayana-edited-5th-century-bce.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=BooksFact - Ancient Knowledge & Wisdom|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Renunciation of life===
Sage [[Durvasa]] appeared at Rama's doorstep, and seeing Lakshmana guarding the door, demanded an audience with Rama. At the time, Rama was having a private conversation with [[Yama]]. Before the conversation began, Yama gave Rama strict instructions that their dialogue was to remain confidential, and anyone who entered the room was to be relieved of their life. Rama agreed and entrusted Lakshmana with the duty of guarding his door. When Durvasa made his demand, Lakshmana politely refused. The sage grew angry and threatened to curse all of Ayodhya if Lakshmana did not immediately inform Rama of his arrival.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-02|title=When Sri Rama gives death penalty to Laxman|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/ram-and-laxman-katha-in-hindi-ramayan-ram-laxman-and-parshuram-story-sc93-nu612-1081526-1.html|access-date=2020-06-17|website=News Track|language=en}}</ref>

Lakshmana, in a dilemma, decided it would be better that he alone die to save all of Ayodhya from falling under Durvasa's curse and so interrupted Rama's meeting to inform him of the sage's arrival. Durvasa cursed him that he should go to heaven alive. Rama quickly concluded his meeting with Yama and received the sage with due courtesy. In order to fulfil his brother's promise, Lakshmana went to the banks of the river [[Sarayu River (Ayodhya)|Sarayu]], resolved on giving up the world by drowning himself in the Sarayu. From there, Indra removed Lakshmana from the water and took him alive to heaven.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Richman
|first=Paula
|title=Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RW6MrAiJ-0C&pg=PA9
|date=1 January 2001
|publisher=University of California Press
|isbn=978-0-520-22074-4}}</ref>