Special Sub-Topic: Lakshmana, the Support of Rama Click Here To Play: Lakshmana, the Support of Rama

Who was Lakshmana's mother?

Sumitra. His father, King Dasarath, had three queens: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Urmila was his wife.

Who was Lakshmana's wife?

Urmila. Sita was the wife of Shri Rama, Lakshmana's eldest brother. Mandavi was the next brother, Bharata's wife. Shrutakirti was wedded to Lakshmana's twin, Shatrughna.

Only twice in his entire life did Lakshmana disobey Shri Rama's orders. What did he do (at one of these times)?

He left Sita when told to guard her.. This took place in the thirteenth year of the exile. The king of demons, Ravana, had sent a demon named Maricha to lure Shri Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita so that he could capture her. Maricha, turning into a golden deer, walked past their dwelling. Sita asked Shri Rama to capture it, but Lakshmana warned that it may be a demon in disguise. Rama went, saying that if it were a demon, he would kill it and telling Lakshmana to stay and guard Sita no matter what happenned. Eventually Maricha lured Rama far from the cottage. Then Shri Rama realized it was a demon, and shot it. Maricha then took his true form and, with his final breath, called out in Shri Rama's voice, "Oh Lakshmana! Oh, Sita! Help!" Back at the cottage, Sita panicked upon hearing this. She begged Lakshmana to go help his brother, but he refused, saying that no harm could ever befall Shri Rama. However, she was not to be satisfied and threatened to go herself. Unable to console her, he begrudgingly left, entrusting her safety to the surrounding plants and animals and praying for his brother's forgiveness.

The other time when he disobeyed Shri Rama involved...

the Sage Durvasa. This was the cause of Lakshmana's death. Many years after Sita left the Earth, Yama, the God of death, came to talk to Shri Rama. He wished to speak to him alone and requested that anyone who entered be given the death penalty. Shri Rama asked Lakshmana to guard the door so none would enter. As Shri Rama and Yama were talking, Sage Durvasa came seeking an audience. Lakshmana asked him to wait a little while as Rama was not to be disturbed. However, Sage Durvasa, famed for his anger, threatened to destroy Ayodhya (the capital of the kingdom) if not granted entrance. Poor Lakshmana was in a grave dilemma. At last, he resolved that it would be better if he were to die rather than Ayodhya being destroyed. So, he entered the room to announce Sage Durvasa's coming.

Who was Lakshmana able to slay because he had not eaten, slept, or seen the face of a woman for fourteen years?

Indrajit. After returning to Ayodhya, some people wondered why Lakshmana killing Indrajit was such a big deal. After all, other people had killed other sons of Ravana. However, Rama pointed out that Indrajit could only be killed by someone who had not eaten, slept, or seen the face of a woman for fourteen years. People protested that that was impossible. However, it was shown that Lakshmana was qualified in all three areas. Even though Shri Rama had handed him food to eat, he had never told him to eat. Lakshmana, in his loyalty, thought himelf born to serve Shri Rama and did not do anything without being told. Hence, he had not eaten. Before going into exile, his mother had told him to serve Shri Rama and guard him while he slept. So, Lakshmana did just that...and went 14 years without sleeping. Also, though he lived near his sister-in-law for 14 yars, he never looked at her face. He worshipped her, and only gazed at her feet. Such was his loyalty.

Who was Lakshmana's twin brother?

Shatrughna. Shri Rama and Bharata were his brothers, but they were older than him and born to different mothers. Guha was a friend.

Who rendered Lakshmana unconscious?

Indrajit. Indrajit used the snake weapon and would have killed him had Hanuman not brought the needed medicinal herbs in time.

Shri Rama is a reincarnation of Shri Vishnu. What is Lakshmana the reincarnation of?

Shesha Naga, the snake that sheltered Shri Vishnu. The discus and conch came to Earth as Bharata and Shatrughna. The mace was not reincarnated.

In his next incarnation, Lakshmana was...

Balarama. Krishna was the reincarnation of Shri Vishnu, and Balarama was his elder brother. Nanda was their adopted father/guardian, and Sudama was their friend.

Which of these people did Lakshmana never threaten to raise arms against?

Janaka. Amazing as it may seem, Lakshmana did plan to raise arms on Dasaratha, Bharata, and Parshurama. Even though Dasaratha was his father, Lakshmana was enraged at him when Rama resolved to go into exile, blaming him for acting unjustly with his son because of a woman. When Rama was in exile, Bharata had come to meet him and persuade him to come home. However, Lakshmana thought he wanted to kill Rama and was about raise arms against him. As for Parshurama, that was right after Shri Rama won the hand of Sita by breaking the great bow of Shri Shiva. The sage Parshurama was enraged because of the broken bow and threatened to kill Shri Rama, and so Lakshmana almost fought him. In all cases, even though it was because he was enraged on account of Shri Rama, it was Rama himself who made him calm down and think rationally. Thanks for playing.