LACHHMANA (LAKSHMANA)

The ten-headed Ravana has tåken away Sita and Lachhmana ( Lakshmana ) was killed because of a curse. Therefore Rama grieved in his mind for Sita and Lakshmana. (Shalok Våran te Vadhik M. l, p. 1412)

He was son of the king Dasratha and brother of Rama. Dasrath had four sons viz., Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughana. Rama was-his son by his wife Kaushalya, Lakshmana and Shatrughana by his wife Sumitra and Bharata by his wife Kaikeyi. The king was snared by Kaikeyi in getting the exile of Rama for fourteen years and the kingship for her son Bharata. Lakshmana and Sita both accompanied Rama during his exile in the forests. During this period, the demoness Surpanakha the sister of the demon king Ravana of Lanka saw Rama and fell in love with him. But Rama did not respond her love. Then she tried her luck with Lakshmana, but he also spumed her love. In her disappointment, she tried to harm Sita, but Lakshmana to punish her, cut off her nose. She went in this condition to her brother and narrated her woe to him. As an act of revenge, he forcibly carried away Sita. After that, Rama, with the help of Sugriva and Hanuman and their army waged a war with Ravana. The account of this war is given in Ramayana of Valmiki. During this war many a brave warrior fell in the batdefield from both sides. Lakshmana was grievously wounded and restored to health by a magic herb, which was brought by Hanuman from Himalaya. After successful completion of the war, Sita had to pass through a fire-ordeal and then all the three returned to Ayodhya where Rama was anointed the king. After sometime Sita became pregnant; but she had to pass through another ordeal again because of a slanderous talk by a washerman. On orders from Rama, Lakshmana had to leave her at the hermitage of Valmiki before she gave birth to Lava and Kusha.

When Raina\'s earthly career was drawing to a dose, Kal (Time) went to inform him about it. While they were^ busy in conversing with each other, Durvasas came and wanted to see Rama immediately and threatened him:

\'with a most direful curse, if there was any delay in their meeting. In order to save his brother from the curse, Lakshmana went in to inform him about the arrival of Durvasas, knowing fully well that anyone -who witnessed the interview of Rama with Time would lose i his life. In consequence of interrupting the interview, Lakshmana to the great distress of Rama had to die.

Lakshmana\'s own wife was Urmila, the sister of Sita and he had two sons: Angada and Chandra-ketu.

References

1. Kohli,Surindar Singh ed,Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib 1993