Lakshmana
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Lakshmana (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण; IAST Lakṣmaṇa) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero of the epic Ramayana. Many schools in Hinduism considered Lakshmana to be a part of the seventh avatara, in a secondary form to Rama's main. The name may also be written Lakshman or Laxman.
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Birth and Family
Lakshmana is the twin brother of Shatrughna, born in Ayodhya to Sumitra, the second wife of Dasaratha, king of Kosala. Rama is the eldest, and Shatrughna is the youngest of the four brothers.
Despite being the twin of Shatrughna, Lakshmana is specially attached to Rama, and the duo are inseparable. When Rama marries Sita, he married the younger sister of Sita named Urmila.
With Rama
Lakshmana is said to be the incarnation of Shesha or the thousand-headed Naga upon whom rests Lord Vishnu in the primordial ocean of milk, the Kshirasagara. The Lord of Serpents, Sheshanaga was incarnated to the earth in the form of Lakshmana and during the Dwapara Yuga, he incarnated as Balarama. He is the eternal companion of Vishnu.
Lakshmana is part of the Mariyada Purshottamm, or The Perfect Man personified by Rama, by his unswerving loyalty, love and commitment to his elder brother through times of joy and adversity alike. He is an invincible warrior committed to virtue and the service of his brother. He never covets the throne of Ayodhya, nor hesitates from joining his brother in exile, especially as he doesn't have to.
During the Exile
Lakshmana serves Rama and Sita reverently, building them a home in the forest and devotedly standing guard duringh the night, and accompanying them on tiring journeys and long passages of lonely forest life without complaint or care for himself.
The Lakshmana Rekha
When Sita asks Rama to fetch the magical, golden deer for her, Rama asks Lakshmana to guard Sita and their home, and to take special care since he felt bad omens and sensed danger and evil. The golden deer is in fact the demon Maricha, who must distract Rama and Lakshmana away from the hut so as to allow Ravana to kidnap Sita.
When Rama kills the deer, even as he is dying, Maricha cries out in Rama's own voice, crying for Sita and Lakshmana to help him. Although Lakshmana knows that Rama is invincible and beyond any danger, Sita panics and frantically orders Lakshmana to go to Rama's aid immediately. Unable to disobey the frightened and panicky Sita, and genuinely beginning to fear for Rama's safety, Lakshmana goes out to search for him. He however uses his mystical power to draw the Lakshmana Rekha or Lakshmana's Limit, a perimeter line across the hut that Sita must not across, and no other being save Lakshmana or Rama may enter uninvited. If any intruder enters, it will be instantly killed.
Sita however, out of compulsion of religious duty and compassion for a poor brahmin, who is actually the disguised Ravana, crosses the line to give him alms. Thus Ravana is safely able to seize Sita.
The Lakshmana Rekha has become a metaphor in situations where a certain limit must not be transgressed by human beings in no circumstance whatsoever.
Prowess in War
Lakshmana is considered a powerful warrior nearly equal to Rama. In the war against Ravana and his Lankan army of rakshasas, Lakshmana slays thousands of powerful demons such as Atikaya and Prahasta, Ravana's chief commanders, and his son Indrajit. With Rama, he also slays Kumbhakarna, the great giant rakshasa.
His killing of Indrajit was considered to be the turning point of the war, as Indrajit was almost invincible, having overpowered Indra, the king of Heaven himself.
Sanjivani
Lakshmana is injured by a mystical weapon fired by Indrajit, which renders him unconscious and appearing to be dead. Rama and the others are shocked and in sorrow, when the army's physician explains that only with the special herb sanjivani that grows on a mountain in the Himalayan range, can Lakshmana be revived and brought back to life.
Hanuman, the great monkey warrior flies all the way across the length of Bharat to reach the mountain in the Himalayas. Not knowing which is the magical herb and knowing there was no time to waste, Hanumana uses his incredible power to lift the entire mountain and bring it to Lanka, the scene of the battle. The magical herb is retrieved and Lakshmana is revived.
Legacy
Lakshmana is revered for his absolute devotion to Rama. His performance of his duties as a younger brother is considered to be a sacrifice and superiority of character as such duties are especially hard to do in adverse conditions. Lakshmana's life symbolizes the duties of a man to his elders and superiors, and how greatly valued is seflessness in a man's character.
Lakshmana is also considered an important element of Mariyada Purushottama, displaying great courage and presence of mind when his brother Rama is angered over the loss of Sita, and when he despairs of all hope over their separation and when they do not know where she is. Lakshmana consoles Rama, who is enraged enough to destroy the world, while giving him support and strength to keep looking for Sita.