Introduction
Lakshmana is the younger brother of Rama and one of the best-loved characters of the Ramayana. He is the model of the devoted brother and the selfless servant. When Rama was exiled for fourteen years, Lakshmana chose to leave a comfortable palace to go with him, and he served Rama and Sita throughout the exile.
This article primarily follows the Valmiki Ramayana. Where a well-known detail comes from later retellings, the article says so.
Words to Know
Shesha: the great serpent on whom Vishnu rests. Lakshmana is traditionally regarded as an incarnation of Shesha.
Indrajit: "conqueror of Indra", the name given to Ravana's son Meghanada.
Nagapasha: a weapon of serpent-like ropes used by Indrajit.
Vanara: a forest-dwelling, monkey-like people who allied with Rama.
Kanda: a "book" of the Ramayana. There are seven.
Names
Lakshmana is also called Lakshman, Saumitra or Saumitri, meaning "son of Sumitra".
Family
Father: Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya.
Mother: Sumitra, Dasharatha's third queen.
Brothers: Rama and Bharata, and his twin Shatrughna.
Wife: Urmila, daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and sister of Sita.
Birth and Childhood
When Dasharatha performed his great sacrifice for sons, a divine being gave him a bowl of sweet rice pudding to share among his queens. Kaushalya and Kaikeyi each gave part of their share to Sumitra, so she bore twin sons, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
From childhood, Lakshmana was devoted to Rama and went wherever Rama went. His twin, Shatrughna, in the same way stayed close to Bharata. The four brothers grew up learning the Vedas and archery, and Lakshmana became a skilled warrior.
With Vishvamitra
When the sage Vishvamitra asked Dasharatha to send Rama to guard his sacrifice against Rakshasas, Lakshmana went with him. Together they slew the Rakshasi Tataka and protected the ritual. Lakshmana then went to Mithila, where Rama broke the bow of Shiva and married Sita. Lakshmana married Urmila in the same ceremony.
The Day of the Exile
When Kaikeyi demanded that Rama be sent into exile, Lakshmana was furious. He was ready to fight and seize power if needed, and argued that their father was old and misled. Rama calmed him and said that keeping their father's word was their duty.
Lakshmana then asked to go with Rama. Rama at first hesitated, and asked him to stay and look after their mother. But Lakshmana insisted that his place was with Rama and Sita. Before he left, his mother Sumitra told him to regard Rama as his father, Sita as his mother, and the forest as Ayodhya. Urmila stayed behind in Ayodhya.
Serving Rama and Sita
In the forest, Lakshmana took on the duty of protector and servant. He built the huts at Chitrakuta and Panchavati, gathered food and stood guard. Guha, the Nishada king, later recalled that Lakshmana stayed awake all night with his bow ready while Rama and Sita slept.
When Bharata came to the forest with a large army, Lakshmana at first believed Bharata meant to attack. Rama corrected him and explained that Bharata had come out of love, and Lakshmana understood.
Shurpanakha and the Forest Battles
At Panchavati, Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister, approached the brothers. When she attacked Sita, Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears at Rama's command. This sparked the attack by Khara and Dushana, whose Rakshasa settlement of Janasthana lay in the Dandaka forest, and eventually led to Sita's abduction. During the battle with Khara, Lakshmana took Sita to a cave and guarded her.
The Golden Deer
When the golden deer appeared, Lakshmana warned that it was probably the Rakshasa Maricha in disguise. Rama went to catch it anyway. When Rama's voice cried out for help, Lakshmana told Sita it was a trick. Sita accused him of wanting harm to come to Rama, and Lakshmana, deeply hurt, left her with a prayer to the forest gods. This left Sita alone, and Ravana abducted her.
There is a popular story that Lakshmana drew a protective line, the Lakshmana Rekha, around the hut before leaving. This detail is not in Valmiki's text and comes from later retellings.
The Search for Sita
Lakshmana and Rama searched the forest in grief. They met Jatayu, then Kabandha, whose arms Lakshmana helped cut off. They reached Kishkindha, where Sugriva showed them the jewellery that Sita had dropped. Rama asked if he knew whose it was. Lakshmana said he did not recognise the bracelets or earrings, but he knew the anklets, because he had only ever looked at Sita's feet when bowing to her each day. This moment is often quoted to show his respect for her.
When Sugriva delayed his promise to search for Sita after becoming king, Lakshmana went to Kishkindha in anger. Sugriva's wife Tara calmed him, and the search began.
The War in Lanka
In Lanka, Lakshmana fought at Rama's side. Indrajit, Ravana's son, bound Rama and Lakshmana with the serpent weapon Nagapasha, and they were freed only when Garuda, the king of birds, arrived. Later, Ravana struck Lakshmana with a powerful spear, and he fell close to death. The physician Sushena said that a herb from the Himalayas could save him, and Hanuman brought the entire mountain to Lanka, after which Lakshmana recovered.
Lakshmana's greatest deed was killing Indrajit. Guided by Vibhishana, he found Indrajit at the ritual place where he was preparing an invincible power and attacked him before he could finish. After a hard fight, Lakshmana killed him with a divine arrow.
After the War
When Rama was crowned in Ayodhya, he offered Lakshmana the position of crown prince. Lakshmana declined, and Bharata was named instead. Lakshmana continued to serve Rama.
The Last Book
The Uttara Kanda, considered by many scholars to be a later addition, tells that Lakshmana took Sita to the forest by Rama's order. It also describes his death. A messenger of Time (Kala) came to talk privately with Rama, on the condition that anyone who interrupted would be punished with death. Rama set Lakshmana to guard the door. The sage Durvasa arrived and demanded to see Rama immediately, threatening a curse on the kingdom. Lakshmana chose to interrupt, knowing that he would be punished, to save Ayodhya. Rama was heartbroken but bound by his word. Lakshmana walked to the river Sarayu and gave up his life, returning to his form as Shesha.
Character
Lakshmana is loyal, brave and protective. He also has a hot temper and acts quickly, and both Rama and Sita have corrected him. He asks for nothing in return for his service. Readers often see him as the counterpart of Bharata: Bharata gave up a throne for Rama, and Lakshmana gave up his comfort.
Some later regional traditions tell that Urmila slept for fourteen years so that Lakshmana could stay awake and guard Rama and Sita. This story is not part of Valmiki's text.
Legacy
Lakshmana is honoured in temples, usually beside Rama and Sita.