Lakshmana

Rama with Sita (right) and Lakshmana (left), in front of that his companion Hanuman

Lakshmana ( Sanskrit : लक्ष्मण , Lakṣmaṇa ; Malay : Laksmana ; Thai : Phra Lak ; also: Lakshman, Laxman ) was the brother and companion of Rama and also a hero in the famous Indian epic Ramayana . In some Hindu traditions it is also referred to as the Avatar of Shesha .

family

King Dasaratha of Ayodhya had three wives: Kaushalya , Kaikeyi and Sumitra , who had only given him one daughter so far. The king wanted a son and therefore sacrificed a horse. Vishnu decided to divide himself into four and become human as the king's sons in order to be able to conquer Ravana . Rama, the son of Kaushalya, was born first, followed by Bharata , Kaikeyi's son. Sumitra gave birth to Lakshmana and his twin brother Shatrughna shortly afterwards .

Despite the fact that Lakshmana is Shatrughna's twin brother, he is better friends with Rama and the two are inseparable. This is also evident when Lakshaman marries Urmila , the younger sister of Sita , Rama's wife.

Relationship with Rama

In the Puranas, Lakshmana is represented as the incarnation of Ananta-Shesha , the thousand-headed Naga on which Vishnu rests in the Milky Ocean. Shesha was reborn in the form of Lakshmana and is considered the eternal companion of Vishnu in all incarnations.

Lakshmana is part of the Mariyada Purshot tribe , i.e. H. of the Perfect Man represented by Rama. Lakshmana is characterized by his unwavering loyalty, love, and devotion to his older brother. He is also an invincible Kshatriya warrior devoted only to his brother. He never coveted Ayodhya's throne and voluntarily followed Rama into exile.

Individual evidence

1. ^ 1. Book of Ramayana (German translation): Bala-Kanda, Book of Childhood