Lakshmana is one of King Dasharatha's sons with his wife Sumitra, and the younger half-brother of Rama, the epic's protagonist, in the Ramayana, the earlier of the two major Indian epics.
Lakshmana is the ideal younger brother throughout the
Ramayana, living only to serve and assist Rama.
When Rama is exiled to the forest for fourteen years,
Lakshmana follows him like a shadow the whole time, first as a forest ascetic,
looking for Rama's stolen wife Sita, then fighting heroically in the battle
with Ravana's army, and ultimately returning to serve Rama at his court in
Ayodhya.
Many of the Ramayana's characters are archetypes for Indian
cultural beliefs.
As with his brother Bharata, Lakshmana represents the
perfect younger brother.
Brothers are the center of the joint family in northern
India.
Sisters, on the other hand, stay at home after marriage and
live with their married families.
Every generation's oldest brother ultimately ascends to the
position of joint family leader.
The oldest brother, who has main authority and
responsibility for the whole family, cannot thrive without the participation of
his younger brothers, who must respect and support his authority.
Lakshmana is a devoted younger brother in his devotion to
Rama and his full disregard for his own wants.
Lakshmana is far from faultless, despite his courage,
heroism, and complete devotion to Rama.
He lacks Rama's tolerance and discernment, and he acts before
he thinks.
When Bharata pursues the two brothers after they have gone
into exile, Lakshmana assumes that Bharata is taking advantage of the chance to
murder them in order to smooth his path to the throne.
Lakshmana plots to assassinate Bharata, but Rama's logic
prevents a disaster.
Shurpanakha, a demon princess and sister of Ravana, Lanka's
demon-king, is Lakshmana's most grievous blunder in judgment.
When she makes sexual approaches toward Lakshmana, he mocks
her before mutilating her.
Ravana kidnaps Rama's wife, Sita, in order to exact
vengeance on the brothers.
Lakshmana, like all the characters in the Ramayana, is
neither good nor bad; he has many qualities as well as some serious defects.
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