Mahaabhaarat
Lakshman Lakshman is a Raamaayan character. He was the second eldest son of Dashrath from Sumitraa (after Raam from Kaushalyaa). He had one brother Shatrughn who loved Bharat as much as Lakshman loved Raam, the eldest son of Dashrath from Kaushalyaa. It is believed that he was the incarnation of Aadi Shesh Jee who always protects Vishnu. The same thing was true for Him on Prithvi also. He followed Raam and Seetaa to forest to protect them. There are some notable events of His life. His Temperament... He had an aggressive snaky short-temperament and used to pick up His bow and arrow very soon. In fact this nature came from His being Shesh Naag. In Tulasee's Maanas Lakshman-Parashuraam dialog is a very famous episode as how He faced Parashuraam's anger. He showed His anger when Raam asked the way from Samudra (sea) to cross it to go to Lankaa. Then Raam pacified Him saying that He would do so if he didn't listen to His request . He Recognized only Seetaa's Anklets He regarded Seetaa very much, maybe more than His mother. Although in Kishkindhaa Kaand - 6th Sarg, Shlok 23 is a controversial one, as it is not found in ancient manuscripts but still it shows his earnest respect for Seetaa. In Sundar Kaand, Hanumaan inspected the jewelry of Seetaa (sitting under the tree in Ashok Vaatikaa) in order to identify Her and a list is narrated there. But here no such list is given. When Lakshman asked whether He could recognize any of the jewelry of Seetaa (bracelet or earring) , Lakshman said that He did not know the jewelry of Her upper body (because He never saw Her upper body), but could recognize only Her anklets, for He daily saluted Her feet. The traditionalists attribute the Kainkarya, the dedicated character to Lakshman, and establish this verse as a supreme characterization of Lakshman. Lakshman regarded Seetaa as His mother because the wife of an elder brother is also like mother. This episode is not in Maanas. Lakshman Rekhaa (line) In the forest, when Seetaa scolded Him for not rescuing Raam even if He called Lakshman for help, She blamed Him for conspiracy with Bharat that He wanted to take Seetaa after Raam is killed. Lakshman thought proper to leave the place immediately but He could not have left Her unguarded in spite of hearing such a great blame. He prayed the Devtaa of forests and mountains to guard Her, drew a line around Her hut and requested Her not to cross that line until they came back. My Note This episode is also not mentioned in Maanas Lakshman and Meghnaad Tulasee's Maanas says - When Lakshman and Meghnaad were fighting, Meghnaad guessed that his end is near, so he used Veerghaatinee power on Lakshman. It made Him unconscious. Meghnaad became fearless and went close to Him. He thought that Lakshman had died, so in pride he wanted to take His body to Lankaa, that he had killed Him. He asked his army to lift His body and take it to Lankaa. Now hundreds of warriors were trying to lift Lakshman's body but were unable to even shake it. Seeing this Meghnaad came himself and tried to lift Him. But he also couldn't even shake Him. At this moment Tulasee says it very nicely - "Who is the bearer of the whole Prithvi, how can anybody lift that Shesh Jee." So he shamefully went back. Then came Hanumaan Jee, lifted Him like a flower and took Him to Raam. Later, when Meghnaad was doing his Yagya for being immortal, Lakshman killed him. Lakshman and Seetaa's Agni Pareekshaa Lakshman got very upset when Raam asked Seetaa to appear in a fire test. He asked Raam several times as "Why Seetaa should appear for the fire test when we know that She is pure." Then Raam said - "But other people would not know it, so this test is not for us but for others." Although Lakshman's conscious still didn't allow this but He could not disobey Raam. He Himself had to make a pyre for Her. My Note Although this episode is not mentioned in Raamaayan. Lakshman Levaes Seetaa in Van This episode is from Raamaayan not from Raamaayan not from Maanas as Maanas does not go beyond Raam's coronation as the king of Ayodhyaa. When Raam was ruling the Prithvi comfortably, He, as a king wanted to know what people talked about His family. Once a secret spy told Him that a washerman (who washes clothes) was scolding his wife on staying outside the house for one night - "I am not Raam who can keep His wife even after one year living in a Raakshas' house." Raam got very sad hearing this from a washerman's mouth. He immediately sent Seetaa in exile. In fact a few days before Raam came to know about Her pregnacy, so He asked if She had any wish during that period. Seetaa expressed her wish to meet Rishi community. So taking the backing of meeting Rishi, He sent Her to Van. This job was also done by Lakshman. Death of Lakshman This story is also from Raamaayan, not from Maanas. When the time came for Lakshman to go back to His Lok, Kaal comes to Raam in Tapaswee guise and said to Lakshman - "Atibal Muni has sent me to see Raam for some necessary work." Lakshman informed Raam about the Tapaswee, and Raam asked Lakshman to bring him inside. Then Raam asked the message of Atibal Muni. Tapaswee said - "He has asked me to give you this message in a lonely place, and if anybody will see us or listen to us even secretly, you promise, that you will kill him." Hearing this Raam asked Lakshman to move the gatekeeper from there and guard them Himself. But when they were talking, Lakshman's Kaal came in the form of Durvaasaa Muni. He came and said - "I want to see Raam immediately. Lakshman said - "Bhagvan, He is busy talking to someone, please wait for a while. As soon as He will finish His talking I will take you to Him." Muni said - "Don't make me furious, take me to Raam immediately otherwise I will give Shaap to everybody, you, your kingdom, Bharat, your children.." Lakshman thought "It is better to die only myself than to have a Shaap for everybody." So He went inside where that Tapaswee was talking to Raam and informed Him about Durvaasaa Muni. He came out after informing Him. Lakshman knew that He had broken the promise, so He had to die. He requested Raam to kill Him. Then Vashishth Jee advised Raam that He should leave Lakshman. For a noble man, leaving is as good as his death. So Raam said to Lakshman with a very heavy heart - "Lakshman, To keep my Dharm I leave you." Lakshman started crying hearing this. He came out and went towards Sarayoo River. He didn't even go to His palace There He sat down and by controlling His Indriyaan, he stopped breathing. Indra took His body to Swarg.
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Created
by Sushma Gupta
On 05/27/04
Contact: mahaabhaarat@yahoo.com
Modified on 10/23/04