Lakshmana

In the Hindu sacred text Ramayana, Lakshmana (Sanskrit Lakṣmaṇa) also known as Soumitri, Bharatanuja, Laxman, and Lakhan, is the younger brother and close companion of the god Rama, hero of the epic and avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the twin brother of Shatrughna. According to the Ramayana, he is one quarter (25%) component of the manifestation of Lord Vishnu and is considered to be an avatar of Shesha, the thousand-headed serpent associated with Lord Vishnu, the supreme deity. Lakshmana and his brother Shatrughna were born in Ayodhya to Sumitra and King Dasharatha. In the Puranas, Lhe is described as an incarnation of Sesha, the multiple-headed nāga upon whom rests Lord Vishnu in the primordial ocean of milk (Kshirasagara). When sage Vishwamitra takes Rama for killing the demons, he accompanies them and goes to Mithila with them. Lakshmana is specially attached to Rama and when Rama marries Sita, he marries Sita's younger sister Urmila. They had two sons—Angad and Chandraketu. Later, when Rama is exiled for fourteen years on the insistence of Kaikeyi, Lakshmana leaves his wife Urmila and joins Rama. He serves Rama and Sita reverently during the exile. In Panchvati, he also builds a hut for Rama and Sita to live in. Lakshmana cuts off Ravana's sister Surpanakha's nose in anger when she tries to seduce Rama and insults Sita. He plays an important role in the war with Ravana and slays Ravana's son Indrajit.

When Sita asks Rama to fetch a magical golden deer for her, Rama asks Lakshmana to stand guard as he sensed danger and evil. The golden deer is in fact the demon Maricha, who distracts Rama. When Rama kills Maricha, he cries out in Rama's own voice for help. Although Lakshmana knows that Rama is invincible and beyond any danger, Sita panics and frantically orders him to go to Rama's aid immediately. Unable to disobey Sita, Lakshmana draws a perimeter line (Lakshmana Rekha ), which Sita must not cross and goes in search of Rama. Sita however, out of compulsion of religious duty and compassion for Ravana disguised as a poor brahmin crosses the line to give him alms following which she is abducted. Lakshmana Rekha has become a metaphor in situations where a certain limit must not be transgressed by human beings in any circumstance whatsoever.

During the war between Rama and Ravana, he killed Indrajit and Atikaya, who were the sons of Ravana. Before he killed Indrajit, Lakhshmana and Rama were twice defeated by Indrajit and in both occasions Hanuman's intervention saved them from certain death.  After the war, when Rama asked Sita to give test of her purity, Lakshmana for the first time got angry on Rama and opposed him.