Younger brother of Sri Rama, Lakshmana personifies brotherly love and self-effacement. When Sri Rama, in fulfillment of father Dasharatha's promise to queen Kaikeyi, set out for the forest with Sita, Lakshmana followed him. When Sri Rama had to wage war against Ravana to rescue Sita, Lakshmana whole-heartedly collaborated in the venture. His devotion to his elder brother and to Sita, whom he looked upon as his mother, has made him unique; and his spirit of sacrifice is esteemed as of the highest kind.

The person of Bharat down the ages has worshipped Sri Rama as an incamation of God. In our tradition, he is extolled in reverence as "Sri Sita Lakshmana Bharata Shatrughna Hanumatsameta Sri Ramachandra Swamine…." (We salute you, Sri Rama, accompanied by Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna and Hanumanta). It means when we offer our obeisance to Sri Rama, we also salute his consort Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna and his devout attendant Hanumanta also. Among these who command our worship, Sitadevi occupies the first place and brother Lakshmana the second. Here is an attempt to inform our young readers about the chief incidents in the life of this illustrious brother of Sri Rama.

Sri Ramachandra was the eldest son of emperor Dasharatha. Lakshmana was probably his second son. Rama’s mother was Kausalyadevi. Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born to Dasharatha’s second queen Sumitradevi while Bharata was the offspring of the juniormost queen Kaikeyi.