Laxman Kumara

Laxman Kumara
Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
Information
Family Duryodhana (father)
Bhanumati (mother)

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman (Lakshman(a)) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra.[1] He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son).[2] Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

Vatsala

This story is not there in Mahabharata but is actually an Telugu folklore. Vatsala (Sashirekha), the daughter of Balarama is betrothed to the Pandava prince Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu is the son of Balarama's and Krishna's sister Subhadra and (Krishna's close friend) the Pandava prince Arjuna. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father Arjuna goes into exile Balarama's wife Revati says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter breaks off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. When Abhimanyu comes to know about and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, Krishna to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin Ghatotkacha - the half demon son of Arjuna's brother Bheema who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama’s house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He frightens the hell out of Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple’s marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.[3][4]

Role in Kurukshetra war and Death

He slain Kshatradeva, Shikhandi's son on the twelfth day of the war. Laxman is slain on the 13th day of the War by Abhimanyu, who decapitates Laxman using the Nagashirashtra.[5][6] Abhimanyu later gets killed by a joint attack of seven warriors.

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days". Sacred-texts.com.
  2. ↑ "Krishna Book Chapter 68: The Marriage of Samba". Krsnabook.com.
  3. ↑ "Balarama is Abhimanyu's Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay". Boloji.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  4. ↑ "Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik". Devdutt.com. 2009-12-27. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  5. ↑ "MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death". Urday.in. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  6. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.

See also

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