Shatrughna
Shatrughna (Sanskrit: शत्रुघ्न Śatrughna, Thai: พระสัตรุด, Burmese: Tharugana, Tamil: Shatrughana, Malay: Citradan) was the youngest brother of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana . He is the twin brother of Lakshmana.
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[edit] Birth and family
Shatrughna was born to the virtuous king of Ayodhya, Dasaratha, and his third wife, Queen Sumitra. Dasharatha's other two wives, Kaushalya and Kaikeyi, had sons as well. Kaushalya had Rama and Kaikeyi had Bharat who were Shatrughna's half-brothers. Shatrughna also had a blood-brother called Lakshmana. Shatrughna's name means "destroyer of enemies". Shatrughna was married to Shrutakeerti, the daughter of King Kusadhbojan and his wife. Shrutakeerti was the cousin of Sita, daughter of King Janaka and his wife. He is supposed to be the reincarnation of Vishnu's sacred conch.
[edit] Rama's exile
When Rama is exiled, Shatrughna drags Kaikeyī's old nurse Mantharā (who was responsible for poisoning the queen's mind against Rāma) and makes an attack to kill her, but he is restrained by Bharata who feels that Rāma would not approve.
Bharata goes to Rama and asks him to come back to Ayodhya but Rama refuses. Bharata rules Ayodhya from Nandigramam and is an excellent leader, often referred to as the avatar of dharma. Shatrughna is instructed to stay in the palace during this time.
[edit] The slaying of Lavanasura
Although he plays a relatively minor role in the Rāmāyaṇa Shatrughna is important to the main story and goal of the epic. His chief exploit is the killing of Lavanasura the demon King of Mathura, who was a nephew of Ravana the King of Lanka slain by Rama.
Lavanasura was the son of Madhu, the pious demon-king after whom the city of Mathura was named. Madhu's wife and Lavanusara's mother was Kumbhini, a sister of Ravana. Lavanasura was the holder of the divine Trishula (Trident) of Lord Shiva, and nobody was able to kill him or prevent him from committing sinful activities.
Shatrughna begged Rama and his elder brothers to allow him the opportunity to serve them by killing Lavnasura. Shatrughna killed the great demon with an arrow imbibed with the power of Vishnu.
[edit] Retirement
After Rama, the seventh Avatar of Vishnu completes 10,000 years of perfectly pious rule upon earth, he walks into the river Sarayu to return to his true and eternal Mahavishnu form. Bharata and Shatrughna follow him into the river, and merge into Mahavishnu.
[edit] Temple
The Shatrughna Temple is located at Payammal in Thrissur District of Kerala in India. Another temple of Shatrughna is situated at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.
[edit] External links
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