Ramayan: Laxman did not sleep even for a single day or eat anything during the 14 years of exile, how did he do this

Ramayan Katha: It is said about Lakshman who went to exile for 14 years with Ram and Sita that he did not sleep even for a single day during this period. How he defeated sleep.

According to mythology, when Lakshman went into exile with his elder brothers Ram and Sita for 14 years, he did not sleep even for a single day. He used to stay awake continuously at night to guard his brother and sister-in-law.

For this reason, he was called 'Guda Kesh'. Guda Kesh means the one who is the master of sleep. Due to this quality of his, Laxman was successful in killing Ravana's elder son and a very valiant warrior and extremely powerful Meghnad in the Lanka war. Laxman had severed Meghnad's head from his body with his arrow.

Meghnad was given a boon.

According to the stories, Ravan attacked the gods to capture heaven. Meghnad also participated in this war. Meghnad defeated all the gods including Indra. After which he started being called Indrajit.

After winning the war, when Meghnad started going to Lanka, he took Indra with him. Brahma Ji told Meghnad that if he frees Indra, he will give him a boon. Brahma Ji refused Meghnad's boon of immortality but blessed him that only one person on earth can kill him who had not slept for 14 years. 

When Lakshman went into exile for 14 years with his elder brother Ram and Sita, he neither slept nor ate for a single day nor did he see the face of any woman. (Image generated by Leonardo AI)

Why even Ram could not kill Meghnad?

Once Rishi Agastya had said that even Lord Shri Ram himself could not kill Meghnad. Only Lakshman could kill him. According to the stories, once Rishi Agastya came to Ayodhya, a discussion started on the war in Lanka.

Shri Ram told him how he had killed great warriors like Ravana and Kumbhakarna. Younger brother Laxman had also killed powerful demons like Meghnad and Atikaya. Sage Agastya said that there is no doubt that Ravana and Kumbhakarna were very powerful, but the greatest warrior was Meghnad. Laxman killed him. He was the only person who could kill him.

Ram was surprised. On hearing

Rishi Agastya's praise of Laxman, Ram was very happy, but he was also surprised that what was the reason that only Laxman could kill Meghnad. Ram expressed his curiosity to Rishi Agastya. Then Rishi Agastya said that Meghnad had got a boon that only he could be killed by someone who had not slept for 14 years, had not seen the face of a woman for 14 years and who had not eaten food for 14 years.

Shri Ram said, how is it possible that Lakshman did not see Sita's face, while I and Sita lived in the hut next to hers? How is it possible that she did not sleep for 14 years? Then for 14 years I regularly gave fruits and flowers to Lakshman for food. 

What did Lakshman say?

Sage Agastya said why not ask this to Lakshman himself. Lakshman said that I never looked above Sita ji's feet, that's why I could not recognize her ornaments. Lakshman said that when you used to give fruits and flowers, you used to say that Lakshman kept the fruits, you never asked me to eat. Then how could I eat without your permission? Regarding not sleeping for 14 years, Lakshman said that you and Mother Sita used to sleep in a hut. I used to stand outside with an arrow on my bow for protection.

Lakshman said that on the first night of exile when Ram and Sita were sleeping, Goddess Nidra

came. Lakshman prayed to Goddess Nidra to give him such a boon that he would not sleep during the entire exile so that he could protect his beloved brother and sister-in-law.

Pleased, Nidra Devi said that if someone sleeps for 14 years in your place, then you can get this boon. After this, at the request of Lakshman, Nidra Devi reached Lakshman's wife and Sita's sister Urmila. Urmila accepted to sleep during the entire exile in place of Lakshman and she slept for 14 years.

Lakshman told Shri Ram that he had learnt an additional knowledge from Guru Vishwamitra. Through this knowledge, a person can survive without eating food. Lakshman said that he controlled his hunger with the same knowledge. Hearing this, Lord Shri Ram hugged Lakshman.

How long can a normal person go without sleep?

Some studies suggest that a person can go without sleep for up to 11 days at a stretch. However, doing so can lead to serious health problems, even death.

However, every individual is different and the ability to go without sleep varies from person to person. Age, health, lifestyle and other factors also affect this ability. Going without sleep can have serious effects on both the body and the mind.

How many days can a normal person live without eating?

Generally, it is believed that a healthy person can survive for about 3 to 8 weeks without eating. This is possible only if the person has enough water. Water is the most essential element for our body. Without water, we can die in a few days.

When we do not eat food, our body starts using previously stored fat and glycogen as energy. After this, the body starts breaking down muscles to get energy. This process is very harmful. It can damage many organs of the body.

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