In the
Indian epic the
Ramayana,
Laksmana (
Sanskrit Lakṣmaṇa) also known as
Soumitri,
Bharatanuja is the younger brother and close companion of the god
Rama, the hero of the epic and
avatar of the god
Vishnu. According to the
Ramayana, Lakshmana is one quarter component of manifest Vishnu and is considered to be an avatar of
Shesha, the serpent associated with Vishnu.