When Lakshmana went into exile with his elder brother Ram and Sita for 14 years, he did not sleep for a single day. To protect his brother and sister-in-law, he used to stay awake the whole night and keep guard.
For this reason he was called ‘Gudakesh’. Gudakesh means – conqueror of sleep.
In the battle of Lanka, Lakshman killed Ravana’s eldest son and extremely brave warrior Meghnad. Lakshman had severed Meghnad’s head from his body with his arrow. Meghnad had a special boon.
According to legends, Ravana attacked the gods to take over heaven. Meghnad also participated in this war and defeated all the gods including Indra. For this reason his name was ‘Indrajit’.
After winning the war, when Meghnad was returning to Lanka, he also took Indra as captive with him. Then Brahmadev told them that if they freed Indra, he would grant them a boon.
Brahmadev refused to grant immortality to Meghnad, but blessed him that only a person on earth could kill him, who had not slept for 14 years.
Why couldn’t even Ram kill Meghnad?
Once Sage Agastya had said that even Lord Rama himself could not kill Meghnad. Only Lakshman can kill him.
It is said in the stories that when sage Agastya came to Ayodhya, there was discussion about the war in Lanka.
Shri Ram narrated that he killed great warriors like Ravana and Kumbhakarna, while his younger brother Lakshmana killed powerful demons like Meghnad and Atikaya.
Sage Agastya said that Ravana and Kumbhakarna were extremely powerful, there is no doubt about it, but Meghnad was the greatest warrior and it was Lakshmana who killed him.
Ram was surprised to hear this. Rama was pleased to hear such praise for Lakshmana from sage Agastya, but he was curious to know why only Lakshmana could kill Meghnad.
When Ram asked this question, Sage Agastya told that Meghnad had received a boon that only a person could kill him, who had not slept for 14 years, had not seen the face of any woman for 14 years, and had not eaten food for 14 years.
Shriram asked with surprise – “When Lakshmana lived near our hut, how did he not see Sita’s face? And how can the statement of not sleeping for 14 years be true? Besides, I myself gave him fruits and flowers every day, then how could he not eat food for 14 years?”
What did Laxman tell?
Sage Agastya said – “This question should be asked to Lakshman himself.”
Lakshman said – “I never looked at Sita Mata’s feet, hence I could not even recognize her jewellery.”
Lakshman also said – “Whenever you gave me fruits and flowers, you told me to keep them. You never said to eat them. So how could I eat them without your permission?”
The secret to staying awake for 14 years?
Lakshman told that on the very first night of his exile, when Ram and Sita were asleep, Goddess Nidra came to him. Lakshmana prayed to the goddess to grant him the boon that he would not sleep throughout his exile, so that he could protect his beloved brother and sister-in-law.
Goddess Nidra was pleased and said – “If someone sleeps in your place for 14 years, you can get this boon.”
Then on the prayer of Lakshman, Goddess Nidra reached his wife and Sita’s sister Urmila. Urmila took a vow to sleep for 14 years in place of Laxman and she slept completely for 14 years.
Lakshman told Shri Ram that he had learned an additional knowledge from his guru Vishwamitra, by which one could survive without food. With the help of the same knowledge, Lakshman controlled his hunger.
Hearing this, Lord Shri Ram hugged Lakshman.
How many days can a normal person live without sleep?
According to scientific research, a person can remain without sleep for a maximum of 11 days. However, doing so can cause serious health problems, even death.
Every person’s stamina is different. The ability to survive without sleep depends on age, health, lifestyle and many other factors. Lack of sleep has serious effects on both the body and the brain.
How many days can a normal person survive without food?
Generally, it is believed that a healthy person can survive without food for about 3 to 8 weeks, but this is possible only if sufficient water is available.
Water is the most important element for the body. Without water, death can occur within a few days.
When a person does not eat, the body first starts taking energy from stored fat and glycogen. After that, the body creates energy by breaking down muscles. This process is extremely harmful for the body and can damage many organs.