Pra Laks พระลักษมณ์ Character and role in the Ramakian

Pra Laks (พระลักษมณ์)

Pra Laks is one of the central core figures of the Ramakian story, brother of Pra Ram, he is featured almost constantly in the presence of Pra Ram throughout the story. He appears much more often than the other brothers, Pra Prot (Bharatha – พระพรต) and Pra Satarut (พระสัตรัด). Despite this, his popularity and the amount of public interest in this character is not shown too much by Thai people. He is perhaps seen simply as someone who follows on the heels of his older brother Pra Ram.

Pra Laks is one of the four brothers who are emanations of the Vishnu Avatar as told in Ramakian. The main figure and Hero of Ramakian, who is considered in general to be the Avatar of Vishnu (Pra Narai in Thai), is Pra Ram, but in fact all Four brothers including Pra Laks are aspects of the same Deity

Pra Laks has a Golden Face, and is believed to have reincarnated from his previous existence as the Naga throne which Pra Narai (Vishnu) sat upon. Pra Narai incarnated on Earth as the Four brothers, Pra Ram (พระราม), Pra Laks (พระลักษมณ์), Pra Satarut (พระสัตรัด) and Pra Prot (พระพรต) . Pra Laks was born of Tao Tosarot (Dhasarata) and his concubine Nang Samut Tewi (Samutra Devi, or alternatively known as Nang Samutracha). In Ramakian family Heeirarchies, things get rather complicated due to the fact that most of the Human, Asuara (yaksa) and Vanora had more than one wife. This means that not all brothers and sisters have the same parents on both sides, rather often are found to share the same father but not the same mother, and vice versa.

Pra Laks and all the other brothers share the same father (Tao Tosarot), but only shares the same mother with one of the brothers, namely Pra Satarut (พระสัตรัด)

The role of Pra laks is that of a faithful younger brother, whose love and dedication to his older brother Pra Ram, and his wife Nang Sida. He tends to always take the pain for his brother and is a surrogate fo any ills which are aimed at befalling Pra Ram. In this sense he acts as a kind of shield for Pra Ram who is the central and most important aspect of the four emanations of the Vishnu Avatar of Pra Narai. A perfect example of his love and dedication to Pra Ram can be seen in the part of the story where Pra Ram is ordered into exile, and Pra Laks offers his life in exchange for Pra Ram’s pardon. But Pra Ram insisted on obeying the oders of his Father Tao Tosarot and leaving to wander in the forest. Upon hearing this, Pra Laks insisted on accompanying Pra Ram and Nang Sida and serving them. The whole time of the exile, Pra Laks gave complete loyalty and selfless service to his brother and sister in law, in a way which is hard to find a comparison. He would always go out first to scout the area and remove any obstacles. He built the Ashram where Pra Ram resided in the forest. As nang Sida heard the Yaksa Marees’ voice faking Pra Rams voice calling for help in the forest, she asked Pra Laks to go and search for her husband and help. But Pra Laks recongised this was not the real voice of his brother, and told Sida not to worry. But Sida did not believe Pra Laks and called him an unfaithful coward.Pra Laks was thus forced to disobey his brothers orders to remain in the Ashram and guard Nang Sida (this was how The demon Totsagan and his accomplice Marees managed to kidnap Sida).  There are a multitude of times where Pra Laks showed his loyalty and love for his brother Ram, which led to Pra Ram offering the city of Romakala to Pra Laks for him to rule over; But Pra Laks refused and preferred to remain close to Pra Ram, despite the honour and power he was offered.

Pra Laks was injured in battle defending Pra Ram various times;

He was pierced by the Mokhasak spear of Kumpagan, the Nakabat arrow, and the Promasatra arrow of Intarachit. He was wounded by the mulaplan spear and the Kabilapatra spear of Totsagan . He almost died on each of these occasions where he was wounded. he can thus be considered to be an extremely brave warrior, and an able one too, when you count the number of Yaksa who died by his hand in battle.

It is important to note that the injuries and near death of Pra Laks on three occasions are intertwined with the role of Hanuman, the Vanora general of Pra Ram’s army, who was called upon each of these three times to bring Pra Laks back to life, which he did successfully.

In Thai Culture and spiritualist belief, there is a very popular and powerful magical charm and incantation which bears the Name of Pra Laks, called Na Hnaa Tong, or Na Pra Laks Hnaa Tong. This means literally “Golden Faced Pra Laks”.
This is because the merit of Pra Laks and his beautiful gold colored complexion is considered to carry the blessing of charm and likeability, as well as the protection aspect. There are various ways to apply this magic charm, be it by rubbing gold leaf and inscribing sacred mantras in Khom lettering and blowing on it, or by tattooing a design called a “Sacred Na” on the skin, and even by inscribing the Kata (mantra) of Pra Laks Hnaa Tong on a scroll and rolling it up into a pendant amulet to be worn (called a Thagrud).

Pra Laks is called Lakshman in Hindi

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