Shatrughna, the youngest son of King Dasharatha and Queen Sumitra, was born twin to Lakshmana. His birth followed the Putrakameshti yagna performed by Dasharatha; Queen Sumitra received a double portion of the sacred offering, resulting in the twin sons. Shatrughna is considered an incarnation of Vishnu's divine discus, the Sudarshana Chakra, sharing a portion of Vishnu's essence with his brothers. He married Shrutakirti, daughter of King Janaka's brother Kushadhwaja and Queen Chandrabhaga, making her a cousin of Sita. This marriage mirrored those of his brothers Bharata and Lakshmana, who wed Shrutakirti's sisters Mandavi and Urmila. When Rama was exiled, Shatrughna directed intense anger towards Manthara, Kaikeyi's maid, blaming her for poisoning Kaikeyi's mind and orchestrating the banishment. He attempted to kill Manthara but was restrained by Bharata, who believed Rama would condemn such violence. While Bharata ruled from Nandigram during Rama's absence, Shatrughna managed Ayodhya's day-to-day governance, providing stability and solace to the three queen mothers. This role highlighted his commitment to duty and family. Following Rama's return and coronation, Shatrughna sought permission to confront Lavanasura, the demon king of Madhupura (Mathura) and Ravana's nephew. Armed with an arrow imbued with Vishnu's power, Shatrughna defeated and killed Lavanasura, who was nearly invincible due to possessing Shiva's Trishula. Rama rewarded him by crowning him king of Madhupura. Shatrughna later expanded his realm to include Vidisha. He ultimately divided his kingdom between his two sons, Subahu and Shatrughati, before relinquishing his mortal form by entering the river Sarayu, returning to his divine essence. Later, lost in the forest, Shatrughna encountered Sita and her twin sons, Lava and Kusha, at Valmiki's ashram. He heard the boys sing Valmiki's Ramayana, noting their remarkable talent and appearance, but did not recognize them as Rama's children or realize Sita was present; this occurred during her exile. Temples dedicated to Shatrughna exist across India, including in Thrissur, Rishikesh, and Mathura, as well as within the Sri Kalyana Ramachandra Sannadhi temple in Medak, Telangana. These sites preserve his role as a symbol of loyalty, duty, and the destruction of adversaries, aligning with his epithet "Shatrughna" (Slayer of Foes).