Urmila is a character in the Hindu epic Ramayana . She is the daughter of King Janaka of Janakpur and his wife, Queen Sunaina and also Sita's younger sister. She is Lakshmana's wife, sister of Rama. They have two sons - Angada and Chandraketu. When Lakshman goes into exile along with Ram and Sita, Urmila is ready to accompany him but he hesitates and asks him to stay in Ayodhya to care for his elderly parents. Urmila is famous for her unparalleled sacrifice called Urmila Nidra.
In Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, there is a temple dedicated to Lakshman and Urmila. The temple was built in 1870 AD by the ruler of Balwant Singh from Bharatpur and is regarded as a royal temple by the royal family of Bharatpur State.
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Urmila Nidra
When Rama was exiled to the forest for fourteen years at Kaikeyi's insistence, Urmila tried to persuade Lakshmana to allow him to follow him into exile but to no avail. Lakshmana reasoned that he would not have time for him in his fixed day and night service to his brother and that Urmila's welfare was to remain. He persuades Urmila that his welfare will be a concern in the forest and can hinder his services to his brother. After much persuasion, Urmila reluctantly agrees to keep reflecting, if she can serve her husband in any way.
As the night falls on the first day of exile, Lakshmana vigil over Ram and Sita with a determination not to sleep until the exile ends. When Lakshmana kept watch over his brother's residence, a brilliant goddess called Nidra Devi manifested before Lakshmana. To Lakshmana's question, she introduced herself as the Sleeping Goddess and told her that not sleeping for fourteen was an act against nature. Lakshmana asks Nidra Devi for a way out so he can carry out his Dharma towards his brother. Impressed by Lakshmana's devotion to his brother, Nidra Devi proposed a solution that if someone bears Lakshmana's sleep load for fourteen years, he can get an exception for fourteen years. Lakshmana asks Nidra Devi to approach his wife, Urmila, to help her.
In South India, Urmila Nidra is a term used to refer to deep sleep by someone who can not be woken up easily.
Maps Urmila
TV serial description
References
- Urmila, the sleeping princess - The New Indian Express
- Lakshman's wife is asleep - Devlok
Further reading
- Valmiki Ramayana , a translation of the English verse by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, K. M. K. Murthy et. al.
- Ramayana , an English translation by Ralph T. H. Griffith at Project Gutenberg
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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