Story about Urmila- Lakshmana's wife

    In Ramayana, we praise Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. But there is one more person who should be praised. It is none other than, Urmila, Lakshmana's wife.

    

Lakshmana guarding while Rama and Sita are taking rest

     As it was decided that Lord Ram would go to exile for 14 years, Sita mata wanted to accompany him even though Lord Rama was not happy. Still she insisted that she would accompany him.When Lakshmana heard that both Rama and Sita are going to the forest on exile, he was ready to go, as he has never been alone without Rama, even as an infant.

   Lakshmana's wife Urmila wanted to accompany him. But he pacified her saying that if she accompanies them, then he would not be able to look after her properly and give importance to her as he was going to the exile to serve his beloved brother and sister-in-law. Urmila was in a state of sadness.

  In the forest, on the first night, Rama and Sita went off to sleep, but Lakshmana was wide awake to guard them. As it human, he started feeling sleep and Nidhradevi appeared before him. But, Lakshmana requested her to come after 14 years, as it is his duty to guard his brother and sister-in-law, day and night. How is it possible! So, he requested Nidhradevi to go and meet his wife Urmila. When Nidhradevi met Urmila she requested her to give her husband's share of sleep also to her and it is said that Urmila continuously slept for 14 years, day and night, so that her husband can be free of worries and do his duty.

   Actually we should thank Urmila for partaking her husband's share of sleep also, as it was very useful for him during the war against Ravana, after he abducted Sita, which was at the far end of the exile period, because of which, he was able to kill Indrajit, Ravana's son who had acquired a boon that he would be killed by one who was awake for 14 years.