Urmila: Difference between revisions

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
No edit summary
(robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit))
 
Line 4: Line 4:
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}


'''Urmila''' ([[Sanskrit]]: ऊर्मिला, {{IAST3|Ūrmilā}})) is a character in the [[Hindu]] religious text of ''[[Ramayana]]''. She was younger sister of ''[[Sita]]'' and the wife of [[Lakshmana]], younger brother of [[Rama]].
{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
| name = Urmila
| name = Urmila
Line 10: Line 9:
| type = Hindu
| type = Hindu
| spouse = [[Lakshmana]]
| spouse = [[Lakshmana]]
| children = [[Angada (Lakshmana's son)|Angada]] <br/> [[Chandraketu]](sons) tarabati(daughter).<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/ramaconc.htm Ramayana – Conclusion], translated by Romesh C. Dutt (1899)</ref>
| children = [[Angada (Lakshmana's son)|Angada]] <br/> [[Chandraketu]]<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/ramaconc.htm Ramayana – Conclusion], translated by Romesh C. Dutt (1899)</ref> Somada (daughter) .
| father = [[Janaka]]
| father = [[Janaka]]
| mother = Sunayana
| mother = Sunayana
Line 18: Line 17:
| dynasty = [[Kingdom of the Videhas|Videha]] ''(by birth)''<br />[[Raghuvanshi]]-[[Ikshvaku dynasty|Ikshvaku]]-[[Suryavansha|Suryavanshi]] ''(by marriage)''
| dynasty = [[Kingdom of the Videhas|Videha]] ''(by birth)''<br />[[Raghuvanshi]]-[[Ikshvaku dynasty|Ikshvaku]]-[[Suryavansha|Suryavanshi]] ''(by marriage)''
| birth_place = Mithila
| birth_place = Mithila
| Image search = Saath nibhaana saathiya Jpg.
| affiliation = [[Avatar]] of nagalakshmi
| death_place =  
}}
}}
'''Urmila''' ([[Sanskrit]]: ऊर्मिला, {{IAST3|Ūrmilā}})) is a character in the [[Hindu]] religious text ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is the younger sister of [[Sita]] and the wife of [[Lakshmana]], the younger brother of [[Rama]]. She is considered to be an avatar of Nagalakshmi.


== Life ==
== Life ==
She is the daughter of King [[Janaka]] of [[History of Mithila|Mithila]] and Queen Sunayana / Sunaina and younger sister of [[Sita]]. She was married to Ayodhya's king [[Dasharatha]]'s 3rd son [[Lakshmana]]. They had two sons - [[Angada (Lakshmana's son)|Angada]] and [[Chandraketu]]. She was as dedicated to Sita as Lakshmana was to [[Rama]].<ref>source needed</ref> She is the reincarnation of Goddess Nagalakshmi. According to some folklore, it is said that she had a daughter called Somada.
Urmila is the daughter of King [[Janaka]] of [[History of Mithila|Mithila]] and Queen Sunaina, the younger sister of [[Sita]]. She was married to King [[Dasharatha]]'s third son [[Lakshmana]]. They had two sons - [[Angada (Lakshmana's son)|Angada]] and [[Chandraketu]]. She is described to be as dedicated to Sita as Lakshmana was to [[Rama]].<ref>source needed</ref> According to some folklore, it is said that she also bore a daughter called [[Somada]]. She is considered avatar of Nagalakshmi (shirsha).  


When [[Lakshmana]] went to exile along with Ram and Sita, Urmila was ready to accompany him but he hesitated and asked her to stay back in Ayodhya to take care of his aging parents. According to a legend, Urmila sleeps continuously for 14 years. It is believed that during the 14 years of exile, Lakshmana never slept to protect his brother and sister-in-law.<ref>source needed</ref> On the first night of exile, when Ram and Sita were sleeping, Nidra Devi appeared to Lakshmana and he asked her to give blessing so that he would never feel sleepy. Devi Nidra asked him if anyone else can sleep instead of him? Lakshmana advised that his wife Urmila can sleep. After hearing this, Devi Nidra asked Urmila about this and Urmila happily accepted it. Urmila is notable for this unparalleled sacrifice which is called ''Urmila Nidra.''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/Urmila-The-Sleeping-Princess/2014/03/28/article2134735.ece | title=Urmila, The Sleeping Princess | work=[[Indian Express]] | date=28 March 2014 | access-date=1 June 2016 | author=Reeja Radhakrishnan |place=Chennai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=Ramayana: Check 13 lesser-known facts|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/ramayana-check-lesser-known-facts-1585545052-1|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>
When [[Lakshmana]] joined Rama and Sita in their exile, Urmila was ready to accompany him, but he hesitated and asked her to stay back in Ayodhya to take care of his aging parents. According to a legend, Urmila slept continuously for fourteen years. It is believed that during these fourteen years of exile, her husband also never slept to protect his brother and sister-in-law.<ref>source needed</ref> On the first night of exile, when Rama and Sita were sleeping, the deity Nidra appeared to Lakshmana, and he requested her to offer him the boon of not requiring sleep. The goddess asked him that she could grant his wish, but someone else would have to take his place asleep. Lakshmana wondered if his wife could sleep instead of him. After hearing this, Nidra enquired Urmila regarding this, and the latter happily accepted the task. Urmila is notable for this unparalleled sacrifice, which is called ''Urmila Nidra.''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/Urmila-The-Sleeping-Princess/2014/03/28/article2134735.ece | title=Urmila, The Sleeping Princess | work=[[Indian Express]] | date=28 March 2014 | access-date=1 June 2016 | author=Reeja Radhakrishnan |place=Chennai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=Ramayana: Check 13 lesser-known facts|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/ramayana-check-lesser-known-facts-1585545052-1|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>


According to a legend, it is said that when Lakshmana came to inform her of his decision, she was dressed as a queen and Lakshmana got angry on her and compared her with Kaikeyi. This was done by her to distract her husband's attention from her so he can take care of her sister and brother-in-law. When Sita came to know about it, she said that 100's of Sita can't match Urmila's sacrifice.
According to another legend, it is said that when Lakshmana came to inform Urmila of his decision to join Rama in his exile, she was dressed as a queen. Lakshmana grew angry with her and compared her with [[Kaikeyi]]. This is stated to be a deliberate act of provocation to alleviate Lakshmana's guilt of leaving her behind so that he could take care of her sister and brother-in-law. When Sita came to know about this, she remarked that a hundred of her would not be able to match Urmila's sacrifice.


It is said that Urmila, along with [[Mandavi]] and [[Shrutakirti]] died between the demise of Sita and their mother-in-law's death.
It is said that Urmila, along with [[Mandavi]] and [[Shrutakirti]], died in the period between the demise of Sita and their mother-in-law's death.


== Worship ==
== Worship ==
Line 41: Line 43:
* [http://valmikiramayan.net ''Valmiki Ramayana'', English verse translation] by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, K. M. K. Murthy et al.
* [http://valmikiramayan.net ''Valmiki Ramayana'', English verse translation] by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, K. M. K. Murthy et al.
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24869 ''Ramayana'', English verse translation] by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]] at the [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24869 ''Ramayana'', English verse translation] by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]] at the [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [https://www.manushi.in/culture--faith-traditions/the-song-of-urmilas-separation-andhra-womens-song-spotlights-ramayanas-neglected-urmila The Song of Urmila’s Separation: Andhra Women’s Song Spotlights Ramayana’s Neglected Urmila]


{{Ramayana}}
{{Ramayana}}


[[Category:Raghuvamsa]]
[[Category:Solar dynasty]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]

Latest revision as of 21:33, 5 June 2022


For other uses, see Urmila (disambiguation).

Urmila
Ramayana - Marriage of Rama Bharata Lakshmana and Shatrughna.jpg
Marriage of Urmila and her 3 sisters
AffiliationAvatar of nagalakshmi
TextsRamayana and its other versions
Personal information
Born
Mithila
Parents
  • Janaka (father)
  • Sunayana (mother)
SiblingsSita (adoptive sister)
Mandavi and Shrutakirti (cousins)
SpouseLakshmana
ChildrenAngada
Chandraketu[1] Somada (daughter) .
DynastyVideha (by birth)
Raghuvanshi-Ikshvaku-Suryavanshi (by marriage)

Urmila (Sanskrit: ऊर्मिला, IAST: Ūrmilā)) is a character in the Hindu religious text Ramayana. She is the younger sister of Sita and the wife of Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. She is considered to be an avatar of Nagalakshmi.

Life[edit]

Urmila is the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and Queen Sunaina, the younger sister of Sita. She was married to King Dasharatha's third son Lakshmana. They had two sons - Angada and Chandraketu. She is described to be as dedicated to Sita as Lakshmana was to Rama.[2] According to some folklore, it is said that she also bore a daughter called Somada. She is considered avatar of Nagalakshmi (shirsha).

When Lakshmana joined Rama and Sita in their exile, Urmila was ready to accompany him, but he hesitated and asked her to stay back in Ayodhya to take care of his aging parents. According to a legend, Urmila slept continuously for fourteen years. It is believed that during these fourteen years of exile, her husband also never slept to protect his brother and sister-in-law.[3] On the first night of exile, when Rama and Sita were sleeping, the deity Nidra appeared to Lakshmana, and he requested her to offer him the boon of not requiring sleep. The goddess asked him that she could grant his wish, but someone else would have to take his place asleep. Lakshmana wondered if his wife could sleep instead of him. After hearing this, Nidra enquired Urmila regarding this, and the latter happily accepted the task. Urmila is notable for this unparalleled sacrifice, which is called Urmila Nidra.[4][5]

According to another legend, it is said that when Lakshmana came to inform Urmila of his decision to join Rama in his exile, she was dressed as a queen. Lakshmana grew angry with her and compared her with Kaikeyi. This is stated to be a deliberate act of provocation to alleviate Lakshmana's guilt of leaving her behind so that he could take care of her sister and brother-in-law. When Sita came to know about this, she remarked that a hundred of her would not be able to match Urmila's sacrifice.

It is said that Urmila, along with Mandavi and Shrutakirti, died in the period between the demise of Sita and their mother-in-law's death.

Worship[edit]

In Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, there is a temple dedicated to Lakshman and Urmila. The temple was built in 1870 AD by the then ruler Balwant Singh of Bharatpur and is considered as a royal temple by the royal family of Bharatpur State.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Ramayana – Conclusion, translated by Romesh C. Dutt (1899)
  2. ↑ source needed
  3. ↑ source needed
  4. ↑ Reeja Radhakrishnan (28 March 2014). "Urmila, The Sleeping Princess". Indian Express. Chennai. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Ramayana: Check 13 lesser-known facts". Jagranjosh.com. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Temple Profile: Mandir Shri Laxman Ji". Government of Rajasthan. Retrieved 1 June 2016.

Further reading[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urmila&oldid=338680"