<style="text-align: justify;">Wife of Lakshmana, daughter of Kushadhwaja, brother of Janaka. (Glossary of the Vahinis)

Sita was born of mother earth and Urmila was Janaka’s real daughter (SSS Vol.35 p.120)

Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakirti were highly virtuous. They came from a highly reputed family. King Janaka was known to have mastered his senses. He was an acknowledged expert in Jnana Yoga. Daughters from such a family cannot be ordinary mortals. (SSB 2002 p.59)

Life of Sacrifice

While Sita felt extremely sad at the thought of separation from Rama and accompanied Him to the forest, Urmila showed exemplary spirit of sacrifice, (she was not at all perturbed by the thought of separation from her husband) and felt that her husband Lakshmana got the rare opportunity of serving Sita and Rama in the forest for 14 years. But Urmila does not find a place of prominence in the Ramayana. Both Sumitra and Urmila were highly pious and virtuous. They lead a life of sacrifice.

Greatness of Urmila

She was a Painter

Lakshmana went to his wife Urmila to inform her about his decision to go with Rama. Urmila was highly virtuous. Her spirit of Sacrifice and generosity was unparalleled. Being unaware of the happenings, she was painting a picture of Rama’s coronation. She wanted to send it to her father Janaka. As she deeply engrossed in her work, all of a sudden Lakshmana entered and called her in a raised voice. She was startled and at once stood up. As she got up in a hurry, she accidentally spilled over the paint on the picture she was painting. She felt sad having spoiled the picture. (SS May 2002 p.158) She lamented, ‘Alas! This beautiful picture of Sri Rama’s coronation scene is totally spoiled now.’ (SSB 2002 p.61)

Then Lakshmana said, ‘Rama’s coronation is stalled because of Kaikeyi, and the picture of coronation that you are painting is spoiled because of your husband Lakshmana. So, don’t worry about it.’ (SS May 2002 p.158) She had spent the entire fourteen years painting the pictures of Sita and Rama. (SSB 2002 p.89)

Urmila happy that her husband was lucky to serve Sita and Rama:

Lakshmana conveyed his decision to Urmila to accompany Rama to the forest. Will any wife keep quite when she comes to know that her husband is going to the forest for 14 years? Urmila could have asked many questions: ‘why should you follow Rama? You are under no obligation to go to the forest. Only Rama is ordered to go. So, you need not go with Him. Any ordinary woman would have argued in this manner. But Urmila did not raise any objection. In fact, she was very happy that her husband got an opportunity to serve Sita and Rama. She said, ‘You are very lucky to have got this great opportunity. Please follow them without wasting a minute.’ She asked him to go with Sita and Rama, saying, ‘I don’t want to come in the way of your going with Sita and Rama. Please do not waste even a minute. Go with them at once and be in their service’ (SSS Vol.35 p.98)

Urmila - Her spirit of Sacrifice unparalleled:

Take, for instance, the example of sisters-in-law of Rama. In families today, there is no harmony between the wives of brothers. But, look at how Lakshmana’s wife, Urmila, behaved. She told Lakshmana that he was fortunate to have the opportunity to serve Rama, which had been denied to her. She said: ‘I would also like to come with you. But if I come, my presence will detract your single-minded service to Rama and Sita. I shall stay back, while you dedicate yourself whole-heartedly to their service.’ Urmila thus made a greater sacrifice than even Sita. (SSS Vol.24 p.63)

As Urmila was endowed with a great spirit of sacrifice, she was not at all perturbed by the thought of separation from her husband getting the opportunity to serve Rama and Sita, she said to Lakshmana, ‘Sanctify your time by serving Rama and Sita. Very few have such a great fortune. Go happily. ‘Saying thus, she bade farewell to Lakshmana. (SSS Vol.40 p.111)

Her broadmindedness and utter selflessness

Urmila did not pressurise him to allow her to accompany him. She entreated him to serve Sita and Rama with utmost devotion. She said, ‘Think of their well–being always and serve them diligently. Forget me altogether for the next fourteen years.’ Will any wife speak in such a selflessness manner? No. Her broadmindedness and utter selflessness moved Lakshmana to tears. He praised her, saying, ‘Urmila, I never knew that you were so broadminded. I will always treasure your noble intentions in my heart. Urmila said, ‘Don’t think of my noble intentions. Think of the nobility of Sita and Rama and obey their command. See to it that they are never put to any inconvenience.’ It is difficult to find many examples of nobility and sacrifice set before the world by Sumitra and Urmila. (SSS Vol.35 p.124)

Urmila asks Lakshmana a promise before going to the forest:

Lakshmana informed her that he was accompanying Rama and Sita to the forest to serve them. She was very happy with his decision. She entreated him to serve Sita and Rama with utmost devotion. She said. ‘Dear husband, my mother-in-law Sumitra gave birth to you and your brother Shatrughna to tread the path of service. You are meant to serve Rama. And Shatrughna has to serve Bharata. So, discharge your duties. (SS May 2002 p.158)

She said, ‘You are going to live in the forest without me for 14 years. It is possible that you may think of me and mention my name at some time or the other. So, I want you to promise that you would not think of me or mention my name at any point of time. If you think of me you will not be able to serve Sita and Rama wholeheartedly.’ Contemplate constantly on the Divine Names of Sita and Rama and serve them with all sincerity and devotion. If I accompany you to the forest, you may not be able to devote your entire time to their service. I will stay back not to become an impediment in your way’. Hearing the words of Urmila, Lakshmana was surprised and elated, ‘Can one find such a noble and devoted wife anywhere in the world?’ he thought to himself. He took leave of her and left the place immediately. (SS May 2002 p.141-144)

Urmila’s courage and strength of Character:

Urmila’s courage and strength of character now came to the fore. Lakshmana had already informed her that Sita too was accompanying Rama to the forest. Urmila was thrilled that her sister would accompany Rama and serve him. But she did not insist on following Lakshmana. On the contrary she told Lakshmana, ‘Lord! I know that you are proceeding to the forest with the sole objective of serving Sita and Rama. May you succeed without any obstacles? You must spend your days and nights in steadfast service to Rama and Sita. You need not worry about the welfare or even think about me. Never be concerned that you are not present by my side at Ayodhya to look after me. Forget Ayodhya itself because henceforth, the forest is your Ayodhya itself. This Ayodhya without Sita and Rama is the forest. Hence, do not give any scope for concern about me. On my part I shall happily contemplate on you and spend my time here.’ Urmila thus gave tremendous courage to her husband. She felt that Lakshmana’s service to Rama and Sita would be disturbed if he constantly thought of her. Hence, she extracted a promise from her husband that he would not even think about her during the course of exile for fourteen years. She proposed, ‘In the forest Rama will be your father and Sita your mother. Your primary concern should be to serve them faithfully. Hence, forget all of us here.’ This was the promise she took from Lakshmana before cheerfully sending him to the forest. Kausalya might have grieved a little, but not Urmila. This is the attribute of an ideal daughter-in-law. She must always encourage her husband by giving him strength appropriately. A housewife is also called ‘Grihalakshmi’ and Dharmapatni. Urmila discharged her duty as Dharmapatni encouraging Lakshmana to tread the path of righteousness. (SSB 2002 p.61-62))

Lessons To Be Learnt From Urmila’s Character:

Urmila was King’s Janaka’s own daughter, whereas Sita was his foster daughter who was picked up from earth while ploughing it. Sita was Shakti Swarupini (Embodiment of Primal Energy). Since she was born of earth, she had one hundred percent magnetic power. So also Sri Rama, who was Paramatma, verily. That is the reason why King Janaka gave his daughter Sita in marriage to Sri Rama. His own daughter, Urmila was married to Lakshmana, who was none other than Adishesha (the serpent upon whose coils Lord Narayana reclined), who supports the entire earth. Urmila was a woman of soft nature. She never developed a desire for the objective world. She always led a simple and pious life, unmindful of the bodily comforts. The daughter of King Janaka had no attachment to the physical body. (Beacons of Divine wisdom Part 1 p.127)

Good conduct, good actions:

Bharata took Hanuman to Urmila and introduced him. She never stepped out of her room. Wherever she was at the time of Lakshmana’s departure to the forest, she remained in the same room for fourteen long years until his return. Such was her determination. She asked Hanuman as to where he was coming from. Hanuman narrated to her in detail whatever happened right from the time Lakshmana fainted in the battlefield. On listening to hanuman’s narration, Urmila laughed and she said, ‘Hanuman, don’t you know even this? The very breath of Lakshmana is filled with the divine name of Rama. How can any danger befall with such a person? Therefore, he is perhaps sleeping peacefully. All the pain and suffering must be Rama’s alone. No danger can befall my husband. He will always remain safe.’ What we need to recognise here is that the wives of the four brothers were virtuous and noble as their husbands. The happiness and prosperity of the husbands depended on the noble qualities of their wives. The good conduct and good actions of the wives were also responsible. Their character gave their husbands tremendous support. (SSB 2002 p.89)

Embodiments of truth and righteousness

The sense of devotion and surrender of Urmila and Sumitra have not been given any place of prominence in the Ramayana. They were embodiments of truth, righteousness and sacrifice. Their ideals are the beacons of ideal life for the world. Everyone should become a Su–mitra (good friend) and a Su–putra (ideal son). The country needs ideal men and women. (SSS Vol.35 p.126)

Nobility of Heart:

Urmila had a very compassionate heart. She always entertained noble thoughts. She did not feel sad even for a moment when her husband Lakshmana accompanied to the forest. She was always contemplating on Sri Rama during his exile. Not only she, the wives of Bharata and Shatrughna (Mandavi and Shrutakirti) were also engaged in constant contemplation of Sri Rama and praying for His return to Ayodhya. Thus, when they were in constant contemplation of Rama, their strength increased day by day. If you analyse the underlying meaning of every incident in Ramayana, all of them point to only one principle – the principle of unity; unity between the brothers, unity between their wives, etc. …During the entire period of 14 years of Rama’s exile to the forest, all the brothers and their wives thinking and wishing for the well–being of Rama only, so were their mothers. Such was their nobility of their hearts. (SSS Vol.38 p.85-86)

Noble qualities

Urmila ...... was happy that her husband was under the divine care and protection of Rama. Urmila... was a noble and courageous woman. (SSS Vol.40 p.194-195)

Urmila meets Lakshmana after fourteen years:

Sumitra brought her daughter– in–law, Urmila to Lakshmana. It was fourteen years since Lakshmana and Urmila had seen each other. She fell at her husband’s feet and said, ‘Lord! It was your total dedication to Rama that has saved and protected you so far. You should always think of Rama. It was that sacred name that guarded and guided you.’ She was overjoyed and applied vermilion to Lakshmana’s feet, as was the custom in those days. Sumitra praised her that it was her good wishes and blessings that had kept her son Lakshmana safe and secure. (SSB 2002 p.129)