The document explores the character of Urmila, wife of Lakshmana, highlighting her sacrifices and devotion within the framework of Indian culture and the epic Ramayana. Despite being a minor character, Urmila's unparalleled sacrifice and loyalty portray her as an ideal wife, often overlooked in favor of more prominent figures like Sita. Her story illustrates the themes of love, loyalty, and the moral values associated with family and duty in ancient Indian society.

2. URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

3. The culture of the land has been intertwined with
Spirituality with Religion, Oneness with Uniqueness,
Classical Music with Art of Dance, Art with
Architecture, Hospitality with Humanity, Self- Respect
with Selflessness, Obedience with Education,
Intellectuality with Humility, Professional and Family
Ethics, Life with Literature, and Love with Sacrifice.
Indian Culture has been taught to the younger
generation through the life of their ancestors.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

4.  There are two great epics in the Sanskrit language,
which are very ancient, called the Ramayana and the
Mahabharatha.
 They embody the manners and customs, the state of
society, civilization, etc., of the ancient Indians.
 The oldest of these epics is called Ramayana, ‘The Life
of Rama’.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

5.  The epic portraits many values but strongly insists ‘One for
One’ doctrine in everyone’s life.
 Rama and Sita were made for each other and they lived
following the doctrine ‘One for One’.
 But Sita replied, ‘Wherever Rama goes, there goes Sita.
How can you talk of “princess” and “royal birth” to me? I go
before you!’ So, Sita went.’ (93). And so Sita followed Rama
in his exile.
 The pure and auspicious bondage in the name of marriage
is also a way of Dharma in Indian Culture.
 It is being said that one who follows family ethics perfectly
can attain the Heavenly state as the pure sages do.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

6.  Urmila, the younger daughter of Sunayana and King Janaka of
Mithila, and younger sister to Sita, married Lakshmana with
whom she had two sons, Angad and Dharmaketu.
 Lakshmana got ready to serve Rama in his exile for fourteen
long years and Urmila asked her husband to allow her to
follow him as a devoted wife. But Lakshmana refused and
advised her to stay back and take care of her in-laws. He also
stated that he would be busy in serving his brother in the
forest and could not take care of her. This shows Lakshmana’s
complete devotion towards Rama.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

7.  Before their marriage, Lakshmana explained Urmila that
he was to serve Rama and he couldn’t make her happy as
the common husbands do. Urmila agreed to both and
followed her husband’s words till his return.
 Urmila sacrificed all her luxurious comforts and lived a
penance life as Lakshmana did in the forest, though she
was in the palace of Ayodhya.
 She consoled herself the separation of her husband and
consoled her in-laws to her best.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

8.  Urmila is the piteous woman than Sita. Kaikeyi made
Rama to leave his country; as Rama’s part, Sita followed
him; as Rama’s devoted brother, Lakshmana followed
him; but Lakshmana’s wife was refused to be the part of
her husband, though she was willing to follow the
footsteps of Lakshmana.
 So, the highest rate of suffering was gifted to Urmila, but
she was given only a least importance in Ramayana.
 Though she is a minor character in Ramayana, Valmiki
categorically states her sacrifice as unparalleled.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

9.  Because Urmila wanted to assist her part in
her husband’s vow of serving Rama without
sleep, even guarding them in nights for the
fourteen years. She herself fell in deep sleep
for the long years and after the return,
Lakshmana woke her up.
 . Urmila is an ideal obedient wife of Lakshman
and an idol for womanhood.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

10.  In the forest, Sita was tricked by the magical golden deer
and she wanted Lakshmana to assist Rama.
 But Sita encountered Lakshmana for not leaving to
Rama’s rescue. Toru Dutt in her poem ‘Lakshman’ says,
“Was this the gentle Sita? No.
Flames from her eyes shot forth and burned,
The tears therein had ceased to flow.
‘Hear me, Queen, ere I depart,
No longer can I bear thy words,
They lacerate my inmost heart
And torture me, like poisoned swords.”
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

11.  Urmila has sent her husband whole
heartedly in the service of Rama and her
sister Sita, bearing all the lonely
sufferings. But Sita encounters
Lakshmana for her husband. Here,
Urmila stands a step higher than Sita in
sacrifice.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

12.  Lakshmana could not recognize the ornament,
because in India the wife of the elder brother was
held in so much reverence that he had never looked
upon the arms and the neck of Sita. So you see, as it
was a necklace, he did not know whose it was. There
is in this episode a touch of the old Indian custom.”
(95).
 Lakshmana proves himself a genuine man who never
sees other women’s face than his wife, Urmila. He
also follows the doctrine “One for One’ as Rama, Sita
and Urmila.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

13.  Rabindranath Tagore classified Urmila as one
of the forgotten heroines of Indian Literature.
 She is the central character in Hindi poet
Maithili Sharan Gupt’s version of the
Ramayana, ‘Saket’.
 Yet the untold story of her sacrifice is one that
has fired many a poet’s imagination and
inspired many a writer to make her their
muse. URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

14.  Urmila has showed her power as equal as
her husband. Lakshmana was devoted to
Rama and Urmila was devoted to
Lakshmana. Rama’s words were
Lakshmana’s Veda and Lakshmana’s
words were Urmila’s Veda.
URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

15.  What Urmila did was all for the love that
she had on her husband.
 The divine bond that Urmila had with
Lakshmana is meant for the outcome of
Love – ‘Sacrifice’.

URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA