Urmila made for Lakshman

THE DEVOTED WIFE –

URMILA MADE FOR LAKSHMAN

URMILA, WIFE OF LAKSHMANA

THE DIVINE BOND IN INDIAN CULTURE

THROUGH VALMIKI’S URMILA, WIFE OF

LAKSHMANA


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.

INDIAN CULTURE


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’.

TWO GREAT EPICS


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.

DOCTRINES OF THE EPIC


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, THE WIFE OF LAKSHMANA


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 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.


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.


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 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.


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.


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 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.


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’.

Remember, URMILAA symbol of Sacrifice!

Urmila made for Lakshman

Spiritual

Transcript of Urmila made for Lakshman