Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part E (2025)

Indian Mythology is re-sounding with the echoes of many women characters, which have proved themselves as the epitome of resilience questioning and fighting against the patriarchal society and its norms. Urmila has been such a character, who can be studied in that light. She has always remained quite away from the eyes of all who have read Ramayana. In Ramayana she is a character who has been undermined, and has not been given due respect that she should have got. Under the major garb of illuminating characters, she has been taken very lightly, but her stance can very well be recognized if we delve deep into the study of her life and character. Urmila is the second daughter of Rajarshi Maharaja Janaka and Maharani Sunaina. She is the wife of Laxman, the younger brother of Rama. In Kavita Kane’s Sita’s Sister, we can get a clear picture of her, how she has questioned the so called social norms of the then patriarchal society and stood as voice for women. Urmila can be compared with Draupadi, Sita or Damayanti, but they have come to the limelight for their stance in their context, where perhaps Urmila has been under wraps though she is no way less than them. In every way she is as par with other mythical female characters of her time but she has not been given her due respect. She has proved herself as an obedient daughter, loving wife, dutiful daughter-in-law, respectful women, and humble royal princess. She had a volcano of questions but never tried to hurt anyone. Lived 14 years away from her husband like exile but never regretted and en-shouldered all her royal responsibilities. Such a legendary woman is unique in every way. She is the embodiment all heavenly qualities that we seek in a woman. According to one of the legends, in our Jagannath culture goddess Bimala is worshiped and before offering Prasad to the lord, it is offered to the goddess then it becomes Mahaprasad. She is none other than Urmila, who has been blessed by Lord Rama in Tretaya Yug after returning from 14 years of Vanbas, as she has sacrificed her luxuries and lived a life of sanyasi for Laxman, which made possible for Laxman to kill Irdrajit, the son Ravan, who could only be killed by anyone who had not slept and fasted for 14 years.