Urmila was the younger sister of the goddess Sita. The sisters lost their mother Sunaina at a very young age.Their father, King Janak was a spiritual man. After the
death of his wife, he submerged himself into religious texts. Sita took the responsibility for Urmila. She was like a mother to her.While Sita was outgoing and adventurous, Urmila was gentle and tender-hearted. When Sita learned the skills of riding horses and archery, Urmila learned cooking and medicines. Sita led the external front like military and foreign relations in the absence of their father’s authoritative figure. Urmila on the other hand managed the kingdom from the inside, managing people and their needs. When Sita was of the right age she got married to Rama. On the occasion of their marriage, King Dasrath proposed the marriage of his other sons as well. He was very impressed by the values and cultures of Janka’s kingdom. Hence Urmila was married to Laxman. In the early years of her marriage, Urmila was joyous beyond the limit. All her childhood she had felt the absence of motherly love. But in Ayodhya, she had three mothers-in-law. All three of them treated her like their daughter. It was a match made in heaven. Urmila wanted motherly love and the mothers-in-law wanted a daughter.  But all good things must come to an end. The news of Rama’s exile shattered the royal family of Ayodhya. Laxman informed her about the event with tears in his eyes. He also apologized to Urmila as he too was planning to go along with Rama. Urmila was devastated.Finally, the day had come. Rama, along with Sita and Laxman was ready to go into exile. Urmila’s eyes were dry and her face looked determined. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana left for their exile. When night fell and all the world was asleep, Lakshmana stayed awake watching over his beloved brother and his wife. One night as he sat outside his brother’s dwelling, a luminous form  appeared before him. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw before him a resplendent goddess. She smiled at him. “How are you going to do this, Lakshmana?” asked she. “Do what?” Lakshmana was puzzled for he knew not who she was and what she was getting at. “Sleep…everybody needs to sleep. I’m Nidhra, the goddess of sleep. Are you going to spend 14 years of your brother’s exile without sleep? It will be impossible!” “But I will not, cannot, sleep for I intend to watch over my brother day and night,” said Lakshmana. “I know your devotion, Lakshmana. But no living creature can survive without sleep. That is the universal law.... Unless…” the goddess paused. “Unless... what?” Lakshmana seized upon that pause.“Unless there is someone who will do that for you,” smiled the goddess. “Sleep all the sleep you need for the 14 years you are here in exile.... Is there someone who will do that for you?”Lakshmana smiled in relief. He knew he could count on someone, his wife! “My wife, Urmila... she will surely take my place for me.” “I will go at once to the palace of Dasharata in Ayodhya and ask her,” said Goddess Nidhra and disappeared as she had come. Urmila happily accepted the offer to take Lakshmana’s share of sleep and went into a deep slumber for all the 14 years he was away. For the next fourteen years, Urmila slept for sixteen hours. For the remaining hours, she cared for her mother-in-law.