Various journals and documents on the internet say, an adult requires a minimum of 7 to 9 hours of sleep, and children and teens require some more hours of sleep than the adults for a healthy life. I do not disagree with the fact that sleep is indispensable for each one of us, however, the hours of sleep can vary from person to person. I personally know people who sleep 3 hours a day and I also know people who sleep more than 10 hours a day.
Today I want to narrate a story related to sleep and the effect of it from the pages of Ramayana. Lakshman kept crying no sooner he took birth until he has placed next to Ram. his elder brother. From that moment he was always beside his elder brother, even Lakshman accompanied him to protect Vishwamitra’s Yaga and also followed him into exile for 14 years in the forest. His devotion to his elder brother was so much that he refused to take his wife - Urmila, along with him to the forest. This was not one instance of Lakshman’s devotion towards Ram. During the 14 years of exile, Lakshman refused to sleep for 14 years so that he could serve his brother and his sister-in-law day and night.
Today I want to narrate a story related to sleep and the effect of it from the pages of Ramayana. Lakshman kept crying no sooner he took birth until he has placed next to Ram. his elder brother. From that moment he was always beside his elder brother, even Lakshman accompanied him to protect Vishwamitra’s Yaga and also followed him into exile for 14 years in the forest. His devotion to his elder brother was so much that he refused to take his wife - Urmila, along with him to the forest. This was not one instance of Lakshman’s devotion towards Ram. During the 14 years of exile, Lakshman refused to sleep for 14 years so that he could serve his brother and his sister-in-law day and night.
Lakshman’s wife, Urmila, wanted to follow her husband to the exile as Sita had followed Ram however Lakshman requested her to stay back saying, “I will be busy taking care of my brother Ram and my sister -n -law Sita and will have no time for you. So I can't do this injustice to you. Please help me by staying back so that I do not have to feel guilty or anxious about your wellbeing.” Like a husband dedicated to his wife Urmila listened to Lakshman and stayed back, reluctantly however wondering how she could help her husband to help Ram.
On the first night in the forest, Lakshman kept watching while Ram and Sita went to sleep. That is when Nidra, the goddess of sleep, approached him. He pleaded with the goddess to leave him alone for fourteen years so that he could guard his brother and sister-in-law night and day. The goddess was impressed by his act of filial devotion, love, and selfless service towards his brother and sister-in-law and agreed. However, the law of nature demanded that someone bear the burden of Lakshman’s share of sleep. Lakshman said, “Go to my wife, Urmila, and inform her of the situation”. Nidra -goddess of sleep went to Urmila and told her about the situation. Urmila bowed her head and replied, “Give me my husband’s share of sleep for fourteen years so that he can stay awake all that time without any fatigue.” So it came to pass that Urmila slept for fourteen years night and day while her husband stayed awake in the service of Ram and Sita.
Lakshman did not sleep for 14 years impacted in the war against Ravana. Ravana’s mighty son, Meghnadh, was invincible. Only a man who had not slept for 14 years could defeat him. Thus Lakshman was able to kill him, all thanks to Urmila, for the service and dedication to follow her husband's word and supporting her husband's noble motive.
The story of Urmila comes from folk Ramayanas or Ram-Katha and it is not part of Valmiki’s Sanskrit narrative or Tulsidas's Avadhi narrative. However, the way the story is presented, especially in the Ram Kathas of South India, is even more interesting. It reminds us how vast and imaginative and provocative the tradition of Ramayana is in India, and how we are often deprived of this variety in our quest for uniformity.
After Ram defeats Ravan, rescues Sita, and returns to Ayodhya, the day of Ram’s coronation dawns. As the hymns were being chanted and the crown was brought before Ram, Lakshman started to laugh, startling everyone. Everyone present at the ceremony of Ram wondered why was Lakshman laughing: who was he mocking? Every person in the court — Ram, and Sita included — was consumed by doubts and guilt, for everyone present, there were embarrassed about some misdeed in their life. Each one remembered an event in their life, which they were not particularly proud of, and felt Lakshman was laughing at them. Finally, someone asked Lakshman why he was laughing and he replied, “I have waited for this moment for the past 14 years and just when I am about to witness Ram being crowned king, the goddess of sleep, Nidra, reminds me of our agreement 14 years ago and demands that I submit to her this very moment, and go to sleep and let Urmila awaken. I find the irony of the situation hilarious.” So Lakshman dozed and Urmila woke up to see Ram crowned king, and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
Subroneel Saha is high in life. He enjoys life and believes to savour everything by doing along the path with passion, which he considers to be the most important part of the experience. He is a prolific writer on history, mythology, sacred lore, legends, folklore, fables and parables, and for challenging willful misinterpretations of ancient Indian and world scriptures, stories, symbols, and rituals. He intents to break the dogma and reveal the intentional part of every myth and the story, with the relevance with business, management, social life, student life.
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