From the songs of Urmila And Lakshman

Princess Janaka, who was born to king Maharaja Janaka and Queen Sunaina , and sister of Sita was Urmila. She and her three sisters, including Sita, had a special bond. The origins of the story of Lakshman, and Urmila sleeping for 14 years can be traced back to two famous Telugu folk ballads.

The marriage of the four sons of Dasharatha with the four daughters of Siradhvaja Janaka and Kushadhvaja. Rama and Sita, Lakshmana and Urmila, Bharata and Mandavi and Shatrughna with Shrutakirti. Source: Wikipedia

Urmila is depicted in two Ramayana folk songs by Telugu women, notably Urmiladevi Nidra, Urmila's Sleep, highlighting Urmila's love for Lakshman. Urmila's position in the Ramayana is often overlooked, although she was someone who made a big sacrifice. But she had no idea her life would end out this way when she married Lakshman. The song's core topic is Lakshman's reunion with Urmila. Urmila's slumber is explained in the other Telugu song called Lakshmana's Laughing.

Urmila appears in Valmiki's text just once, in two lines, to inform us that she was married to Lakshman. We never hear from her again. She also does not appear in any of the Sanskrit versions of the Ramayana written by poets such as Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti, and a number of others up to the nineteenth century.

Lakshman was determined on following his brother and Sita into exile. When he refused to compromise, Urmila requested to accompany him, but Lakshman refused. He didn't want her in the wilderness with him; he wanted her to serve the royal family and maybe aid in other ways. Lakshman informed her that he had no intention of sleeping and would keep Rama and Sita safe at all times. As a result, Urmila remained behind and saw her husband depart with Rama and Sita, to fulfill her obligations to her in-laws and the people of Ayodhya, despite the fact that she would not see her husband for another 14 years, but falls into slumber for those many years.

14 years later, Rama triumphantly returns to his capital and holds court in splendor. Everything is in working order. Sita then tells Rama that his brother should go see his wife, who has been asleep since they left for the woods. He is, as usual, absorbed in Rama's service. Lakshman obeys Rama's instruction, leaves the court, and goes to where Urmila is sleeping.

She fails to recognize her spouse at first since she has been sleeping for a long time. She can scarcely open her eyes wide. Nonetheless, she was aware of Sita's kidnapping by Ravana, as well as the repercussions. She is taken aback by the appearance of a man other than her husband in her quarters.

Isn't it the desire

of aquiring anothers wife that

Indra's body was spoiled?

Isn't by acquiring another's wife

that Ravana suffered utter destruction?

And knowing all this before

O, you came to do such a wrong thing

O, have you no sister

Or mother like me?

Lakshman tries to make his wife recognize him, he reminds her that he is Rama's own brother, King Janaka's son, and the very man who brough Sita back safely. He pleads her not to accuse him, since it would ruin his good name. He is overcome with emotion and says again that he'll take his own life. In that instant, Urmila recognizes him, and is filled with joy at the sight of her beloved. The song concludes with Lakshman explaining the details of Sita's abduction, and her journey back.

Even now, Urmiladevi's Sleep and Lakshman's Laughter are two famous songs sung by village folk. Because they are so closely connected, they are referred to as twin stories. In the other song, Lakshman encounters a weeping Nidra Devi, the goddess of slumber, and requests that she go to his wife, putting her to sleep for 14 years. On the day of his return, the goddess approaches him and he falls asleep, while Urmila awakens.

Sources:

indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4568871

https://www.bonobology.com/little-known-story-of-urmilas-love-for-lakshmana/

https://www.manushi.in/culture--faith-traditions/the-song-of-urmilas-separation-andhra-womens-song-spotlights-ramayanas-neglected-urmila

https://mobile.twitter.com/HinduMediaWiki/status/1313745465649762304