Lava (Sanskrit: लव, romanized: Lava)[1] and his elder twin brother Kusha, are the children of Rama and Sita in Hindu tradition.[2] Their story is recounted in the Hindu epic, Ramayana and its other versions. He is said to have a whitish golden complexion like their mother, while Kusha had a blackish complexion like their father.
Valmiki trains Lava and Kusha in the Art of ArcheryThe Sage Valmiki, teaching Ramayana to Lava and Kusa
The first chapter of Ramayana, Balakanda, mentioned Valmiki narrating the Ramayana to his disciples, Lava and Kusha. But their birth and childhood story is mentioned in the last chapter 'Uttara Kanda' which is not believed to be the original work of Valmiki.[3][4] According to the legend, Sita banished herself from the kingdom due to the gossip of the kingdom folk about her chastity. She chose self-exile and took refuge in the ashram of Valmiki located on the banks of the Tamsa river.[5] Lava and Kusha were born at the ashram and were educated and trained in military skills under the teachings of Sage Valmiki. During this time they had also learned the story of Rama.
Kusha and Lava recite the Ramayana in the court of Rama
Sage Valmiki, along with Lava and Kusha, and a disguised Sita attend an ashvamedha yajna held by Rama.
In some versions of the epic, Lava and Kusha chanted the Ramayana in the presence of Rama and a vast audience. When Lava and Kusha recited about Sita's exile, Rama became grief-stricken and Valmiki produced Sita, testifying her innocence. Sita declared Lava and Kusha to be her sons and her fidelity to her husband. After Rama had expressed his desire to reconcile with her, Sita called upon the earth, her mother (Bhumi), to receive her and as the ground opened, she vanished into it. Even as he lamented the loss of his wife, Rama acknowledged his sons and sought their company.[6]
In some versions, Lava and Kusha capture the horse of the sacrifice and went to defeat Rama's brothers (Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna) and their armies. When Rama came to fight with them, Sita intervenes and unites father and sons.
Later lifeedit
Lava and Kusha became rulers after their father Rama founded the cities of Lavapuri and Kasur, respectively. The king of Kosala, Rama, installed his son Lava at Shravasti and Kusha at Kushavati.[7]
In the Ananda Ramayana, Lava had a wife named Sumati,[8] and together the couple ruled the city of Lavapuri and the kingdom of Shravasti.
In popular cultureedit
Lava is purported to have founded Lavapuri[9] (the modern day city of Lahore),[10] which is named after him.[11]
There is a temple associated with Lava (or Loh) inside Shahi Qila, Lahore.[12]
There are various communities and clans in modern India that claim descent from Lava, an example being the "Levas", a branch of which are the Lohana Kotecha and Leuva Marathas.[citation needed]
^Bombay Historical Society (1946). Annual bibliography of Indian history and Indology, Volume 4. p. 257.
^Baqir, Muhammad (1985). Lahore, past and present. B.R. Pub. Corp. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
^Masudul Hasan (1978). Guide to Lahore. Ferozsons.
^Ahmed, Shoaib. "Lahore Fort dungeons to re-open after more than a century." Daily Times. 3 November 2004.
January 10, 2024
lava, ramayana, lava, sanskrit, लव, romanized, lava, elder, twin, brother, kusha, children, rama, sita, hindu, tradition, their, story, recounted, hindu, epic, ramayana, other, versions, said, have, whitish, golden, complexion, like, their, mother, while, kush. Lava Sanskrit लव romanized Lava 1 and his elder twin brother Kusha are the children of Rama and Sita in Hindu tradition 2 Their story is recounted in the Hindu epic Ramayana and its other versions He is said to have a whitish golden complexion like their mother while Kusha had a blackish complexion like their father LavaLava one of twin sons of Rama and SitaDevanagariलवPredecessorRamaTextsRamayana and its other versionsPersonal informationBornValmiki Ashram Brahmavart Kosala present day Bithoor Uttar Pradesh India ParentsRama father Sita mother SiblingsKusha brother ConsortSumati Ananda Ramayana DynastyRaghuvamsha Suryavamsha Contents 1 Birth and childhood 2 Later life 3 In popular culture 4 ReferencesBirth and childhood edit nbsp Valmiki trains Lava and Kusha in the Art of Archery nbsp The Sage Valmiki teaching Ramayana to Lava and KusaThe first chapter of Ramayana Balakanda mentioned Valmiki narrating the Ramayana to his disciples Lava and Kusha But their birth and childhood story is mentioned in the last chapter Uttara Kanda which is not believed to be the original work of Valmiki 3 4 According to the legend Sita banished herself from the kingdom due to the gossip of the kingdom folk about her chastity She chose self exile and took refuge in the ashram of Valmiki located on the banks of the Tamsa river 5 Lava and Kusha were born at the ashram and were educated and trained in military skills under the teachings of Sage Valmiki During this time they had also learned the story of Rama nbsp Kusha and Lava recite the Ramayana in the court of RamaSage Valmiki along with Lava and Kusha and a disguised Sita attend an ashvamedha yajna held by Rama In some versions of the epic Lava and Kusha chanted the Ramayana in the presence of Rama and a vast audience When Lava and Kusha recited about Sita s exile Rama became grief stricken and Valmiki produced Sita testifying her innocence Sita declared Lava and Kusha to be her sons and her fidelity to her husband After Rama had expressed his desire to reconcile with her Sita called upon the earth her mother Bhumi to receive her and as the ground opened she vanished into it Even as he lamented the loss of his wife Rama acknowledged his sons and sought their company 6 In some versions Lava and Kusha capture the horse of the sacrifice and went to defeat Rama s brothers Lakshmana Bharata and Shatrughna and their armies When Rama came to fight with them Sita intervenes and unites father and sons Later life editLava and Kusha became rulers after their father Rama founded the cities of Lavapuri and Kasur respectively The king of Kosala Rama installed his son Lava at Shravasti and Kusha at Kushavati 7 In the Ananda Ramayana Lava had a wife named Sumati 8 and together the couple ruled the city of Lavapuri and the kingdom of Shravasti In popular culture editLava is purported to have founded Lavapuri 9 the modern day city of Lahore 10 which is named after him 11 There is a temple associated with Lava or Loh inside Shahi Qila Lahore 12 There are various communities and clans in modern India that claim descent from Lava an example being the Levas a branch of which are the Lohana Kotecha and Leuva Marathas citation needed References edit nbsp Hinduism portal nbsp India portal Lohana History Archived from the original on 4 October 2013 Retrieved 14 November 2010 Chandra Mauli Mani 2009 Memorable Characters from the Ramayaṇa and the Mahabharata Northern Book Centre pp 77 ISBN 978 81 7211 257 8 Uttara Kanda of Ramayana was edited during 5th century BCE Puranas BooksFact Ancient Knowledge amp Wisdom 26 April 2020 Retrieved 7 July 2020 Rao T S Sha ma Litent 1 January 2014 Lava Kusha Litent Vishvanath Limaye 1984 Historic Rama of Valmiki Gyan Ganga Prakashan Valmiki The Ramayana pp 615 617 Nadiem Ihsan N 2005 Punjab land history people Al Faisal Nashran p 111 ISBN 9789695034347 Retrieved 29 May 2009 Ananda Ramayaṇa Sara kaṇḍa Yatra kaṇḍa Yaga kaṇḍa Vilasa kaṇḍa Janma kaṇḍa Vivaha kaṇḍa Parimal Publications 2006 p 425 ISBN 978 81 7110 283 9 Bombay Historical Society 1946 Annual bibliography of Indian history and Indology Volume 4 p 257 Baqir Muhammad 1985 Lahore past and present B R Pub Corp pp 19 20 Retrieved 29 May 2009 Masudul Hasan 1978 Guide to Lahore Ferozsons Ahmed Shoaib Lahore Fort dungeons to re open after more than a century Daily Times 3 November 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lava Ramayana amp oldid 1194594729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
