Valmiki located on the banks of the
Tamsa river
The Tamsa River (also called as Tons river) is a tributary of the Ganges flowing through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Course
The Tamsa rises in a tank at Tamakund in the Kaimur Range at an elevation of . It flows ...
. Lava and Kusha were born at the ashram and were educated and trained in
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
skills under the teachings of Sage Valmiki. In which the time they had also learned the story of Rama.
During an
Ashvamedha Yagya held by
Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...
, Sage Valmiki along with Lava and Kusha, attended with
Sita
Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
in disguise.
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. Sita, struck with embarrassment and grief, called upon the earth, her mother (
Bhumi), to receive her and as the ground opened, she vanished into it. Rama then learnt that Lava and Kusha were his children, whom he meets after 12 years after their birth as mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana.
In some versions, Lava and Kusha capture the horse of the sacrifice and went to defeat Rama's brothers (
Lakshmana
Lakshmana ( sa, लक्ष्मण, lit=the fortunate one, translit=Lakṣmaṇa), also spelled as Laxmana, is the younger brother of Rama and his loyalist in the Hindu epic '' Ramayana''. He bears the epithets of Saumitra () and Ramanuja ( ...
,
Bharata and
Shatrughna
''Shatrughna'' ( sa, text=शत्रुघ्न, translit=śatrughna, lit=killer of enemies) is a prince of Ayodhya, King of Madhupura and Vidisha, and a brother of Prince Rama in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is also known as ''Ripudaman ...
) and their armies. When Rama came to fight with them, Sita intervenes and unites father and sons.
Later life
Lava and Kusha became rulers after their father Rama founded the cities of
Lavapuri
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...
and
Kasur, respectively. The king of
Kosala,
Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...
, installed his son Lava at
Shravasti
Shravasti ( sa, श्रावस्ती, translit=Śrāvastī; pi, 𑀲𑀸𑀯𑀢𑁆𑀣𑀻, translit=Sāvatthī) is a city and district headquarter of Shravasti district in Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of the ...
and Kusha at
Kushavati.
In popular culture
Lava is purported to have founded ''Lavapuri'' (the modern day city of
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th List of largest cities, most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is th ...
), which is named after him.
There is a temple associated with Lava (or Loh) inside Shahi Qila, Lahore.
[Ahmed, Shoaib]
"Lahore Fort dungeons to re-open after more than a century."
''Daily Times''. 3 November 2004.
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 Leva Patidars and Leuva Marathas.
References
{{Ramayana
Solar dynasty
Characters in the Ramayana