Lava (Ramayana) - Birth and Childhood

Birth and Childhood

After Sita had been banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya due to the gossip of kingdom folk, she took refuge in the ashram of sage Valmiki, which was located in a forest on the banks of the Tamsa river. Lava and Kusha were born in this ashram. They were educated and trained in military skills under the tutelage of Valmiki.

One version of the legend interprets the origin of Lava's twin brother Kusha. As a child, Lava once went missing for a long time. Valmiki, thinking that Sita might panic, took some Kusha (a type of plant) and created from it a boy similar to Lava. Later on, when the real Lava returned, the newly created boy was named after his origin: Kusha.

When Rama performed the Ashvamedha Yagya, the horse strayed into their forest, which brought them into conflict with their own father. Unaware that Rama was their progenitor, they captured the horse and refused to release it. They engaged in conflict and defeated Rama's brothers (Bharata, Shatrughna and Lakshmana) with ease. Eventually, Rama himself came to confront them in battle, but after witnessing their prowess, he invited them to Ayodhya to perform the Yagya.

It was at that point that he learned of their identity as his sons. The Place where Sita Mata gave birth to her sons is located in Amritsar known as "Ramtirth". This is most famous pilgrimage in Amritsar