Lava (Ramayana)

Lava
Lava and Kusha, sons of Rama

Lava or Luv^[1](Sanskrit: लव meaning particle, Kannada: ಲವ, Telugu: లవుడు, Tamil: இலவன், Malay: Tilawi, Indonesian: Lawa, Khmer: Jupalaks, Lao: Phra Lao, Assamese: Laba, Thai: Phra Lop/พระลพ) and his twin brother Kusha, were the children of Lord Rama and his wife Sita, whose story is recounted in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Kusha was elder of the two and is said to have wheatish golden complexion like their mother, while Lava had blueish complexion like their father. Lava is purported to have founded Lavapuri,^[2] that is, the modern day city of Lahore,^[3] which is named after him.^[4] The Southeast Asian country Laos^[5] and the Thai city Lopburi were both named after him. The Sikarwar Rajputs, Awadhiya (caste) and Leva Patidar are present-day Indo-Aryan ethnic groups who claim to be descendants of Lava. Lava belongs to the Ikshvaku clan or Suryavansh Dynasty of Kshatriyas in ancient India.^[1][6][7]

Birth & Childhood

Lava and Kusha engage Lakshmana in battle

According to Ramayana, Sita was banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya by Rama due to the gossip of kingdom folk. She took refuge in the ashram of Sage Valmiki located on the banks of the Tamsa river.^[8] Lava and Kusha were born at the ashram and were educated and trained in military skills under the tutelage of Valmiki. They also learned the story of Rama.

Ashwamedha Yagna

Temple associated with Lava (or Loh) in Lahore Fort

Later History

Lava and Kusha became rulers after their father Rama and founded the cities of Lahore (called Lavapuri in ancient times) and Kasur respectively. The king of Kosala Raghava Rama installed his son Lava at Sravasti and Kusha at Kushavati.^[9]

There is a temple associated with Lava (or Loh) inside Shahi Qila, Lahore.^[10]

See also

• Luv Kush

References

1. Lohana Community United Kingdom
2. Bombay Historical Society (1946). Annual bibliography of Indian history and Indology, Volume 4. p. 257.
3. Baqir, Muhammad (1985). Lahore, past and present. B.R. Pub. Corp. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
4. Masudul Hasan (1978). Guide to Lahore. Ferozsons.
5. Mishra, P.K. (1999). Studies In Hindu And Buddhist Art. Abhinav Publications. p. 356.
6. Diwan Bherumal Mahirchand Advani. Trans. by Narain Sobhraj Kimatrai. The Source of Sindhi Surnames. Chapter 6. 1947.
7. Leva Gurjars ancestry
8. Vishvanath Limaye (1984). Historic Rama of Valmiki. Gyan Ganga Prakashan.
9. Nadiem, Ihsan N (2005). Punjab: land, history, people. Al-Faisal Nashran. p. 111. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
10. Ahmed, Shoaib. "Lahore Fort dungeons to re-open after more than a century." Daily Times. November 3, 2004.