| Kusha | |
|---|---|
| Prince ofAyodhya King ofKasur | |
 | |
| Spouse | Kumudvatī (referred as Champika in Ananda Ramayana) |
| Issue | Atithi Kanikamalika (Wife of King Mahabhoja) |
| Dynasty | Suryavamsha |
| Father | Rama |
| Mother | Sita |
Kusha (Sanskrit:कुश,IAST:Kuśa) and his younger twin brotherLava were the children ofRama andSita.[1] Theirstory is recounted in the Hindu epic, theRamayana. Hindu traditions claim he ruled the entire region ofKashmir, Indus River and Hindu Kush as frontier lands of India known as Hindu Kush Kshetra and founded the city ofSrinagar in theKashmir Valley andKasur with Lavapuri of Lava in base lands,[2] though local lore contends Kasur was founded in 1525 byPashtun migrants.[3][4][5] His brother Lava is traditionally believed to have foundedLavapuri (current day city ofLahore).
The imperial line that ruledKingdom of Benares-Kashi and theMaurya Empire, which ruledSouth Asia from 320 to 185 BCE, claimed descent from Kusha. Kusha is said to be aRaghuvamshiIkshvakuSuryavanshi. He got two children from his wife Kumudvati: Athithi (son) and Kanikamalika (daughter, wife of Yadava descent king Mahabhoja).
According to theRamayana, a pregnant queenSita is made to leave the kingdom ofAyodhya by the King, LordRama, in order to demonstrate that no one is above Dharma and also to refute the allegation against her by a citizen of his kingdom. She then took refuge in theashram of the sageValmiki located close to the Triveni Dham where the Tamasa, Sona and Sapta Gandaki rivers meet, located inChitwan District of Nepal'sTamsa River.[6] Sita gave birth to twin sons, Kusha and Lava, at the ashram, where they were educated and trained in military skills under the tutelage of Sage Valmiki. They also learned the story of Rama.
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Sage Valmiki, along with Lava and Kusha and a disguisedSita, attend anashvamedha yajna held byRama.
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 (Bhūmi), to receive her and as the ground opened, she vanished into it. Rama then learnt that Lava and Kusha were his children.
In some versions, Lava and Kusha capture the horse of the sacrifice and defeat Rama's brothers and their army and when Rama came to fight with them. Sita intervened and unites the father and sons.
Kushavati was a city inKosala Kingdom as related in the epicRamayana. The king ofKosala,Rama, installed his son Lava atShravasti and Kusha at Kushavati.
Cantos sixteen to nineteen of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa describe the exploits of Rama's progeny. The manifestation of a Goddess appears before Kusha, declaring to be theTutelary deity of the ancient capital ofAyodhya. She described the condition of the deserted city, which had been abandoned and ruined since King Ram became inactive for some time. Kusha sets forth with his whole army to restore the city to its former splendor.
Canto seventeen describes the final years of Kusha. Kusha and Kumudvati have a son named Atithi, who becomes heir to the kingdom ; Cantos eighteen and nineteen describe the 21 Kings that succeeded Atithi.
Lava and Kusha became rulers after their father Rama and founded the cities ofLavapuri (modern dayLahore) and Kusha (Kasur) respectively.
Kushavati was a city inKosala Kingdom as related in the epicRamayana. The king ofKosala,Rama, installed his son Lava atShravasti and Kusha at Kushavati.
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