Lord Rama, Valmiki, Luv-Kush

IIRC, when Luv-Kush were born Shaturughan was present  and Rishi Valmiki narrated their lineage during the naming ceremony, through which Shatrughan came to know that they were Rama's sons. The ashram inmates would also have come to know. Then how was it that Rama alone was unaware?

It is possible that everyone in Valmiki's ashram Luv Kush included, Shathrugan and Ram knew who the kids were.

From what I know when Valmiki took Sita to his ashram, he just told the women there that she is a virtuous woman and she is expecting. He also asked them to look after her. I am not sure if he gave them her real name. But the people in the ashram may have found out after a while. The settings may not have been as dramatic as shown in the serials with the women sympathizing with Sita, and Luv Kush taunted by the kids in the ashram. The people of the ashram would have accepted Sita and her children without (m)any questions.So, it is possible that Luv and Kush also knew who they were but again, I am not so sure.

Ram instructed Lakshman to leave Sita near Sage Valmiki's ashram, so even if he didn't know the details, he may have been assured that she was safe in the sage's ashram.

As for Shathrugan, he certainly was there when Luv and Kush were named/born and knew who they were.  He was on his way to kill Lavanasura and visited Valmiki to get his blessing and stayed the night. According to one version, he was told by Valmiki not to mention this to anyone including his brother and he complied. Another version says that he did report all this to Ram when he went back after killing Lavanasura and his brother told him not to speak of this to anyone else. But I think Shathrugan never got the chance to return back to Ayodhya after finishing off Lavanasura. After killing the demon, he assumed command over Madhupuri and sent word to Ayodhya of his victories. Shrutkirti (and her retinue) came to Madhupuri to live with him. She may or may not have met her sister and her nephews on the way. It was 12 years later that Shathrugan met his brothers when Ram announced the Ashwamedha Yaaga. It is possible that Shaturugan told Shrutkirti but I am not sure if he did.

When Luv and Kush sang the Ramayan in front of the gathering, it was said that later someone told Ram that they both were his sons (possibly Shathrugan or it may have been the spies Ram sent to find out about them).

I really don't know which version came up with the Vandevi story but it must be the versions that have the twins fighting their father.


Edited by Vibhishna - 20 February 2013 at 12:48am

^^ Yes, that sounds accurate, Vibhishna. Valmiki does not have Luv Kush fighting their father or uncles, so it's possible that Ram did know about them, although like you said, Shatrughan never did get a chance to return to Ayodhya after his defeat of Lavanasura, until 12 years later.

Possibly Ananda Ramayana (and many other versions). We did discuss a lot in RF starting from why Sita was banished. I am not sure if Rama Charita Manasa also followed this version. Bhasa's Ramayana was the only one with a happy ending - Sita restored as queen and everyone lived happily ever after.

In Valmiki Ramayana, Sita calls upon the Earth Goddess in the yagnashala. It was neither in Ayodhya nor the outskirts of Rishi Valmiki's Ashram but in Naimisharanya where the sacred yagna was held. Ram summoned Sita to the yagnashala by a decree asking her to prove her innocence and she came to Naimisharanya with Valmiki and her sons.

That would have been my next question. Which version has L-K fighting and trouncing their father and uncles, that has made this story so popular? 

I remember reading a different story in ACK. ACK's Valmiki Ramayana ends with Rama's coronation. In 'The Sons of Rama', Luv, Kush don't sing the Ramayana at Naimisharanya. They capture the horse and fight their uncles and father. Rama faints on hearing they are Sita's children. They take back Rama's crown to Sita as a spoil of war. Sita is aghast at their deeds. Valmiki arrives and explains the situation and tells Rama to accept Sita again. Rama hesitates and Sita seeks refuge with the Earth Goddess. Is there a version of ACK where the twins sing the Ramayana?

I actually stopped watching Zee TV's Ramayana. Even the sets and actors couldn't make me forget how they massacred the story. But I am thinking of watching it sometime later if the story line improves. Are you following it till now?

As far as I know, Ananda Ramayana had a lot of previously unheard stories. There are so many versions of Ramayana itself from different states not to mention different countries.

Varaali

Edited by .Vrish. - 14 April 2013 at 2:28pm