week 5: reading notes Ramayana part B

The Sons of Rama: Luv and Kush — The Invincible Twins, written by Anant Pai

• Rama has Lakshmana take Sita away but she is pregnant and scared of being alone
• Valmiki rescues Sita and she is with him when she gives birth to twin sons
• Valmiki helps teach the boys and tells him about Rama but doesn't tell him that he's their father
• Rama uses a golden statue of Sita for the sarificial ritual called Horse-Sacrifice
• Luv and Kush end up capturing the horse and defeat Rama's brother Shatrughna when he tries to recapture the horse
• Rama sends out Lakshmana and he wounds Kush so Luv challenges him to a battle
• Lakshmana loses the battle to Luv and so Rama sends out Bharata and the monkey army but they also are defeated
• The boys tell Rama that Sita is their mother and Rama fainths learning that these are his sons
• Valmiki explains everything to Rama and Sita refuses to return to Ayodha with Rama
• Instead, she goes to her mother Bhumi, the Earth Goddess

Picture Source.