Chapter 3: Birth of Lav and Kush
Synopsis in prose form :
Sita would remember the day in Ayodhya when she first realised that she was pregnant. She would remember how she was full of anxiety. She kept the good news a secret from everyone till she could tell it to her own husband, Lord Rama.
Alas! She got banished to the forest soon after that, for no fault of hers.
On an auspicious day, in the hermitage of Rishi Valmiki, Sita gives birth to lovely twin boys. Rishi Valmiki names them as Lav and Kush. The Sakhis celebrate this occasion.
Link:
Fatherly love of Rishi Valmiki
Love and affection from all Sakhis
Talking to the unborn infants
Sita got courage from these ||1||
When the unborn in the womb moved
Memories arose in her heart
Sita remembered the day in Ayodhya
When she realized she was pregnant ||2||
Song 1: First Sign of my pregnancy
Sita:
The first sign of my pregnancy
I recognized in my mind
For some inexplicable reason
I resolved to steal a tamarind ||1||
Palace was grand, the gardens beautiful
People happy and joyful everywhere
But my heart yearned for solitude
My mind could not rest anywhere ||2||
My heart was feeling cloistered
I had not disclosed the secret
Whom to approach how to tell
How shall I resolve my predicament ||3||
I thought of telling this little bird
And making it my confidante
The innocent bird will tell all
I waited for my husband ||4||
Song 2: Within Janaki’s womb a life begins to bloom
Sita:
Within me,Janaki’s womb, a life begins to bloom
Trees and creepers, as my sisters, dispel any gloom
Along the banks of merry cascading stream,
Feathered friends in joyous chirping beam ॥1॥
Within me,Janaki’s womb a life begins to bloom
Pure celestial love, shower Sun and Moon ,
Nine planets take their rightful place and plane
But Oh Rama! Why do you distance me with pain?॥2॥
Link:
For doubt of one citizen in vain ,
She is sent to exile again.
The Raghu clan heir she bears ,
Yet Sita's mind has unknown fears.
Song 3: Protect mine baby
Sita:
Protect mine baby, O’ God pristine !
Safe-guard my womb, O’ Lord mine !
Scion it is of the Raghukul line
Only Rama knows this bond divine ॥1॥
What misstep I made I say
Is it past KARMA holding sway
Truth of my heart whom to show
God of Time alone will know ॥ 2 ॥
Protect mine baby , O’ God pristine !
Safe-guard my womb, O’ Lord mine !
Song 4: How did you forget my Lord
Sita:
How did you forget my Lord,
The vows I made to you
I shall accompany in forest exile ,
A promise I kept so true.
What suddenly cast its shadow deep
A decree shocking for me to keep
Rama’s heir in womb begins to thrive
Exiled I am to forest, all alone to strive.
Their hearts melt not but turn to stone
Laxman’s silence,a wound I bear alone
Hanuman, thought I, is like my brave son
To my rescue indeed has rushed no one.
Everyday through sorrow’s biting frost
I live with hope, fact shall not be lost,
Scion light of Raghu clan I shall keep aglow
Uphold this truth for all to one day show.
Link:
At auspicious moment timely
Sita bore twins princely
Happily Valmiki beamed
Lav-Kush names lovely seemed ||1||
All hermitage congratulated her
The forest as if danced joyfully
All Sakhis were very happy
They sang and danced excitedly ||2||
Song 5: Sita has become a mother
Sakhis :
Sita has become a mother of new born infants,
She yearns all day for Rama beloved
Lav - Kush bathe in her affection all the time
She remains love lorn for Lord unmoved.
Song 6: Celebrations
Sita’s sakhis (Lady friends):
Sita and Rama’s twin children have arrived!!!
The brothers at birth copiously cried,
Do you know why? Because they are sorrowful
“Why have we been separated
From the supreme consciousness
And born on earth as mortals?”
Is their hurt pride.
But when Mother Sita breast-fed them milk,
‘She too is a manifestation of the supreme ‘,
They realised and felt pacified.
The children are lotus-eyed,
And they see the forest beauty amazed,
The peacock dances in joy,
As Sita and Rama’s twin children have arrived.
Their complexion is radiant,
They were born in yogic composure,
Even birds are chirping in happiness,
For the children are the protectors of
Dharma (Duty) and nature
Link:
Sita sought the children smart
Pain welled up in her eyes
Rama's memory filled her heart
Sakhis heard silent cries ||1||
When Lav and Kush were born
Sita's heart hoped that day
Hearing this news of fatherhood
Lord will come straight away ||2||
Song 7: No Peace unless I meet Him
Sita:
I am pining for my Lord Rama
The night has passed away ||Refrain||
Hearing the news of birth of his twins
Lord must have in his chariot hurried
Oh! Sakhi please look outside
He may have by dawn arrived ||1||
My Lord must be fatigued
Do not tarry even a minute
Bring the rose water immediately
To wash his tired feet ||2||
For his dear Lav and Kush
Must have brought clothes abundant
For beautifying the twins
Jewellery and ornament ||3||
My eyes are very weary
Pining for Lord Rama
That He's come is illusory
I've no peace unless I meet Him ||4||
Click on link for Audio/Video of : ‘No Peace unless I meet him’
Song 8: Nursing Lav-Kush at dawn
Sita:
As night's veil fades,
With tender cries ,
You call to me,
With tearful eyes . ||1||
When mother's milk
Begins to flow,
I nurse my twins,
With love aglow. ||2||
When I recall ,
Your father true,
Separation pain
Doth subdue. ||3||
My heart with joyful tears now brims,
Sage Valmiki will name my twins! || Refrain ||
A festive spirit fills the air,
As holy men and wives repair.
Friends gather, with smiles so bright,
Yet tears well up, in mixed delight. || 2 ||
Sage Valmiki, with radiance blessed,
His words, with gentle wisdom stressed.
"A name," he said, "holds virtue's key,
A guiding light for what they'll be." || 3 ||
‘Take the twins in your lap’s hold’
Said sage Valmiki, wise and old
Together, how could I take twins
Stood still I ‘fore naming begins ||4||
A figure bright, bathed in golden light,
Through tears ,I saw a wondrous sight.
He took one son, in his gentle hand,
I held the other, unable to understand ||5||
The sages chanted, blessings filled the air,
Lav and Kush , my sons named with prayer.
As my friends lovingly the twins embraced.
The bright figure receded quietly in haste.||6||
Song 10: Morning Mantra
Sita:
In her arms, mother Janaki
Takes her baby twins
Lovingly breast-feeds them,
The princes’ day begins.
Birds trill and chirp
For twins a newborn sound,
Like nature’s morning mantra,
Echoing all around.
Song 11: The Bliss of Breastfeeding
Sita:
My precious child, what lullaby shall I sing
A melody to soothe tender heart’s beating .… Refrain
This loving moment, when I nurse thee
Welcome to O’ Ganges in milk flowing free
Nurture their body and soul pristine
For wisdom, Saraswati bless them divine.॥1॥
Twin flames of Raghu, a dynasty grand,
May courage within like blossoms expand
As Bhagirathi, emerges strong and sure
From Shiva’s locks on a journey secure.॥2॥
This is motherhood’s peak enchanting
All seven chakras are in awakening
Bliss I perceive, in this breastfeeding,
A divine connection, deeply appealing.II3II
Song 12: Essence of holy rivers in Mother’s milk
Sita:
Welcome Oh! Mother Ganga,
Into Mother’s milk
Do come Oh! Mother Yamuna
Into Mother’s milk ||1||
Welcome Oh! Mother Godavari,
Into Mother’s milk
Do come Oh! Mother Narmada
Into Mother’s milk ||2||
Welcome Oh! Mother Krishna,
Into Mother’s milk
Do come Oh! Mother Kaveri
Into Mother’s milk ||3||
Oh! Let the holy waters of all rivers
Come into Mother’s milk
Let the infants be lovingly blessed
With divine enlightenment ||4||
Song 13: "Blessings of holy rivers to mother’s milk"
Sita:
Sita prays soft devout,
To rivers holy, her voice rings clear:
Mother Ganga, with sacred flow,
Bless my mother’s milk, O dear. ||1||
Yamuna, in your gentle grace,
Infuse my milk with love divine.
Godavari, Narmada, sisters pure,
Let your blessings intertwine. ||2||
Krishna, in playful melody,
Bring joy and wisdom to each sip.
Kaveri, in your soothing stream,
Bring them peace like a worship. ||3||
Holy waters, converge and bless,
My mother's milk, pure and sweet.
Nourish infants with divine glory,
Their self-discovery, a sublime feat. ||4||
Song 14: Song of Duty
Sita:
Hands are given to you, Oh! children
For performing of deeds
Do good deeds ||1||
Feet are given to you
To enable you to walk
Walk on righteous path ||2||
Eyes are given to you
So that you see the world
Use them to see with inner sight ||3||
Ears are given to you
With intention that you hear
Hear the word of God ||4||
Tongue is given to you
For you to speak
Always speak the truth ||5||
Mind is given to you
So that you remain happy
Be happy in Lord’s contemplation ||6||
Song 15: O! Lord Rama bless them
Sita:
With hearts ablaze and spirits keen,
May wisdom's light in children gleam.
With minds of virtue and purpose set,
May devotion's flame in their souls be met.
In righteous paths, may their footsteps fall,
O! Lord Rama bless them, and guide them all.
Sita:
Sita mother whispered tenderly,
Softly slumber, dear infants, do,
Lav and Kush, my cherished ones
Hold mother’s sacred saree pallu* || Refrain ||
Keep your hearts attuned to God,
In form or formless, ever present,
Grasp the edge of your mother's saree,
For it’s divine love, incessant. ||1||
Let the Lord reside within,
In the chambers of your soul,
Clutch the pallu, feel its touch,
Making your spirit sublime whole ||2||
In waking hours and deep reflection,
Let purity be your guiding light,
Hold fast to the saree's pallu edge,
In its folds, find strength and might ||3||
Seek, my dears, the path within,
The journey to self-discovery,
Clutching the pallu as you sleep ,
Embrace life's profound mystery.||4||
And when success crowns your days,
In triumph, remember the sentiment:
As babies once, you clung to the pallu,
Of your mother's saree,so innocent.||5||
Glossary: *a saree pallu is the edge of the loose garment, many Indian ladies wear. The pallu is the portion of the garment usually draped over the shoulder.
Song 18: My Beloved Hasn't Come
Sita:
My beloved hasn't come,
Lord Ram, my dear, hasn’t come. ॥Chorus॥
The cool shade of the moonlight gleams,
Twinkling stars with their tender beams.
Even the trees with their eyes downcast,
Sing the sorrowful songs of past.
Song 19: Pining Sita
Sakhis:
Mother of Lav - Kush is exhausted
Pining for her Lord
How will He come I say
He resides in Sita's heart
End of Chapter 3
Om Shanti! Om Shanti! Om Shanti!