Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan II - Page 13

Originally posted by: loveanime

My grandpas is a Ayappa bhakth. They fast for a month and go climb Sabrimalai every year he was the one who told me the Mohini story. But I think it is right that Sabrimalai is named after that old woman.

Ok I am sorry I am going off topic again but since we are on Luv Kush. I am still confused about the age thing. If Ram ruled for 10000 years, then how old where Luv Kush before they got their kingdoms. I am guessing they were immortals like their Pithaji so guess lived forever same goes for all their cousins and Shatru, Bharath and Lakshman. But how long did this immortality gene last. Are we guessing that once Ram goes back to Vaikunth, Treta yug ends and his descendants become mortals.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

The longetivity of human life was much more than what it is now. Ram was a mortal and so were his brothers and sons and nephews.

After Ram, Kush ruled Ayodhya for a long time and had a son (I think Aditi was his name). Once, Indra asked for Kush's help in fighting against the demons. In the battle that ensued, Kush and the demon named Durjaya killed each other.

Originally posted by: loveanime

Vibhiji thanks you seem to know a lot about Luv Kush. I know nothing about how their lives. But Kush and Luv stayed with Ram for nearly some 10000 years so that is nice they got Ram's love that long since they missed out in the childhood. So Kush died in battle, poor Kush. So how did Luv live and die. Where they also great kings like Ram.

Originally posted by: loveanime

Ok I am sorry I am going off topic again but since we are on Luv Kush. I am still confused about the age thing. If Ram ruled for 10000 years, then how old where Luv Kush before they got their kingdoms. I am guessing they were immortals like their Pithaji so guess lived forever same goes for all their cousins and Shatru, Bharath and Lakshman. But how long did this immortality gene last. Are we guessing that once Ram goes back to Vaikunth, Treta yug ends and his descendants become mortals.

Loveamine

Somehow, time durations is one thing that I think Valmiki tends to be more metaphorical and figurative on, than not. In fact, sometimes, the epic mentions 10000 years and sometimes 11000. In the first 4 Balkand Sargs, 11000 is what is mentioned, while in the Uttarkand, Rama enjoys a blissful 10000 years with Sita, and then after her passing, rules for another 10000 years. Somehow, these numbers just don't add up, or Rama's reign would have been 20000 years.

Rajnish has posted in the past (I'm paraphrasing) that during the treta yuga, average life spans were much longer than subsequent ones, and that in the satya yuga, it was even longer. That's what would explain those durations. It doesn't imply immortality any more than a person today living to be a 100 is immortal.

One thing I found - if Rama ruled for 10000 years after Sita's passing, or even 1000 if we want to keep the numbers straight - the Kush & Luv would have had to be 1000 years old, and Rama ~11040. Yet, when he annoints them kings of their respective kingdoms, he seats them on his lap and does it. Granted, the custom then was to sit your younger on your lap, but still, the imagery of 2 1000 year old kids sitting on their 11040 year old father's lap is still befuddling to me😆😆😆

Vibs

Kush's son was Atithi (meaning guest). Aditi was the mother of the devas.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Thanks for the story, information and maps, Deepa.