What makes the stories of Aja and Indumati, Ram and Sita, and Kusha and Kumudvati stand out in the narrative of Raghuvansh?

Their love stories stand out because they were madly in love with each other. Aja and Indumati were parents of Dashrath and they were devoted to each other. When once they were spending some quality time, a garland of Narada fell on her and she died. It was predetermined and he fell into a pit of deep grief. He survived only for his son but after few years he passed away. There was no one else for him other than his dear wife Indumati. He like Shri Ram had never maintained an Antahpura because he couldn't imagine someone else in place of Indumati.

The love story of Mata Sita and Shri Ram needs no introduction. They were highly romantic and completely devoted from their souls to each other. Many times Shri Ram has said in the epic that he didn't want heaven without Mata Sita. Akampana had advised Ravana to abduct Mata so that Shri Ram could be defeated as he couldn't live without her. She didn't want to stay in luxuries of the palace of Ayodhya and happily came to jungle with him and she was the happiest there because her husband was with her till her abduction and both were miserable without seeing each other. Their devotion towards each other is remarkable and an inspiration.

Uttar Kand is considered an interpolation but even if it's considered as part of original Ramayana, it's evident that Shri Ram had forsaken the queen but not his wife. Like his grandfather Aja, he also never maintained an Antahpura. He had one and only one wife and she was Sita. He kept doing penances, did Yajnas with her statue with him and his mind was never at peace ever again. He missed her so much. Shri Ram had threatened mother Earth to return Mata to him and he pacified only when he was ensured he would reunite with her.

Kusha and Kumudvati are a little different story. Kusha was already married to many Princesses as per Ananda Ramayana and Raghuvansh.

In Ananda Ramayana, his first wife was Champika, daughter of Maharaja Bhurikirti of Eastern Lands. She had chosen serious and skilled in archery Kusha in Swayamvar and he was an extremely shy prince. He had nine daughters with Champika but no sons. Their daughter Hema was married to Prince Chitrangad of Avanti.

When Shri Ram went to his divine abode, as narrated to him by Rishi Agastya, Kusha got a second wife named Kumudvati and she gave birth to his Eight sons and the eldest one was Atithi who succeeded him on the throne of Ayodhya. Their daughter was called Champakmalini.

In Raghuvansh as well, Kusha is called married to many princesses and he was on a pleasure tour in Sarayu river with them when he lost his golden bracelet and it was found by Kumudvati. When he decided to attack Nagas of Sarayu river to get his bracelet back which was a gift from Shri Ram, Kumud offered the bracelet along with Kumudvati’s hand in marriage and he accepted her hand and suddenly the devas blessed the union by showering flowers.

Kumudvati was crazily in love with Kusha. She was highly devoted to him and they shared passionate love. He made their son Atithi as Prince Regent and wished to ascend the throne after he's gone when he left to fight demon Durjaya to help Indra. He was fatally wounded after slaying Durjaya and died. Kumudvati not being able to handle the pain follower her husband in death. Atithi succeeded him on the throne.

Kusha and Kumudvati are typical royalty of Ancient India. His love story had proper happiness and enjoyment which his father and great grandfather couldn't have. Kusha didn't suffer separation from his spouse and probably it was karmic justice.

Sources- Ananda Ramayana and Raghuvansh by Kalidas

What are some unknown stories about Luv and Kush from Ramayana?

Kusha and Lava were twin sons of Lord Ram and Mata Sita. When their mother was pregnant, she had to leave her seat as a queen and go, live in Great Sage Valmiki’s Ashram at banks of Tamasa river as people were not able to tolerate that their Queen was confined to pleasure garden of Ravana named Ashoka Vatika for one year.

She gave birth to Kusha and Lava in the Ashram and they were educated by Maharishi Valmiki. They became great warriors and singers at a very young age, proficient in all Vedas.

When Shri Ram was doing his Ashwamedha Yajna, Kusha and Lava were called as they were singing Ramayana on the streets. Shri Ram told Bharat that the story will not be a pleasant one to hear (due to his exile and Sita’s abduction).

While singing the epic, they revealed to the King that they were his sons. Shri Ram was overjoyed to see his sons and he called Maharishi and Mata Sita. Mata Sita preferred to go back to Mother Earth than returning as Queen. While others praised her, Lord Ram’s looked agitated and disturbed. His mind was never at peace. He kept ruling and always placed Sita’s golden idol everytime he did Yajnas. Surprisingly, Kusha and Lava’s reactions are not mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana. Kusha was given Kushavati and Lava was given Sravasti to rule.

Source- Valmiki Ramayana

The story of Kusha and Lava fighting with their father and uncles is in Padma Purana and other versions of Ramayana. Original Valmiki Ramayana does not mention his sons fighting him and to be honest, Shri Ram of Valmiki Ramayana would never tolerate this rebellious nature. Shri Ram of Valmiki Ramayana is very different from Shri Ram of Ramcharitmans.

Kusha and Champika

While Shri Ram was ruling Ayodhya, he got invitation of Swayamvar of the daughters of Maharaja Bhurikirti (King of eastern lands) named Champika and Sumati. He took his sons along with his brothers and their sons to the Swayamvara.

Champika chose Kusha as her husband and both kings were overjoyed and the marriage happened with pomp and grandeur.

Kusha had daughters with Champika.

Source- Ananda Ramayana

Lava and Sumati

Then Sumati decided to marry Lava and she chose him as her husband and it gladdened their fathers.

Source- Ananda Ramayana

Kusha and Kumudvati

Long after Shri Ram had given up his body, one night goddess of Ayodhya visited Kusha and asked Kusha to rebuild Ayodhya to its former glory. Here is the only hint in any sources available of how Kusha felt on the death of her mother because he was reluctant to go there where his mother didn't get the life she deserved. But he eventually went there with his ministers and people and with absolute hard work , he rebuild the city.

One day, he went on a pleasure tour in Sarayu river with his wives and servants. They all looked happy playing in the water and he decided to join them. When he came out he saw one of his golden bracelets gifted to him by Shri Ram was missing. He got angry because it was memory of his father and it got lost. Suddenly Naga King Kumud along with his beautiful sister Kumudvati came out of water. She was timid, shy and held the bracelet in her hand.

Kumud said his sister got the bracelet and she was playing with it. He returns the bracelet and gives his sister’s hand in marriage to Kusha. Kusha gladly accepted her hand and they got married right there and devas blessed the union. Kumud got safety from Garuda, vahan of Vishnu due to this marriage alliance.

Kumudvati soon became his favourite queen and he raised her to the dignity of Queen Consort. They eventually got a son named Atithi who was jewel of both dynasties. Kusha made him Prince regent and arranged his marriage to princesses. When he left to fight a giant named Durjaya, he corwned him as Yuvraj officially. He killed the giant but got fatally injured. When he died, Kumudvati followed him in death. They reunited in heaven where he shared half of the throne with Indra and she with sachi.

Source- Raghuvansh by Kalidas

Kalidas always exaggerated his stories but he was remarkably faithful to the names of the people, so history wise, quite accurate even if he added mythical, supernatural and romantic elements.

What are some lesser known/interesting stories in Mahabharata?

 Kauravas were not 100 they were actually 101.

100 brothers and 1sister

The story goes like this:-

Queen Gandhari : once, sage vyasa came to visit gandhari in hastinapur. Indeed, gandhari took great care of the comforts of the saint and tried to ensure that he had pleasent stay in hastinapur. The saint pleased with gandhari, granted her a boon.

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Gandhari expressed her wish for a 100 sons who could as powerful as her husband. Vyasa, in turn granted her the boon and in due course of time, gandhari was pregnent. However,even though two years had passed, still the baby remained unborn.

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Then, one day, gandhari gave birth to a hard piece of lifeless flesh that was not a baby at all. Gandhari was devastated as she had expected a hundred sons according to the blessing of rishi vyas.

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.Gandhari was about to throw away the piece of flesh. Ved vyas appeared and told her that his blessings could not have been in vain. He asked gandhari to arrange for 100 jars to be filled with ghee.

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Before the process could start gandhari pressed her desire for having a daughter. Ved vyas agreed and then chopped the piece of flesh into 101 pieces and placed them in the jars, promising them that they would develop into the 100 sons and 1 daughter she desired.

What are some lesser known/interesting stories in Mahabharata?

 1.Identity of Vidur as we all know

• As we all know that Vidur was the prime minister of Hastinapur as well as the major advisor to the king Dhritarashtra.
• He was often called as the embodiment of Dharma and the Pandavas had been rescued by Vidur from the cunning plans of Duryodhan and Shakuni in many instances.

But who is Vidur???

• Many years ago a bunch of thieves took something valuable from their king’s palace while he was sleeping and kept them in Rishi Mandavya’s hermitage while he was in meditation.
• After a search operation all the stolen things were collected from Mandavya’s place and the king gave him the insane punishment of impalement.

[Yamamaraja and the sage Mandavya]

• After death he asked Yamaraj about the injustice done to him.
• Yamaraj replied that some insects were impaled by you during your childhood and so that was the cause behind your mode of death.
• Then Mandavya told Yama that his extent of punishment far exceeded his childish sin as an ignorant child.
• Then he cursed Yamaraj to burn in the mortal world in the personification of Dharma as a sudra and to be helpless during the war between Dharma & Adharma in front of you.
• And may be that was the reason why he was born to the maid of Ambalika by sage Vyasa and was appointed as a prime advisor to the king of Hastinapur.
• Eventually when the war was on the verge of commencement,he was helpless for being unable to stop the war because he had not the authority to take any decision regarding the war. At last he resigned from the position.

So we can see that life is all about cause and effects. “When there is a cause,you can’t avoid its effect and if there is an effect,there must be a cause behind it.”

2. When Yudhisthir entered heaven he found all the Kauravas there

Yes you have listened right. It sounds shocking ,right? Well,there is a story behind it. Let’s jump to that story without wasting any more time.

What is the story?

• When the Pandavas along with Draupadi started their journey to heaven one by one died on the way because of their sins except Dharmaraj Yudhisthir accompanied by a dog in the personification of Dharmaraj.
• When Yudhisthir entered heaven,he was shocked to find all the Kauravas there welcoming him. He even shocked more to get to know that his brothers along with Draupadi were in hell suffering their punishment for their respective sins in the mortal world.

Story behind it….

• Actually some generations ago ,king Kuru choose this land(kurukhetra: Land of Kuru) to settle there.
• He performed many yangyas and rituals there for embedding spirituality with the 8 virtues.
• By impressing with this Lord Vishnu gave him a boon that “ Any person dying here doing his/her duty will go to heaven irrespective of other factors”
• As Kshatriya the Kauravas died on that land doing their duty of fighting as warrior. So eventually all of them found themselves in the heaven after their death.

Well,this is the real story.

3.Bheesma: The one and only legitimate heir to the Hastinapur throne

• Well,we all know the story of Mahabharat and its result. In the entire story, all of we are revolved around the Hastinapur throne.
• Sometimes it was Duryodhan and sometimes Yudhisthir. Moreover we fight against ourselves to give resaons for whosoever was eligible for the throne or not.
• I was also shocked and amazed when I got to know about the true fact.
• The fact is that Ganga putra Bheesma was the one and only legitimate heir for the throne of Hastinapur. Let’s rewind from the beginning.
• Bheesma was the 8th son of Hastinapur king Shantanu and Ganga. Then after sometime Shantanu was attracted by the charm and beauty of Satyavati and wanted to marry her.
• So here Bheesma’s vow came into picture to remain celibate for the entire life as Satyavati’s father put a condition before marriage that Satyavati and Shantanu’s son will be the prince of Hastinapur.
• But 2 of their sons Vichitravirya and Chitrangada died early in their life leaving Hastinapur throne empty.
• Here Sage Vyasa came into picture. Vyasa was begeted to Satyavati by Rishi Parasara before marrying to Shantanu.
• So Satyavati requested his son Vyasa to beget his daughter-in-laws.Then Dhritarashtra,Pandu and Vidur were begeted to Ambika,Ambalika and a maid respectively.[NOTE-This was a practice of that time called NIYOGA. Whenever there was a situation of no heir to the throne, because of death of the King, a very pious and pure tapasvi (sage / rishi), who doesn't hold or have even an iota of lust, used to make the queen conceive with one union.]
• Then their lineage continued from Dhritarashtra and Pandu in the form of Kauravas and Pandavas and they continued to fight among themselves for the throne.
• Also another fact is that Even Shantanu was not a Kuru. Bharata lineage was stopped when Bhoomanyu was adopted and made the king of Hastinapur. That was many generations before Shantanu. But considering the time of Mahabharat war,Bheesma was the only legal heir to the Hastinapur theone.

But the fact remains the same that none of them were legally eligible for the throne.

NOTE: All types of comments,suggestions or compliments to improve and modify the answer are welcome.

I will be adding more interesting stories of Mahabharat to my above answer,whenever I find something interesting as well as lesser known.

Thank you for reading.

Special thanks to Thyagarajan KR , Sandesh Balan , Pallavi Alai for their valuable comments for improvement of the answer.

SOURCE:Wikipedia and other internet sites.

What are some of the least read stories in the Mahabharata?

 Wonder how Gandhari gave birth to 100 children ?

Image source: Cover page of Devdutt Pattanaik’s Jaya.

Let’s delve into awesome journey of Indian mythology and intelligence of Indians.

So let's start …

Birth of Gandhari’s children

Gandhari was angry on learning that Kunti had become a mother before her. She had conceived much earlier but mysteriously her pregnancy continued for two years. She could wait no more and so she took a terrible decision: to force the child out of her womb.

Gandhari ordered her maids to get an iron bar. ‘Now strike me on my belly with it,’ she ordered.

The maids hesitated.

‘Do it,’ shouted Gandhari.

With great reluctance, the maids did as they were told, and struck the queen on her belly. ‘Again. Strike me again. Again and again,’ said Gandhari.

The maids kept striking her until Gandhari’s womb quivered and pushed out a ball of flesh, cold as iron.

‘Does it cry? Is it a boy or girl?’ asked Gandhari. When told what she had delivered, Gandhari wailed. Fate was indeed cruel.

She sent for the sage Vyasa.

‘You told me that I would be the mother of a hundred sons. Where are they?’ she asked.

Feeling sorry for Gandhari, Vyasa instructed Gandhari’s maid to break the ball of flesh into a hundred pieces and put them in jars full of ghee.

They would incubate over a year and transform into sons, he told Gandhari.

‘Can I have a daughter too?’ asked Gandhari, softly.

Vyasa smiled and told the maids to divide the ball of flesh into a hundred and one pieces.

Thus were born the hundred sons and the one daughter of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra. Collectively, the sons were called the Kauravas.

The first among them was Duryodhana.

When his pot was broken, on the day when Kunti gave birth to Bhima, the palace dogs wailed. ‘He will bring misfortune,’ advised Vidura to Dhritarashtra, ‘Let us get rid of him, brother.’

‘I don’t care,’ said Gandhari clinging firmly to the newborn. ‘No one will harm this son of mine. He is my firstborn, my favourite.’

Her second son was named Dusshasana.

The daughter was named Dusshala. She was married to Jayadhrata, king of Sindhu.

During his wife’s long pregnancy, Dhritarashtra had taken for his pleasure a maid. She bore him a son called Yuyutsu. Like Vidura, he was an extremely capable man, but was not qualified for sitting on the throne.

What are some unknown and interesting stories from Mahabharat?

 When Pandavas were spending their time in the forest, Ashwathama visited Dwaraka and stayed there for a while. One day, he visited Krishna when the latter was alone by the seashore. He urged Krishna to offer his Sudharshana Chakra in exchange for the Brahmashira weapon which he obtained from his father.

O foremost one of Yadu's race, in exchange for that celestial weapon, give me thy discus which is capable of slaying all foes in battle

[1]

Krishna said gods, danavas, gandharvas, birds and men assembled together, are not equal to even a hundredth part of his energy. Krishna said to Ashwathama that he can take any weapons from him without giving any other weapon in exchange.

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, men, birds and snakes, assembled together, are not equal to even a hundredth part of my energy. I have this bow, this dart, this discus, and this mace. I will give thee whichever amongst these thou desirest to have from me.

[2]

Ashwathama said he wants the disc and Krishna told him to take it. Ashwatthama suddenly rose and tried to seize the discus with his left hand. He failed to even move the weapon. He then attempted to seize it with his right hand. He made every kind of effort and tried every means to grasp it. But though he used all his strength, he was incapable of raising it or moving it. Exhausted he withdrew from it.

Thus addressed, he rose suddenly and seized the discus with his left hand. He failed, however, to even move the weapon from the spot on which it lay. He then made preparations for seizing it with his right hand. Having seized it then very firmly and having put forth all his strength, he still failed to either wield or move it. At this, Drona's son became filled with sorrow.

[3]

Krishna told Ashwatthama than even his best friend Arjuna never spoke these words to him. Krishna said that he performed rigorous penance on Himalayas with Rukmimi to obtain a son named Pradyumna, who is as energetic as Sanatkumara. Even he never asked him his divine discus. His elder brother Balarama or his son Samba also never said such words. So Krishna asked Ashwathama for the purpose of obtaining the Sudharshana Chakra.

Rama of great might never said such words to me! Neither Gada nor Samba has ever asked that of me which thou hast asked! No one among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race residing in Dvaraka has ever asked this of me which thou hast asked! Thou art the son of the preceptor of the Bharatas, thou art held in high respect by all the Yadavas. Let me ask thee, O foremost of car-warriors, with whom wouldst thou fight using this weapon?

[4]

Ashwatthama replied that he wants his discus to fight with Krishna himself and become invincible after obtaining it. Having failed, he realized that only Krishna is capable of wielding the Sudharshana Chakra. Ashwatthama then took many horses, wealth and diverse kinds of gems and left Dwaraka.

Thus addressed by me, Drona's son replied, saying, "After offering worship to thee, O Krishna, it was my intention to fight thee, O thou of unfading glory! It was for this, O Krishna that I solicited thee for thy discus which is adored by gods and danavas. If I had got it I would then become invincible in the world. Having failed, O Keshava, in obtaining my almost unattainable wish, I am about to leave thee, O Govinda! Address me in fair words now. This terrible weapon is held by thee that art the foremost of all terrible persons. Unrivalled art thou for this weapon! There is none else in this world capable of possessing it."

Having said these words unto me, the son of Drona, taking many couples of steeds and much wealth and diverse kinds of gems, left Dvaraka.

[5]

Ref: The Mahabharata Book 10: Sauptika Parva Section 12

Image courtesy: Pinterest

Footnotes

[1] 

Sauptika Parva: Section 12

[2] 

Sauptika Parva: Section 12

[3] 

Sauptika Parva: Section 12

[4] 

Sauptika Parva: Section 12

[5] 

Sauptika Parva: Section 12

What are some lesser known stories about Karna?

 on 16th day war, Karna had an edge over Arjuna, after Dushasan's killing. We know that Karna overpowered Arjuna on 17th day of Kurukshetra war. He promised Duryodhan that he will finish Arjuna. He informed his mother too that he will kill only Arjuna. Karna has multiple weapons and mighty Vijaya bow in his hand. Even he got couple of chances to kill Arjuna. But Karna didn't do so. What prevented him?

There is a story that happened during 16th day post the war. Karna had a dream in which he envisioned his guru and asked him to take back the curse he had placed years back. However, Guru rejected his request due to following reasons. In order to protect Arjuna and Dharma, Krishna sought the help of his previous avatar. The avatar Parasurama explained to Karna that if he killed Arjuna, Duryodhana and chaos would ensue. Parashurama asked Karna to accept death and asked him to die at the hands of Arjuna, so that the world might live in peace.

Karna protested to this idea but Parasurama asked this as his Guru Dakshina. Previously, Karna never had a chance to pay his Guru Dakshina; Parasurama never asked for it either. Severely, Parasurama reminds Karna that whatever he became or attained in his life is due to the knowledge he gained from his guru. Karna accepted his guru's words and promised he would never kill Arjuna. Pleased by this offering, the grateful Parashurama blessed Karna with immortal glory and everlasting fame after his death. Thus, Karna never took the kill shot on Arjuna, even though he often had the opportunity to do so.

When Karna's car got stuck in mud, Karna got down from his chariot to free the wheel and he asked Arjuna to wait. Because the Kshatriya dharma says so. But Krishna asks Arjuna to shoot. He reminds of Karna's sin acts when he supported Duryodhan. Arjuna became more furious to kill Karna even when he is unarmed. In this critical situation, Karna didn't give up, he took his bow and fought with arjuna from the ground. Karna defended himself and invoked Rudraastra, hitting Arjuna on his chest. Swooning, Arjuna lost his grip on his Gandiva, which fell down from his hand for the first time. In this situation Karna didn't try to kill Arjuna as per the promise he made to his Guru, but wanted to prove his skills and ability since his meeting with Arjuna from the tournament. Following the rules of engagement of war, Karna did not try to kill the unconscious Arjuna but instead tried to utilize the time in extracting the wheels of his chariot. Arjuna recovered and using the Anjalika weapon, decapitated the weaponless Karna, who was still trying to lift the sunken chariot wheel.