Devi Kumudvati: The Naga Princess and Queen of Kusha, Restorer of Ayodhya

Wife of Kusha, elder son of Shri Ram and Devi Sita was Devi Kumudvati. Her mention is in Raghuvansham of Kalidas. The story is that once Kusha decided to have leisure time and bathe in Sarayu with his wives. His wives were really happy and playing and swimming in water while Kusha was having a pleasure time. When they were going back, a bracelet which Shri Ram had gifted Kusha on the occasion of making him King, it was lost. Kusha wanted to find it as it was a gift from his father. He got angry and suddenly a snake King Kumud came out of waters with a timid girl who was holding the bracelet. Kumud offered his beautiful sister Kumudvati to Kusha and Kusha gladly accepted her. Kumudvati had got the bracelet and was playing with it when Kumud decided to return the bracelet along with his sister to Kusha. By doing this he made himself secure from Garuda, Vahan of Lord Vishnu.

He made Kumudvati his Chief Queen and they had a son Atithi. Kusha went to fight a giant and he slained it but before the giant would die he fatally injured Kusha. He died and Kumudvati followed her husband like moonlight follows the moon. Atithi was already a Crown Prince and then he became King of Ayodhya.

After Samadhi of Mata Sita and Shri Ram, Ayodhya was deserted by its people. Its Goddess of Ayodhya who requested Kusha to rebuild the city to its former glory and Kusha did very hard work to rebuild the city after it was deserted and it's sheen was lost when Shri Ram died. The sons, Luv and Kusha were disheartened because of death of their mother and father but Kusha when got requested by goddess of Ayodhya, decided to return back.

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