Kuśāvatī was a city in southern Kosala, in the region of the Vindhya mountain slopes. Rāma had it built, and he made his elder son Kuśa its king before his mahāprasthāna (his great departure). It became the seat of the southern branch of the Ikshvāku solar dynasty, which descends from Kuśa. The city is named for Kuśa.

Establishment and location

Rāma founded Kuśāvatī in the southern part of Kosala. As he prepared for his mahāprasthāna and arranged the rule of the kingdom for those who would follow him, he had this city built and made ready as a proper royal capital.

Kuśa’s installation

Kuśa was the elder of Rāma’s twin sons, born to Sītā at Vālmīki’s āśrama. Rāma installed him at Kuśāvatī as its king. Kuśa received the southern branch of the Kosala kingdom, with Kuśāvatī as his capital. Lava received the northern branch, with Śrāvastī as his capital.

This division gave both twin sons a kingdom of their own, and the Ikshvāku line continued through both.

Sources

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 106