JANAKA You are the incarnation of king Janaka….. (Swayye Mahle Dooje Ke, p. 1391) Do not be led astray by castes. Suka, the Brahmin, meditated while sitting at the feet of the Kshatriya king Janaka. (Kanra M. 4, p. 1309) Janaka was the king of Mithila and father of Sita. He had a great bow of Shiva with him. He had announced that any prince who would bend that bow, would be married to his daughter. It was Rama, who performed this feat and •was thus married to Sita.
Janaka had invited Dasrath, the father of Rama and king of Ayodhya for the marriage ceremony. He also proposed to marry his daughter Urmilla to Lakshmana and his two nieces to Bharata and Shatrughana. All this was done with great pomp and show. The sage Yajnavalkya was the priest of Janaka and also his adviser. Through his pure and righteous life Janaka is said to have attained Unity with Lord-God. Though he was a Kshatriya, he became the preceptor of the great Brahmin sage Suka (Sukhdev) the son of Vyasa, because of his great spiritual attainments.
It is said that he asserted his right of performing sacrifices without the intervention of priests (Brahmins). When he left this world and was going towards the Abode of the Lord, he heard in the way the cries and wailings of many jivas. They were, in fact, the sinners who were undergoing the punishment in hell. He interceded on their behalf and got them rescued from the fire of hell. The Dharmaraja let them off after receiving the Command of Lord-God, who is ever kind towards His devotees. See : Rama and Sita
References :
1. Kohli, Surindar Singh (ed), Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib, 1993
In Hindu mythology, Janaka is a celebrated figure, primarily known as the King of Mithila and the father of Sita, the heroine of the Ramayana. He is revered not only as a wise and just ruler but also as a spiritually enlightened soul, often referred to as a Rajarshi (a royal sage).
Key Aspects of Janaka:
Lineage and Kingdom:
- Janaka was the king of Videha, with Mithila as its capital. The title “Janaka” was used by all kings of this dynasty, but the most famous among them is Siradhvaja Janaka, Sita’s father.
- He was a descendant of the Ikshvaku dynasty, which is also the lineage of Lord Rama.
Discovery of Sita:
- According to the Ramayana, Janaka found Sita as a baby while plowing the fields during a ritual. Believing her to be a divine gift, he adopted her as his daughter. This act symbolizes his deep connection to dharma (righteousness) and the divine.
Swayamvara of Sita:
- Janaka organized a swayamvara (a ceremony for choosing a husband) for Sita, where the challenge was to string the mighty bow of Lord Shiva. Only Rama succeeded, leading to his marriage with Sita.
Spiritual Enlightenment:
- Janaka is renowned for his spiritual wisdom and detachment from material possessions. His interactions with sages like Ashtavakra and Yajnavalkya are recorded in texts like the Ashtavakra Gita and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. These dialogues emphasize his pursuit of self-realization and his ability to balance worldly duties with spiritual growth.
- Symbolism:
- Janaka is often seen as an ideal ruler who embodies the principles of dharma, wisdom, and humility. His life serves as an example of how one can achieve enlightenment while fulfilling worldly responsibilities.
Janaka’s legacy extends beyond the Ramayana, influencing philosophical and spiritual traditions in Hinduism.
