Janaka- Hindu FigureMortal"King of Videha"
Also known as: Seeradhvaja, Siradhvaja, Sīradhvaja, and जनक
Description
While plowing a field for a Vedic sacrifice, King Janaka unearthed a golden casket containing a baby girl. He named her Sita, "furrow," and raised her as his daughter. When she came of age, he decreed that only a man who could string the bow of Shiva would win her hand.
Mythology & Lore
The Philosopher-King
Janaka ruled the kingdom of Videha from his capital Mithila. He was a Rajarishi, a king who had attained the wisdom of a sage, governing with complete dedication while remaining inwardly detached from its pleasures. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Janaka hosts a great assembly of scholars and offers a thousand cows with gold attached to their horns to the wisest brahmin present. The sage Yajnavalkya claims the prize and engages Janaka in dialogues exploring the nature of the self and liberation.
Discovery of Sita
While plowing a field to prepare for a Vedic sacrifice, Janaka's plough unearthed a golden casket containing a baby girl. He named her Sita, "furrow," and raised her as his own daughter.
The Bow of Shiva
When Sita came of age, Janaka decreed that her husband must prove his worth by stringing the Pinaka, the bow of Shiva that he kept in his court. The bow was so heavy that no ordinary man could lift it. Princes and kings from across the land attempted the feat and failed. Rama, prince of Ayodhya, lifted the bow and broke it while stringing it. The crack echoed across the heavens. Janaka gave Sita's hand in marriage.
Relationships
- Family
- Associated with