Janaka
Janaka was an ancient Hindu king of Videha which was located in Mithila region, approximately in the 8th or 7th century BC. The rulers of the Videha kingdom were called Janakas. He also appears in the epic Ramayana as a father of Sita. His original name was Siradhvaja and he had a brother named Kushadhvaja. His father's name was Hrasvaroman, a descendant of the king Nimi.
| Janaka | |
|---|---|
| Texts | Ramayana, Upanishads |
| Region | Mithila |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Hrasvaroman (father), Keikasi (mother) |
| Siblings | Kushadhvaja |
| Spouse | Sunayana |
| Children | Sita, Urmila (daughters) |
| Dynasty | Ikshvaku |
Janaka is revered as being an ideal example of non-attachment to material possessions. He was intensely interested in spiritual discourse and considered himself free from worldly illusions. His interactions with sages and seekers such as Ashtavakra and Sulabha are recorded in the ancient texts. His relationship with his adopted daughter Sita led her to be called Janaki. The city of Janakpur in Nepal is named after him and his daughter Sita. The Videha (or Mithila) kingdom was historically located between east of Gandaki River, west of Mahananda River, north of the Ganga river and south of the Himalayas.