Shri Janaka 1st Adi Guru Incarnated

Shri Janaka or Raja Janak who was the father of Shree Sita Mata Ji wife of Shri Ram was born in Mithila Nagari in Nepal. He is the first Adi Guru born on this planet earth. He is revered as being an ideal example of the non-attachment of materialistic possession. He gave the least importance to material things even though he was the King of the Mithila Nagar now in Nepal. He was a 'Realized Soul" and is believed to be the first of 10 Adi Gurus as per Hindu spiritual history.

As the King, he had access to enjoy all the luxuries available for a human being and had the power to buy all the pleasures of life. But he was not only least bothered about those materialistic thoughts but instead he preferred to lead a life of an ordinary Sadhu even when he was perfectly fulfilling his responsibility of being the King.

He had a complete insight about the human being and the real purpose of human birth and he was totally away from any sort of illusions that attracts humans and misguide them from their path of truth. His interactions with Sages and seekers such as Ashtavakra and Sulabha are recorded in ancient texts. His relationship with his adopted daughter "Shri Sita" led her to be called 'Janaki Mata'. The Nepalese city of Janakpur is named after him and his daughter "Shri Sita".

Shri Raja Janak was born as believed around during BC 4000 or more through some of the literature claims it as 10000 BC. It is a matter that needs historical investigation. 

The name Mithila is believed to be derived from the mythical 'King Mithi'. He established Mithilapuri. Since he was born out of the body of his father, he was called "Janak". After this, all the Kings of Mithila were called "Janak". The most famous among the Kings was Seeradhwaja Janaka, who was the father of Shree Sita, wife of Lord Shri Ram. There were 52 Kings in the dynasty of Videh(Mithila) and Shri Janka father of Shree Sita is the most famous.

The Mithila is also known as "Videha" and the Kingdom was located between east of Gandaki river, west of Mahananda river, north of Ganga river, and South of Himalayas. The region is now divided between the present-day Indian state of Bihar and a small part of the Terai region in Nepal. 

Vedic literature such as 'Shatapatha Brahmana' and 'Brihadaranyaka' Upanishad mentions a king Janaka around the 7th or 8th Century. It has mentioned King Janaka as one of the greatest Philosophers - King of Videha( now known as "Mithila"). He was renowned for his patronage of Vedic culture and philosophy and whose court was an intellectual center for Brahmin sages such as Yajnavalkya, Uddalaka Aruni, and Gargi Vachaknavi. Under his reign, Videha became a dominant political and cultural center of the Indian Subcontinent.

(Details extracted from various reliable sources).

Sudesh DJV
Indore MP India
Nov 2018

As collected the information from various reliable books and internet sources.

Sudesh DJV writes on contemporary subjects in the form of Articles and poems which are in the interest of the Nation in particular and for Mankind in general.