Dharmadhwaja Janaka
Dharmadhwaja Janaka ( Sanskrit: धर्मध्वज जनक ) was the king of the ancient Mithila or Videha Kingdom in the Indian Subcontinent.[1] Dharmadhwaja Janaka, also known as King Janaka, was a significant figure in ancient Indian history and mythology. He was a ruler and is often remembered as a philosopher-king who was deeply engaged in spiritual and philosophical discourse. He is mentioned in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. He was the student of the sage Panchashikha and learnt Shamkhya philosophy from him.[2]
| Dharmadhwaja Janaka | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janaka | |||||
| Born | Dharmadhwaja Mithila region | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Janaka | ||||
| Religion | Sanatana Hinduism | ||||
Etymology[edit]
Dharmadhwaja is a Sanskrit compound word consisting of the terms Dharma and Dhvaja. The term “Dharmadhwaja” signifies a flag-bearer of Dharma, reflecting his commitment to righteousness and duty.[3] In the lineage of the Janaka kings of Mithila, Dharmadhwaja stands out for his association with various sages and scholars of the time. His court was a hub for philosophical debates and discussions, attracting learned individuals from across the land.[4]
Description[edit]
In Narada Purana, celestial sage Sanandan had narrated the story of Dharmadhwaja Janaka having two children Amitadhwaja and Kritadhwaja.[5] In Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, there is a famous philosophical debate between the King Dharmadhwaja Janaka with the woman Vedic scholar Shulabha, the debate is known as Janaka Shulabha Samvada.[6][7] It is said that when King Dharmadhwaja Janaka used anti-feminist arguments to criticise Sulabha's unconventional behaviour, then Brahmavadini Sulabha successfully established that there is no fundamental difference between a man and a woman based on the Vedic philosophical principles. She also demonstrated that a woman can attain liberation on the same level as a man by her example.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Jha, Bhavanath. धर्मायण, 2079 वि.सं. भाग-1, अंक 117-120 (in Hindi). Mahavir Mandir, Patna.
- ^ Modī, Mīrā (2007). Mahābhārata meṃ Sāṅkhya darśana (in Hindi). Satyam Pabliśiṅga Hāusa. ISBN 978-81-88134-86-1.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-08-01). "Dharmadhvaja, Dharma-dhvaja: 12 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ राघव, रांगेय (1992). प्राचीन ब्राह्मण कहानियाँ (in Hindi). Kitabghar Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7016-093-9.
- ^ Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24). Sankshipta Narada Purana Part 2: संक्षिप्त नारद पुराण: केवल हिन्दी (in Hindi). Kausiki Books.
- ^ Singh, Alka; Arora, Bhavya (2022-12-14). "Sulabha-Janaka Samvada in Vyasa's Mahabharata: Debating Meaning and Language Structures". IJLHE: International Journal of Language, Humanities, and Education. 5 (2): 95–104. doi:10.52217/ijlhe.v5i2.1027. ISSN 2963-4520.
- ^ Vanita, Ruth (2021-12-31). The Dharma of Justice in the Sanskrit Epics: Debates on Gender, Varna, and Species. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-267601-6.
- ^ Vanita, Ruth (2003-07-01). "The Self Is Not Gendered: Sulabha's Debate with King Janaka". NWSA Journal. 15 (2): 76–93.