Janaka: 29 definitions

Introduction:

Janaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Janak.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

1) Janaka (जनक):—Son of Nimi (one of the sons of Ikṣvāku). He was born from the remains of his father’s (Nimi) material body, during a sacrifice. Because he was born in an unusual way, the son was called Janaka. Because he was born from the dead body of his father, he was also known as Vaideha. Because he was born from the churning of his father’s material body, he was known as Mithila. He had a son named Udāvasu. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.13.13-14)

2) Janaka (जनक):—Another name for Śīradhvaja (son of Hrasvaromā, who was a son of Svarṇaromā). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.13.18)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Janaka (जनक).—Genealogy. Janaka was descended from Viṣṇu in the following order:—Brahmā,—Marīci—Kaśyapa—Vivasvān—Vaivasvata—Ikṣvāku—Nimi—Mithi—Udāvasu—Nandivardhana—Suketu—Devarāta—Bṛhadratha—Mahāvīra—Sudhṛti—Dhṛṣṭaketu—Haryaśva—Maru—Pratvantaka—Kīrtiratha—Devamīḍha—Vibudha—Mahīdhraka—Kīrtirāta—Mahāroman—Svarṇaroman—Hrasvaroman—Sīradhvaja (Janaka). (See full article at Story of Janaka from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Janaka (जनक) is the name of a great Yogin who attained Vaikuṇṭha, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra said to the three daughters of Svadhā (i.e., Menā, Dhanyā, Kalāvatī) after cursing them:—“[...] O ye three daughters of forefathers (i.e., Dhanyā), listen with pleasure to my words that will dispel your sorrow and bestow happiness on you. [...] The second daughter Dhanyā shall be the Yoginī, the wife of Janaka. Her daughter shall be Mahālakṣmī in the name of Sītā. [...] Janaka shall be blessed by Sītā born in Janaka’s race and he shall be a living liberated soul. A great Yogin, he will attain Vaikuṇṭha. [...] Ye the daughters of forefathers (i.e., Dhanyā) shall shine in heaven. By the vision of Viṣṇu your evil actions have been quelled”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Janaka (जनक).—(king of Mithīlā) one of the twelve sages who knew the nature of the dharma ordained by Hari. Son of Nimi, born by churning his dead body and hence known Mithila. He was Vaideha, born of a videha. He founded the city of Mithilā. His son was Udāvasu. Father of Sītā.1 In his sacrifice Yājñavalkya won a prize for learning while Śākalya was humbled for pretended superiority. Father-inlaw of Rāma.2 In the Aśvamedha Yajña of his, Sākalya was ruined on account of his conceit by taking part in a disputation; Janaka wanted to know the best among the learned assembled and set apart 11,000 crores, much gold, villages and servants to be given as present to him; in the disputation each took part but Yājñavalkya ultimately threw out the challenge. Sākalya questioned this and put to him a number of questions which were all answered. Yājñavalkya in his turn put him a single question, a wrong reply to it inviting instantaneous death; Sākalya agreed, and unable to answer his question, was gathered to his ancestors;3 told by the sage Asita what the Earth narrated to him about the ignorance of kings who without subduing themselves, try to subdue others.4

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 3. 20; IX. 13. 13-14; X. 71. 9; Vāyu-purāṇa 89. 2; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 5. 22-4; 13. 103.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 34. 33-68; III. 37. 22; 64. 2;
  • 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 60. 32-62; 89. 5; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 18. 85-90.
  • 4) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 24. 127-136.

1b) King of Videhas, and an ally of Balarāma. Welcomed Balarāma to his capital.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 57. 24-26.

1c) A son of Viśākhayūpa and father of Nandivardhana.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 24. 5-6.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Janaka (जनक) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.36). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Janaka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Janaka (जनक) propitiated Pārvatī (cf., Sītā, wife of Rāma) by his penance, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] Sītā was the wife of Rāma who was born as a portion of Pārvatī because king Janaka propitiated Pārvatī by his penance. Śiva, having been pleased with him gave him a bow. Śrīrāma broke this bow and Janaka gave Sītā in marriage to Rāma. [...]

Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Janaka (जनक) is the father of Sītā, according to in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 51. Accordingly, “... he [Rāma] was a partial incarnation of Viṣṇu for the overthrow of Rāvaṇa, and he had a wife named Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, the lady of his life. As fate would have it, his father handed over the kingdom to Bharata, and sent Rāma to the forest with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa”.

The story of Janaka was narrated by the Vidyādharī Kāñcanaprabhā to Naravāhanadatta while in a Svayambhū temple of Śiva, in order to demonstrate that “people who possess firmness endure for a long time mutual separation to which no termination is assigned”, in other words, that “heroic souls endure separation for so long a time”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Janaka, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Kavya book cover
context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Janaka (जनक) refers to “generating (the six-fold path)” (of the universe), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The face called the Lower World is on the path below. It is all bliss, secret, omniscient, and facing everywhere. It generates (janaka) the six-fold path (of the universe). It is all things, the place where death arises (as well as) the seed and womb of the universe. It is the abode of the mother, the secret energy. That current is the lord Akula who, in order to emanate the universe, conceives his own imperishable Self to be Śakti”.

Shaktism book cover
context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Janaka was the king of the Videha kingdom. He had no children and therefore wished to perform a great sacrifice to obtain the blessing of the Devas to yield children. While plowing the ground for the sacrificial altar, he found a girl child in a casket. This girl was Sita, who was the daughter of earth. He adopted as his daughter. When she came of age, he declared that he will marry her only to the most valorous of princes, and set a tough task to all the suitors. They had to string an immense bow, which had been given to him by Shiva. Nobody could even lift the bow, let alone string it.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Janaka is the name used to refer to the kings of Videha. The Janaka Dynasty ruled the Videha kingdom from their capital Janakpur in Mithila region of Nepal. A certain King Janaka, who probably reigned during the 7th century BCE, is mentioned in the late Vedic literature as a great philosopher-king. A King Janaka is also mentioned in the Ramayana epic.

Late Vedic literature such as the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mention a certain King Janaka (c. 7th century BCE) as a great philosopher-king of Videha, renowned for his patronage of Vedic culture and philosophy, and whose court was an intellectual center for Brahmin sages such as Yajnavalkya. Under his reign, Videha became a dominant political and cultural center of South Asia.

According to the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Janakas were a race of kings who ruled Videha Kingdom from their capital Janakpur, Nepal, which was an ancient state in the foothill of Himalayas before its unification into Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah. The father of Nepali princess Sita was named Seeradwaja Janaka. These epics mention many other Janaka kings who were all great scholars and lead the life of a sage, though they were kings. They engaged in religious conversations with many sages.

etymology: Janaka (Nepali: जनक, Sanskrit: जनक).

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Janaka - King of Mithila, a previous birth of the Bodhisatta. For his story, see the Maha Janaka Jataka. J.i.268; J.vi.59.

2. Janaka - King of Benares. His minister was Senaka, whose story is related in the Sattubhasta Jataka. J.iii.341, 348.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Janaka (जनक) (or Maithila) is the son of Vipulā and Vāsavaketu, an ancient king from Mithilā, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “Now in the city Mithilā there were a king in the Harivaṃśa, Vāsavaketu by name, and his wife, Vipulā. Their son, with no less glory, became king, Janaka by name, like a father (janaka) of his subjects, famous on earth”.

General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

janaka : (m.) a producer; father. (adj.), producing; generating. || jānaka (nt.) knowledge; recognition.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Janaka, (to janati) 1. producing, production Vism. 369; adj. (-°) producing: pasāda° Mhvs. I, 4 (=°kāraka); a species of karma Vism. 601; Cpd. 144 (A. I).—2. n. f. °ikā genetrix, mother J. I, 16; Dhs. 1059≈(where it represents another jānikā, viz. deception, as shown by syn. māyā & B. Sk. janikā Lal. V. 541; Kern, Toev. p. 41). (Page 278)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

janaka (जनक).—a (S) Creative or productive; a causer, former, maker. In comp. Ex. hāsyajanaka, prīti- janaka, mṛtyujanaka, aniṣṭajanaka, kalyāṇajanaka. 2 Used as s m A father.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

janaka (जनक).—a Creative; a causer. m A father.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Janaka (जनक).—a. (nikā f.) [जन्-णिच् ण्वुल् (jan-ṇic ṇvul)] Generating, producing, causing; क्लेशजनक, दुःखजनक (kleśajanaka, duḥkhajanaka) &c.

-kaḥ 1 A father, progenitor.

2) Name of a famous king of Videha or Mithilā, foster-father of Sītā. He was remarkable for his great knowledge, good works, and holiness. After the abandonment of Sītā by Rāma, he became an anchorite-indifferent to pleasure or pain-and spent his time in philosophical discussions. The sage याज्ञवल्क्य (yājñavalkya) was his priest and adviser.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Jānaka (जानक).—adj. (Pali Gr. id., Childers; AMg. jāṇaga; = prec., but probably formed on the pres. jānati plus -aka), knowing, wise: jānako jānakavihārehi Mahāvastu i.34.12 (prose); jānakāḥ pṛcchakā Buddhā bhagavantaḥ Divyāvadāna 184.26; 299.15; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.i.12 (prose), Buddhas, (tho) knowing (the answers), are (in the habit of) asking (questions; other- wise Divyāvadāna Index); a-j°, foolish, ignorant: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 10.1 (so read with Kashgar recension and WT for ajñā°, unmetrical(ly)); 37.5; 47.14; 93.12; Lalitavistara 323.12 (all verses). With objective gen., acquainted with: jānako duḥkhasya Avadāna-śataka ii.119.11; 120.3, 11.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Janaka (जनक).—m.

(-kaḥ) A father, a progenitor. 2. The name of a king, sovereign of Mithila, and father of Sita. E. jana to be born, and ṇic ṇvula aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Janaka (जनक).—[jan + aka], I. adj. Causing, Mahābhārata 4, 1456. Ii. m. 1. A father, [Pañcatantra] v. [distich] 19. 2. A producer, Bhā- ṣāp. 44. 3. A proper name, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 1, 26.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Janaka (जनक).—[adjective] generating, producing, causing. [masculine] progenitor, father, [Name] of [several] kings etc.

--- OR ---

Jānaka (जानक).—[masculine] a patron. name; [feminine] ī patron. of Sītā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Janaka (जनक) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]

2) Janaka (जनक):—on [dharma] Quoted in Nirṇayasindhu.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Janaka (जनक):—[from jan] mfn. ([Pāṇini 7-3, 35; Kāśikā-vṛtti]) generative, generating, begetting, producing, causing (chiefly ifc.), [Mahābhārata iv, 1456; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Bhāṣāpariccheda; Bhāvaprakāśa]

2) [v.s. ...] m. a progenitor, father, [Harivaṃśa 982; Rāmāyaṇa vi, 3, 45; Pañcatantra] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] (in music) a kind of measure

4) [v.s. ...] (oxyt.) Name of a king of Videha or Mithilā (son of Mithi and father of Udāvasu, [Rāmāyaṇa]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa xi, xiv; Mahābhārata iii, xii, xiv; Harivaṃśa 9253]

5) [v.s. ...] of another king of Mithilā (son of Hrasva-roman and father of Sītā), [Rāmāyaṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] of another king, [Rājataraṅgiṇī i, 98]

7) [v.s. ...] of a disciple of Bhagavat, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa vi, 3, 20]

8) [v.s. ...] of several official men, [Rājataraṅgiṇī vii f.]

9) [v.s. ...] [plural] the descendants of Janaka, [Mahābhārata iii, 10637; Rāmāyaṇa i; Uttararāma-carita i, 16; iv, 9; vi, 42; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

10) Jānaka (जानक):—[from jātṛ] 1. jānaka m. ([from] janaka) [patronymic] of Kratu-vid, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa vii, 34]

11) [v.s. ...] of Āyasthūṇa, [Bṛhad-āraṇyaka-upaniṣad] (also ki)

12) 2. jānaka m. (√jñā) knower (a Buddha), [Divyāvadāna xiii, 348; xxi, 13]

13) [plural] the Buddhists, [Sūtrakṛt. i, 1, 18] (Prākṛt).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Janaka (जनक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A father; name of a king, father of Sītā.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Janaka (जनक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Jaṇaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Janaka in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Janaka (जनक) [Also spelled janak]:—(nm) father; procreator, originator; used as a suffix to mean causing or bringing forth (as [khedajanaka, nirāśājanaka]).

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Janaka (ಜನಕ):—[adjective] generating; producing; giving forth.

--- OR ---

Janaka (ಜನಕ):—

1) [noun] a man or thing that generates, produces.

2) [noun] a man as he is related to his child or children; the male parent; father.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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