King Janaka was known as Videha, because he could rise above the needs of his body and was known to be a wise person learned in the scriptures; he did not allow himself to be influenced by the material things of the world. He was, therefore, called a Rajarishi, a kingly sage. Once, King Janaka wanted to hold a yajna. For this he prepared a ground by ploughing a field himself. As the field was ploughed, cleared and levelled, he heard a sound from among the bushes. Janaka went there and found a beautiful baby lying there. He picked the little one up and took it to his wife. They were childless and this little baby- girl had been gifted to them by Mother Earth herself at the site of the yajna. Janaka named her Seeta and brought her up lovingly as his own daughter.
Mithila’s King Janaka
