JANAKA AND ASHTAVAKRA A JOURNEY BEYOND

The story of a sage Ashtavakra
and his disciple king Janaka is one of the most gripping yet unknown episodes
from the Ramayana. A young boy Ashtavakra goes to king janaka’s Court to
debate the kingdom most learned sages but is ridiculed by the courtiers for
his deformed body. After the boy triumphs in the debate, Janaka realizes that
the boy has an extraordinary intellect and becomes his disciple. While Janaka
is obsessed with his quest for spiritual liberation, a treacherous plan
unfolds inside the secretive world of the royal palace. Very soon war clouds
gather on the horizon of Mithila, but all Janaka does is devote more and more
time to the young sage. Even though the whole world believes a calamity is
imminent, Janaka stays on the path to spiritual enlightenment. Ultimately,
with ashtavakra’s guidance, the king enters the realm of a new world which
alters the reality for him and his kingdom. This novel is rooted in ancient
Indian spiritual wisdom and philosophy, but with new interpretations of the
concepts of liberation, enlightenment, consciousness and the realities of
life. Among others, It seeks to answer the question: is everything we see
indeed an illusion? This compelling story sheds light on the modern readers’
existential questions, leading them to relate to the king and his struggles.