Janaka and Astavakra.

The ultimate goal of spiritual practice is enlightenment, or direct realization of the divine unity. The ancient Rishis (or seers of truth) knew that this ultimate realization of oneness with the Self or God was only achievable with the sincere urge of the aspirant and the assistance of a teacher or guru, who could guide the seeker past the many veils of ego that separate the self from the direct experience, this infinite end of all knowledge. The following story illustrates several important aspects of the ideal devotee and his or her relationship to the master and dedication to the subject.

In the ancient times, there was a king named Janaka. Vedanta texts were recited everyday in His courtyard. One day, he heard the son of his high priest reciting verses from the Vedas. The young boy pronounced, “a man can become enlightened in between the time it takes for one foot to be placed in the stirrup of the saddle, and the second.” Janaka was intrigued by this and questioned the boy. “Is this true,” he asked. And the boy said, “Yes, it is true.” Janaka said, “Show me.” But the boy confessed his inability, saying, “I am sorry, I am not realized so I cannot show you the truth of this sentence.” Janaka became angry and said, ‘If you are not realized, then you do not know this is true. Therefore, you are lying to me, and falsely leading the people.” And he put the boy in jail.

Subsequently, the boy’s father, the high priest, came to the palace to speak to Janaka and seek release for his son. Janaka asked him, “Tell me, is it true that a man can become enlightened in between the time it takes for one foot to be placed in the stirrup of the saddle, and the second?” The priest said, “Yes, this is true.” So Janaka said, “Show me.” But the priest responded, “I cannot show you, for I am not realized.” This made Janaka outraged. He stormed, “Then, you do not know it’s true. You are lying to me, and to the people of the kingdom.” He sent the high priest to jail, and then began to ask the same question to all the Brahmins in the land, yet every time, they were unable to help him, for none had realized God. Janaka sent each one to prison.

One day, an enlightened saint named Astavakra came to the palace to ask his wellbeing . He asked janaka why he had sent all the brahmins to prison. Janaka said as they were unable to prove the truth of what they preach, he had send them to jail to stop further damage of social values. Astavakra asked if he wanted to know the truth of those words, Janaka affirmed with a great enthusiasm.

Once in the woods, Janaka began to rise up on his horse by putting his foot in the stirrup and pulling himself up, but just before he swung his second foot around, Astavakra said, “Stop King, Don't you know that you must have a guru to be able to realize God?” Immediately Janaka said, “Master, I give you my body, my mind and every belonging I possess.” Upon hearing this, Astavakra left to a nearby cave for several hours. When he returned, he was amazed to see Janaka still in the very same position he left him, with only one foot in the stirrup. Astavakra asked, “Oh, King, what happened to you? You haven’t moved for hours.” Janaka was vibrationless. He stated, “Master, I have given everything to you, and now I can’t find anything to do or to think.” Astavakra replied, “This foot in the saddle and self knowledge is meant for a high quality aspirant, and you are that. Janaka, behold this, that you are the ever liberated, pure, divine, eternal, self-illumined Self.” As Astavakra said these words, Janaka realized this truth within him self, and thus became enlightened.

This story illustrates the perfect relationship between a guru and a devotee. Janaka’s dedication to discovering the truth is so strong, that he is willing to pay any prize for that. Astavaka’s arrival at the palace just at this time, illustrates that point that an aspirant doesn't need to seek out a guru, the proper master will appear at the right time if there is a definite urge to know. Janaka demonstrates ideal devotion to his master through the complete surrender of his mind, body, and all possessions. He gives up everything of himself, and becomes completely still, without ego or attatchment. Astavakra then tests Janaka to see if this surrender is true. Janaka passes the test when he demonstrates such complete submission that he is unable to do anything else without the guidance of his guru. When Astravaska returns, he finds Janaka a very worthy aspirant with the proper level of devotion and surrender necessary to transcend to the divine experience of enlightenment upon the wish of his master. Also that for enlightenment, its not the spiritual practices like chanting or meditation, self discrimination etc which are necessary but the capacity to hold the idea or comprehension that we are all divine soul, ever free and eternal. For this comprehension, do we go through all these spiritual processes.

To attain the ultimate knowledge of divine unity, we as seekers, must have the necessary strength and courage to surrender all individuality and attachment, to lay down our armor, and be completely free so we so that we may surrender into the sea of universal soul. May we all be blessed with the knowledge and first hand experience of our very truest nature.