{ Anand Sagar's Ramayan Appreciation Thread #6 } - Page 52

Originally posted by: JanakiRaghunath

@Vedo,

Wonderful question! It's interesting to learn the different meanings of all these names of our puranas.

@Viz,

Nice answer! I did not know the answer to this question so thank you for enlightening me. It is your turn next!

Janu, since you didn't know the answer am posting this here for you:

Videh litreally means "one who does not have a body"... and here's the story behind the epithet "Videh"

Long back, there was a ruler called King NIMI. He was Knowledgeable and Powerful, at once he decided to perform the 'RAJSUYI YAGNA' and he invited his family guru, Sage VASISTA to be the priest. when stipulated day of 'yagna' arrived he found his guru was missing, In the absence of his guru he performed the yagna with help of sage GAUTAM. Guru Vasista arrived later and furious about NIMI performed yagna with in his absence. In that spur of the moment he CURSE nimi since you insulted me. You should dead with immediate effect, king nimi dead immediately. Kingdom was left any king but the sage Gautama sought the help of all eminent sage. Together, they made an attempt to bear a child from nimi corpse. Eminent sage churn (manthan) his body in milk and get a princes who was born from nimi's corpse was named MITHI because , he was born out of a churning of milk and then he established the city of MITHILA. There after whoever became king of mithila named VIDEH or JANAK. 'VIDEH' because they were born out of a corpse and 'JANAK' because all those kings were like a father to their kingdom. King Janak (Seerdhwaj) was the thirty seventh generation of king mithi. That is how the mithila named and king janak ruled the mithila that's why named JANAKPUR.

Source: http://maithilimedia.blogspot.com/

...

But as Viz said, Raja Janak was also called 'Videh' because he showed the application of "karma Yoga" in a manner unparalleled by any other human being up to that point of time. He achieved liberation even whilst still in his human form.

Originally posted by: JanakiRaghunath

Wow, thank you so much for the interesting story Vedo, I never knew about it.😲 But I have one doubt. Wasn't Sage Vasishta the Kulguru of the Raghuvanshis? Was he also the Kulguru of King Nimi's dynasty? Because Ramayana says that Sage Satanand, the son of Rishi Gautam and Ahalya, was the Kulguru of King Janak's family. Did he become Kulguru later on become Vasishta left?

Well actually Janu, I am not sure if they are referring to the same "Vasishta" or if as you said it is the same one and Rishi Satanand (who we all know as the Kulguru of Raja Janak's clan) became kulguru after he left. Maybe you can post this in Doubts & Discussion? 🤔

Originally posted by: Vedo

Well actually Janu, I am not sure if they are referring to the same "Vasishta" or if as you said it is the same one and Rishi Satanand (who we all know as the Kulguru of Raja Janak's clan) became kulguru after he left. Maybe you can post this in Doubts & Discussion? 🤔

Originally posted by: Vedo

And since we now know the meaning of "Videh" I thought to share this lovely chaupaai...

'Murati Madhur manohar dekhi, bhaye videh videh bisekhi'

"...Beholding Sri Rama's lovely and charming form, King Videha was particularly beside himself with joy."

Here Tulsidasji uses the word "Videh" very beautifully...showing us his literary ingeniousness. He creates a pun using the word "Videh" twice...telling us that King Janak (Videh) ...the one who is without a form...is literally having an out of body experience seeing the beauty of the Lord. 😆

Originally posted by: JanakiRaghunath

Wow, thank you so much for sharing these two lines, Vedo! Ramanand Sagarji used this verse in his own Ramayan right? I love the scene where Raja Janak sees Ramji for the first time. Both RSR and ASR showed it so beautifully. I am considering making a combo siggie of this scene with these lines.

Tulsidasji used a lot of clever lines like these in RCM right? Could you share more please?😃

My pleasure!

Yes, this line was used...and beautifully emoted in both RSR & ASR. Do make the siggy...would love to see it! 😃

Tulsidasji was quite clever that way...and that is what makes his RCM so lovable and enjoyable. Will share more when I think of them. 😉 Do you know any?

Originally posted by: Vedo

My pleasure!

Yes, this line was used...and beautifully emoted in both RSR & ASR. Do make the siggy...would love to see it! 😃

Tulsidasji was quite clever that way...and that is what makes his RCM so lovable and enjoyable. Will share more when I think of them. 😉 Do you know any?