Janaka and Ashtavakra: A Journey Beyond Paperback – August 13, 2020

This book is a character and story-driven narrative to introduce readers to Ashtavakra Gita. The Ashtavakra Gita goes more deeply into the philosophical and spiritual aspects of life and hence its a bit more complex in its subject matter, it is more suitable for a person who already has sufficient spiritual knowledge and a very strong inclination for deep contemplation. But that's when this book comes to the rescue.This book presents the Ashtavakra Gita through an interesting story format so that we can easily understand the turn of events that happened in the kingdom of Mithila and how eventually king Janaka became enlightened by what Ashtavakra taught him. Whenever Astavakra Gita is talked about, it is mostly only about the dialogues that were exchanged between Ashtavakra and Janaka, but this book not only provides that but also tells you about their individual backstories, which makes you connect with them easily. And that whole spiritual aspect of it, which is the key ingredient, is beautifully mingled with the story so that even if you are a beginner and not so much inclined to read spiritual texts, you get the gist of it.Of course, you should read the Ashtavakra Gita as well, but this book is a very good place, to begin with, if you want to read it. The language is simple, beautifully written. Especially if you love to read spiritual books, if you want to know how to balance your professional-spiritual life, or simply for the joy of reading a beautifully narrated story about self-realization, about enlightenment, then you should definitely read this book, I bet you the spiritual aspect of it will blow your mind, its bitter truth, not at all sugar-coated, and it definitely made me feel immense respect for our ancient Indian scriptures and our rich cultural history, which has so much to offer.

I’m blown away! This is a beauty!Amazing character build up, suspense, and clues. The author skillfully took me through a King’s journey to explain complex philosophical concepts, and made me feel like it’s my own journey. It captured fears, doubts, insecurities, so well and explained complex decision making approach in a very practical and applicable way.It is difficult for most of us to even scratch the surface of some of the concepts explained in this book. It was much easier for us to wrap this concept in mythology with gods, goddesses, and demons. Unfortunately this lead to the erosion of the true spirit and philosophy and got chained down by centuries of vedic malpractice and misinterpretation. The author was able to simplify, interpret and do justice to the true spirit of this excerpt from Ramayana.I loved the way the author described the settings - like I could just feel the northern wind, see the sunrise, and watch the city from the watch towers. Last time I felt this way was when I was reading Alchemist. My point here is, the author was able to successfully draw me into the settings and make me live in the moment.This is one of those books that needs re-reading, as each time you dive, you might just find something else that you were not even looking for.

Okay so, this was a great book! It was very well written, deep when it needed to be, light when appropriate and truthful throughout. It was also entertaining and fun to read. A must read for anyone that enjoy's the philosophy's of India. I was continually thinking of the Ramayana while reading this. Love it, thank you!

Wonderful tale skillfuly told. I could not put it down and read it all the way through. A teaching story about two of the great beings of the Siddha Tradition, conveying the essence of the Guru-Chela relation based in the transmission of Wisdom by personal introduction.

Guys, listen up! I just read this book, ‘Janaka and Ashtavakra’, and I’m still reeling from the experience. It’s like, this ancient story that’s been retold in a way that’s so relatable, so raw, and so real, it’ll blow your mind. I’m not even kidding, it’s like a spiritual punch in the face (in the best way possible).It’s about this king, Janaka, who’s got everything - power, wealth, fame - but still feels empty inside. I mean, who hasn’t been there, right? And then he meets this sage, Ashtavakra, who’s like, totally enlightened and stuff. Their conversations are like, whoa. They’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about life, reality, and yourself.The writing? It’s like butter, smooth and rich and utterly captivating. You’ll be hooked from page one, I swear. It’s not just some boring spiritual book, it’s like, a journey. A wild ride that’ll leave you breathless and wanting more. And the best part? It’s not just for spiritual people, it’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost or curious about the meaning of life.I mean, think about it. We’re all just trying to figure out this thing called life, right? We’re all just trying to find our way, to make sense of this crazy world. And this book? It’s like a map, a guide, a beacon of light in the darkness. It’s like, the author is holding your hand and walking you through the ups and downs of life, showing you that you’re not alone.So, come on guys, give it a try! Let’s dive into this spiritual odyssey together and see where it takes us. Trust me, you won’t regret it. It’s like, the ultimate adventure, the ultimate journey of self-discovery. And who knows, you might just find yourself along the way.

The ‘story’ begins when the illustrious King Janaka was undergoing experiences that are quite daunting: – how can he suffer such horrible circumstances when we all know that the world is ready, willing, and waiting for his command! Yes, it was a dream and he sat on his throne ruminating about it with a curious mind – Am I a king or a beggar?Maya is the veil that covers everyone with a mystical shroud of inexplainable conundrums and opportunities. The king of Mithila has been waiting for a preceptor who would impart the wisdom he has been seeking all through his life. “A journey Beyond” by Sri Ashraf Karayath is a treat of a journey that everyone should partake in as a fresh air of wisdom that is the essence of Vedas and Upanishads. The knowledge has always been available for the seekers, but it stayed aloof to those who would not risk their ignorance for getting the knowledge-ultimate in return. It is not for everyone to ponder such obscure callings. It is because the life they led so far has taught them to treat ignorance as real and they ‘know’ that there was nothing more to their life. King Janaka was of a different creed. He would not stop until the darkness of ignorance is dispelled by the light of wisdom. Yes, it was imparted to the King by the diminutive and ‘out of shape’ boy Ashtavakra – the one with eight types of deformities in his body. Those physical abnormalities symbolically betrayed his ability to show the men of wisdom his competence to tackle eight different avenues of knowledge at the same time, as an ashtavadhani. In the end, Janaka’s darkness was dispelled, not by achieving anything new, but by realizing the truth which he already possessed, albeit unbeknownst to him. It was indeed a revelation; nothing more, nothing less.Sri Asharaf has created a beautiful work of ‘fiction’ by incorporating the epitome of Indian philosophy of consciousness by taking us through the tribulations of a king as if he is a commoner – a commoner in his dreams and limitations, his problems, and vagaries of life. Sita, his favorite daughter was a constant source of joy and companionship for him. They discussed politics, spirituality, and even the defense strategy of the country! Kushadhwaja, the king’s own brother was almost a son to him but caught up in the web of lack of confidence and misplaced loyalty, as it were. There was a retinue of advisors and preceptors on the king’s payroll, but they were of no avail when a ‘real’ problem started tormenting the wise king.It took the young sage – Ashtavakra, with knowledge and maturity beyond his age who decided to venture into the wild world in search of his father, to impart the king with the clarity he has been yearning for. Ashraf’s portrayal of the life of the young mother Sujatha, who lost her husband because of this deformed son, is nothing short of a beautiful poem. No, he does not paint a picture of pity, but we find in her the strength of motherhood and all the integrity it carries as she imparted the right mix of confidence and clarity to this special son of hers. She sent him away for a mission and that mission became a wonderful door of opportunity for seekers everywhere.King Janaka’s palace, which was under the spell of pessimism, and the threat of an impending war turned into a place of merry and joy momentarily just as the king’s dream of being a beggar ended and him waking up into the ‘reality’ of being the emperor he is. He had been having this thought – Am I a king or a beggar? As soon as Sri Rama came to Mithila with his retinue to lift and break the divine bow, all the doom and gloom disappeared from the palace. As soon as Ashtavakra imparted the jewel of wisdom, King Janaka’s confusion got dissolved. This is a process of dissolving the problem rather than resolving a problem that did not exist in the first place!Ashraf paints a compelling picture of the concept of ‘Sankalpa’ as it applies to the creation of one’s own world. He has spared no theoretical details in expounding this philosophical treaty and those who are students of Vedanta would lap up the content with enthusiasm. The episode of Sita Swayamavara happened after Sri Rama and Lakshmana killed the demons under Sage Vishwamitra’s command. Prior to that, Sri Rama got the wisdom to move in the world of plurality with confidence, from Sage Vasishta through Yogavasishtam – a wonderful lesson of reasoning and introspection. It is not a matter of coincidence that Ashtavakra’s philosophical discourse is quite in line with what Yogavasishtam propounds.At times we see poetic moments brought up in conversation – one such instant includes a time when Janaka was able to behold and listen to the vibration of the hibiscus petal as a butterfly alighted on it while the wind carried a waft of fragrance along. Although a ‘tall’ figure of knowledge and wisdom, Ashtavakra had to wait a few days at the doorways to the Palace of Mithila before he was allowed in. The doorkeeper relented on his own seeing the determination and confidence beaming from the diminutive sage’s gaze. “How can one stay so calm under insults and danger?”The sage was able to knock off the notion of ownership and hierarchy of the king’s position in the society saying that ‘aha, so you are just a custodian of all these!’. Another Sankalpa shattered by the sage was: “the dream world or the conscious world which is really true?” was the King’s question and the answer were ‘both are untrue’. The classic ‘snake and the rope’ example has been included in the book with due care and it conveys the message amply.The ‘fiction’ in the book is well portrayed with enough suspense and excitement that can captivate the reader. The potential for a coup to overthrow the mighty king by his own people, the king’s passive and sometimes pensive mood as observed by his own brother Kushadhwaja, Sita’s confidence and the assurance she gives to her father, the secret spiritual mission of the elite Saptarshi’s (of which Kahoda, Ashtavakra’s father is a member), Sita’s Swayamvara festivities, etc. make the ‘novel’ a wonderful read. One would have loved to see Ashtavakra and his mother Sujatha once again after having completed his mission at Mithila. Also, in the Ramayanas I read; King Dasaratha was never part of the Sage Vishwamithra’s team to enter Mithila along with Sri Rama when he broke the divine bow. Emperor Dasaratha came for the wedding after getting the news and invitation from Janaka afterward. But this deviation from the scripture has not made any dent in the story.Is the Butterfly buzzing in my dream, or am I agile in its dream?

A king is under siege and his enemies are not only at the gate but within the confines of his own palace. He trusts no one-not his wife or his brother, his Prime Minister, or his spiritual advisers. There is a war outside and a war in his head. And time is short. Can he find a suitor for his beloved daughter Sita, before his world collapses? And who is this strange crippled boy who limps towards the palace offering a solution to all his problems? Welcome to the world of King Janaka, an Indian king whose story is first told in the epic Ramayana. Karayath takes this ancient tale and puts a modern spin on it. For those who may be put off by the seemingly impenetrable intricacies of Indian mysticism and spiritual thought Karayath simplifies the ancient texts and makes them more accessible to the modern reader. He also has a gift for sensualising the landscape of his story - his descriptions evoke the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of a story set around the 7th or 8th Century BCE. Neither does the author lose us in otherworldliness - he has a keen understanding of the sinuous machinations of the temporal - of power, politics, intrigue, and war. This an author who knows his material inside out and we can feel we can trust as he leads us from first page to last. For those of you who have an interest in the Sanskrit epics, ancient Vedic literature in general or even a story that involves some good old-fashioned, clever detective work - who is the traitor in the palace! - then this book is for you.

Are you familiar with Ramayan and The Sita Swayambar (self choice marriage)The book ‘Janaka and ashtavakra’ is about the events that took place around the Sita’s swayambar. It is the tale when Janaka was lost deep in his thoughts and finding the answers of few of his questions. Where on the other hand, Ashtavakra, who was a young sage with a distorted body cursed by his father when he was unborned, was on the voyage of finding the answers of his father’s disappearance. As soon as Ashtavakra met Janaka, the king instantly became disciple of Ashtavakra and learned various spiritual teachings.This book is more than the tale of Hindu mythology, it is a tale giving spiritual and philosophical life lessons that will bring peace to our mind. The lessons were about liberation, enlightenment, consciousness and realities of life.If you are a mythology lovers, who like to know the hidden events happened during Sita’s Marriage and how king Janaka, learn profound life wisdom from a young sage, This book will definitely impress you.With rich writing language and compelling storytelling, I would like to say the author made a masterpiece which needs to be read by every mythology lover and those who want to explore mythology.It can also be read by non fiction lovers or those seeking spiritual wisdom in life.

A Tale of Wisdom and IntrigueAshraf Karayath has done a fantastic job of weaving a tale that is both spiritually uplifting and full of intrigue. The plot is gripping, and the characters are incredibly well-developed. I was completely engrossed in the story, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next. The book's exploration of the complexities of life and the importance of spiritual enlightenment is truly thought-provoking.