Janaka Stagnaro
1 min readJul 18, 2020

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I am glad you liked it, Praveen. The first two are watercolors, the third pastel.

Yes, there is a story about my name. I was born John. So was everyone else it seemed at the time. Then I came to realize that toilets, clients of prostitutes, and letters you hoped never to receive from your loved one, were named that as well.

When my "awakening" happened I began to explore and practice various disciplines, especially Vedanta. I loved The Ramayana, and I particularly enjoyed The Ashtavakra Gita, both involving King Janaka. I was living a quasi sadhu lifestyle, traveling, exploring. Met a woman who was leaving an ashram and her spiritual name was Sita. She became pregnant and I was going to be a father. Who was the ideal householder, King Janaka, the one who was unattached to wives and possession, who knew he was neither beggar nor king?

Plus, it is a pun. Being a pundamentalist that I am, I couldn't help seeing that Janaka=aka Jan or John. So voila. Cheers.

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Janaka Stagnaro
Janaka Stagnaro

Written by Janaka Stagnaro

Poetry, parables, articles — spiritual, life-lessons, Waldorf education, artwork. 11 books. www.janakasartandbooks.com

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