Janamjeya

In Hindu mythology, the son of King
Parikshit; Janamjeya rules after his
father’s untimely death from the bite of
the serpent Takshaka. Janamjeya has a
pronounced hatred of serpents because
of Takshaka’s role in his father’s death,
and during his reign he performs a great
sacrifice known as the Sarpasatra,
through which most of the snakes on
earth are killed. Takshaka manages to
stop the sacrifice before all of the earth’s
serpents are completely wiped out by
pleading with a brahmin to help him.
The brahmin comes to Janamjeya’s sacrifice as a guest and requests that the
sacrifice be stopped. Since, according to
tradition, a brahmin guest’s request cannot be refused, Janamjeya is compelled
to curtail the rite.
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Janamjeya
Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, Nepal. This temple
marks the site where the goddess Sita first appeared.