Mithila (Sanskrit: मिथिला, mithilā) was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha. The city of Mithila has been identified as modern day Janakpur in Dhanusa district of Nepal.
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Geography and climate
The Mithila region was situated on the north-eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain and parts of adjoining Nepal. The major cities in the present day are
- in Nepal, Janakpur, Sirha, Rajbiraj, Biratnagar, and
- in India, Bettiah, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, and Saharsaand some parts of purnia and muzaffarpur also.
The climate is mainly dry and cool. In summer the temperature varies within the 35 to 45 degree Celsius range and in winter it is typically 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. The elevation is close to mean sea level. The soil is suited for agriculture, which is the main economic activity. Rainfall is sufficient for agriculture.
The Mithila area is flooded every year, causing massive disruption and losses of billions of rupees. Dams on rivers such as the Kosi and the Ganges might alleviate the floods, but they have not yet been built. Critics of dam projects fear that large dams in an earthquake-prone zone could prove more disastrous than annual floods.
Economy
Agriculture is the main economic activity of the region. The main crops are paddy, wheat, pulses, moong, urad, arhar, jute (with a recent decline in its production), and maize.
The economy is not robust and the region is considered one of the poorest in India. Flooding destroys enormous amounts of crop every year. Due to absence of industry, a weak educational infrastructure and criminalized politics, the majority of the area's youth have had to relocate for education and earnings.
However, a resurgence of traditional artwork, Mithla painting, is becoming a more important part of the economy and the government is supporting this artwork as part of India's national heritage.
History
According to D.D. Kosāmbi's historical books, the 1st millennium BCE text Śatpath Brāhmana tells that the king Māthava Videgha, led by his priest Gotama Rahugana, first crossed the Sadānirā (Gandaka) river and founded a kingdom. Gotama Rahugana was a Vedic rishi who composed many hymns of the first mandala of the Rgveda. His most notable hymns praise Sva-rājya, another name for the State of Videgha. Māthava Videgha, therefore, must belong to the Rgvedic period and must have preceded the period of the Śatpath Brāhmana by a considerable gap.
The most important reference to Mithila is in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Rama's wife Sita is said to have been the princess of Videha, born to King Janaka who ruled in Mithila. The Rāmāyana also mentions a sage who was a descendandant of Gotama Rahugana living near Ahilya-sthāna.
Other famous kings of Mithila during ancient period were kings Bhanumath, Satghumanya, Suchi, Urjnama, Satdhwya, Kriti, Anjan, Arisnami, Srutayu, Supasyu, Suryasu, Srinjay, Sourmabi, Anena, Bhimrath, Satyarath, Upangu, Upgupt, Swagat, Snanand, Subrachya, Supraswa, Subhasn, Suchurut, Susurath, Jay, Vijay, Critu, Suny, Vith Habya, Dwati, Bahulaswa and Kriti Tirtiya. Vidyapati's Bhooparikraman indicates the palace of king Janak was on the bank of river Jamuna, now well known as Jamunia Dhar in Dijagal village 21 kilometres distant in south from Janakpur.
Both the great saints Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism, and Vardamana Mahavira, the 24th and final Tirthankara of the Jain religion, are said to have lived in Mithila. Mandana Mishra, the Hindu philosopher, who is considered to be an Avatar of Lord Shiva also lived in Mithila. The region was an important centre of Indian history during the first millennium.
A demand for separate state of Mitila is being raised by local organizations such as Mithila Rajya Abhiyan Samiti.[1] but it has not got that much support from people.
Culture
Maithili, an Eastern Indic language, is spoken in Mithila. Maithili has previously been considered a dialect of both Hindi and Bengali. Today Maithili, is recognized in the Eighth Schedule of Indian official languages. In southern districts of Mithila Angika is spoken.
The Mithila region is rich with culture and traditions, including the worship of the goddess of power, Durga. Every home of Mithila has its own god or goddess known as a kuldevta. The people generally live in larger families. The Hindu festivals are widely celebrated : Makar Sankranti (14 January), Basant Panchami, Saraswati Puja, Shivratri.Holi, Ram Navami, New Year(Mesha Sankranti on 14 April usually, Janaki Navami(Baishakh Shukla 9), Batsavitri, Madhushravani, Nagpanchami, Rakshabandhan,Krishna Janmashtami,Chauth Chandra, Durga Puja, Kojagara(Sharad Purnima), Diwali, Bhatridwitiya, Chhathi, Akshya Navami, Devotthan Ekadashi, Sama Chakeba,Kartik Purnima, Vivaha Panchami,etc. in which some are specific in Mithila such as Chauth Chandra when Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapad is celebrated rest of India, and Indra Puja in Ashwin Krishna Paksha and So Bhatridwitiya and Sama Chakeba in Kartik Shuklapaksha-are festivals for brothers and sisters apart from Rakhabandhan as in other parts of Indian subcontinent.
The Mundan ceremony is a very popular tradition in Mithila. A child's hair is shaved for the first time, accompanied by bhoj (a party) and (sometimes extravagant) celebrations.
The Maithili marriage traditions are important to the people and unique to the region. The custom includes four days of marriage ceremonies called: Barsait,Chautrthi, Madhushravni, Kojagara, and finally Dwiragman (the first homecoming of the bride). The marriage is traditionally fixed using complex genealogical tables, called Panji among Brahmins, Dev-Chaudhary “ Deo and Karna Kayasthas which are maintained by Panjikars, a special group of Brahmins who prevent marriages among relatives up to sixth degree in Matripaksha and seventh in Pitripakksha.
The name Mithila is also used to refer to a style of Hindu art, Madhubani art, created in the Mithila area. This art originated as ritual geometric and symbolic decorations on the walls and floors of a house, generally done by women before a marriage. The custom was not known to many outside the region. After paper was brought to the area, women began to sell their artwork and expand their subjects to popular and local Hindu deities as well as to the depiction of everyday events. Ganga Devi is perhaps the most famous Mithila artist; her work includes traditional ritual Mithila decorations, depictions of popular deities, scenes from the Ramayana, and events in her own life.
Folk stories are called grandmother stories in Mithila. The story of Gonu Jha is one popular tale.
A small film industry also exists. Of the many movies produced in Mailthili, "Sasta Jingi Mahag Senoor" and "Mamta Gabe Geet" are perhaps the best known.Off late " Sindurdan " also collected accolades. Among the documentary films that best presents the unparalleled cultural richness of Mithila are "The Cultural Heritage of Mithila" which showcases Pamaria, Pachania, Bhaant, Panaji-Prabandh, Sama-Chakeva, Salhes naach and Salhes gaatha gaayan, Kamla-Pooja etc. and "Mithila Paintings" which showcases the insights into the past, present and emerging forms of the Mithila paintings.
Utsav Bhavan
Utsav Bhavan is one of the most prestigious marriage and banquet hall of mithila catering the needs of mithilites for ages. It has been hub of thousands of marriages, mundan, upnayan sanskara, political and business meetings, dharmic satsang, pravachan, yangya etc.It is situated in the centre of modren and cultural capital of Bihar,in front of Radio station, Darbhanga. Which is also proposed capital of mithila.
People from Mithila
It is the birthplace of great poets like Vidypati, Nagarjuna, Gopal Krishna Jha[1] and Ram Dhari Singh (Dinkar).
(copy of wikipedia)
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