mithila our sweet land

The Brief History of Mithila
In the BrihadVishnu Puran under the heading of the Mithila Mahatmya in the Second Chapter, Shloka 20-21 it has been said:

“Mithila Tairbhuhischa Vaidehi Naimikananm

Jnankhestra Kripapitha Swarn Langal Paddhatiah.

Janaki Janmbhumischa Nitpeksha Vikalmasha

Ramanandkari Vishvabhavini Nityamangala.”

Meaning thereby Mithila. Tirbhukti, Vaidehi, Naimikanan, Jnanshila, Kripapeetha, Swarn Langal Paddhati, Janaki Janmbhumi, Vikalmasha, Ramanandkari, Vishvabhavini and Nityamangala are 12 names of Mithila.

Mithila’s meaning:

“Antarvahyascha Sarvatra madhyante Ripavah sada

Mithilanam Sajneya Janakasch kritamahi.

Makaro Vishwakarta cha Thakarsthitipalakah

Lakaro laykarta vai trimara Shaktyobhavan.”

(Inside and outside, who churn out enemies always

Mithila be understood that where Janaks were ruling the land.

‘Mi’s Makar signifies Founder of the world and ‘Thi’s Thakar signifies Who looks after

‘La’s Lakar signifies the Destroyer and Trimatra is for the Power.”

After 71 Chatryugi one Indra comes to throne who reins 36720000 Human years. He is called Manu and Manwatar is the time frame. Such 14 Indras are coming to throne.

Those live very long are called CHIRANJIVI. At the present moment there are 8 CHIRANJIVIS-(Ashwatthama,Bali,Vyasa, Hanuman,Bibhishan,Kripacharya, Parshuram and Markandeya).

uring the 24th Chaturyugi Brahma asked Vashstha to go to Mrityubhuvan for becoming priest of Suryavanshi Kings. Vashishtha protested that Purohiti is prohibited profession.

Then Brahma said that Lord Vishnu Himself would take birth at that Suryavanshi kings in Tretayug. Vashistha then said that he would go but wanted one correction.

Brahma asked what correction?

Vashishtha said,”You say Ramavatar will be in Treta. Now Satyayug is going on, then Dwapar will come and then Treta will come. I cannot live for so long in Mrtyubhuvan as:

Satyayuga is of 172800 years

Dwapar is of 12,96,000 years

Treta is of 8,64,000 years, and

Kaliya is of 4,32,000 years.

If you make treat after satyayug,I may go.”

Brahma accepted that and since then Treta is coming after Satyayuga.

Before that 24 times Satyayuga was follwed by Dwapar and then Treta.

On the acceptance by Brahma, Vashishtha came to Mrityubhuvan and became priest of Suryavanshis.

Who were Suryavansis?

The son of Sun was Manu who had four sons- 1. Ang, 2. Bang, 3. Nimiya and 4. Awadh on whose names were named Angdesh. Bangdesh, Nepaldesh and Awadh.

After Satyayug, came Tretayug when Ram was born but how he could marry Sita of his own Gotra and Dynasty and hence, Brahma had to make a way.

One day Brahma distracted mind of Nimiya who requested Vashishtha to have a Yajna so that he could reach Swarag with the body as Kaliyag’s time cycle had been only 5087 years.

Vashistha replied,”OK”, and he went his home. Nimaya started arrangements for Yajna. Seers were invited. All except Vashshtha was present on due time. A messanger was sent for him.

Vashishtha became angry and said he had committed Indra before him for the Yajna and hence he was going to Indra.

Knowing that Nimaya was in deep grief and proclaimed for the cancellation of Yajna.

But all seers said that in the absence of Vashishtha, the yajna be held with appointing Gautam as Acharya.

Gautam started yajna. That time kings had the Gotra of Gurus and so now Nimiya;s Gotra was changed to Gautam from Vshistha and yajna sankalpa was for 500 years.

When Vashishtha returned from Indra’s place,his son Shaktiji informed him the matter.

Vashishtha reached Nimiy’s place and both had hot talks. Vashishtha taking water in his hands gave curse,

“ Sadyah Videho Bhava.”

Nimiya also cursed him.

With the curse of Vashishtha Nimiya died.

With the curse of Nimiya Vashishtha reached Varun’s place seeking life by “Parkaya Pravesh.”

Varun listening to his prayer gave place to Vashishtha’s soul in his heart and since then was known as Mitravarun.

Once, Mitravarun had sperm fall seing the numph Urvashi.

That sperm was kept in a Ghat. Agastya was born to that and hece he is called Ghat-Yoni utpanna.

Some sperm fell on the Lotus leaf from which Vashishtha was born who is called a Veshyaputra.

After the death of Nimiya, after death he was asked to remain as hair above the eyes (Eye-brows- the NIMI) seers churned out a son (Mathi Kaya) of his dead body who was hence, called MITHI.

Mithi established a good capital, which was named on him as MITHILAPURI.

Being born of the body of father he took title of JANAK.

Since that day whoever be the king was called JANAK.

Father of Sita was 21st JANAK. He was named Kushadhwaj.

In that Nimi’s yajna 19 seers came from the different parts of the country who settled down in Mithila whose sons are called from that Gotra.

Due to change of Gotra and body Ram’s marriage could be held with Sita.

According to Panini, where enemies were eradicated out that country was called Mithila. The people there had been with valor.

Siradhwaj Janak under whose time Jagdamba Janki took reincarnation had defeated the King of Sakanshya.

There had been 57 kings in the dynasty of Videh Janak. People use to long-lived in those days. By the time of DWAPAR that kingdom was weakened and was divided in the East and West Mithila. Hence, Western Mithila (Tirhut) accepted the ascend of Hastinapur and had sided with Kauravas during Mahabharata but Eastern Mithila (MATSYA JANPADA)’s King Virat had sided with the Pandavas. Viratnagar was his capital where Pandavas spent secretly their period of their AJNATVAS.

The last King of Janak Dynasty was of bad character, hence, the public under the leadership of Acharyas dethroned him and Mithila remained Kingless for hundreds of years for want of a suitable person. In fact, Mithila was the first democracy of the world, which worked on the basis of a Panchayati system under the guidance of Acharyas. People were disciplined afraid of Dharmadand. It was said:

“Na Raja Na Cha Rajyasit, Na Dandyo Na Cha Dandika

Dharme naiv praja saevaih Rakshantim parasparam.”

Meaning thereby there was neither king, nor punishment nor punishment giver- the subjects were disciplined by the fear of Dharmdanda and were safe.

Including Vaishali in whole of the Mithila such state continued for long. Then outsiders started attacking. It was not difficult to defeat the simpletons of Mithila and Vajjisangh, Lichhavis, Shaishunag, Nand Dynasty, Shung Dynasty, Kant Dynasty, Gupta Dynasty, Vardhan Dynasty etc. ruled there from time to time.

In the same time period (5th-6th century) - Jaywardhan Raja Salhesh became who made his capital at Mahisautha-Sirha (presently in Nepal which was then limited to the Kathmandu valley and nearby hilly terrains).

Tibetans had attacked on Mithila several times which was successfully defended by King Salhesh. Hence, he was called Shailesh (king of Mountains) from Jaywardhan which in local dialect was called Salhesh. His valor could make whole north-eastern India safe.

Around 6th Century to 9th century-

But after him Mithila was ruled under Pal Dynasty for three centuries. Pals were Buddhists, the last king of Pal Dynasty was Madanpal. Present Balirajgarh (Babubarhi-Madhubani district) was probably their capital, which needs excavation for details. Madanpal was a weak king, as he could not face Adishur Samant Sen’s army.

Around 9th Century to 11th century- Sen Dynasty-

Samant Sen was Sanatani (Vedic follower) and hence was helped by the people of Mithila being orthodox Sanatanis.

Eminent scholar Vachaspati Mishra (from Thardhi in Madhubani district, who named his famous treatise on Brahmsutra on the name of his wife, BHAMATI) was from this period, who had written in the drishant of his Nyaykanika-

“Nij bhuj viryamasthay Shuran Adi Shurojayati,” meaning Adishur (Samant Sen) is winning for his own valor.

Sen Dynasty has five kings- Samant Sen, Hemant Sen, Vijay Sen, Vallal Sen and Laxman Sen (till 11th century).

Karnat Dyanasty’s Nanya Deva defeated the last King, Laxman Sen. Nanya Deva had come from west and had his first settlement at Simraun Garh (Birganj) and later on conquering whole of Mithila he made his capital at Kamaladitya Sthan (Kamladan), the proof of which has been materials of the excavation. Balirajgarh is also not far from there.

For the generations of Nanya Dev had been said-

“Shasta Nanyapatir bhva tadanu Shri Gangdevo nripah,

tatsunur Narsingh Dev nripatiah Shri Ramsinghas tatah,

Tatsunu khalu Shakti Singhah nripatih bhupalbastijatah,

Shri Hari Singh Dev nripati, Karnat churamani.”

i.e. After Nanya Dev, Gang Dev,Narshingh Sev, Shakrasingh dev and Hari Singh Dev had been king who was most famous as he initiated PANJI VYAVASTHA of Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasthas(Karn Kayasthas). His Prime Minister was Pt. Chandeshwar Thakkur(Mahakavi Vidyapati’s Grandfather’s brother). He wrote several books and was such a hero that he annexed Nepal’s big mountainous territory (Tarai was then itself Mithila).

In the court of Hari Singh Dev the Royal Priest was Kameshwar Thakur (of OINWAR DYNASTY) and the author of VARNA RATNAKAR, the first prose, an encyclopedia in any north Indian language, Kavishekharacharya Jyotirishwar Thakur was the Kavishekhar.

Brahmin Rule from 1326AD to 1526-

n 1326 when Firoz Shah Tughlak attacked fiercely on Mithila then handing over the kingdom to Pt. Kameshwar Thakkur, Maharaja Harisingh Dev fled away to Nepal with Pt. Chandeshwar Thakur where his descendants ruled for many centuries.

According to historian Dr. Upendra Thakur after fleeing away of Harisingh Dev for 27 years anarchy prevailed in Mithila. Later on in 1353 Firoz Shah Tughlak himself appointed Pt. Kameshwar Thakur as KARAD RAJA. When Kameshwar Thakkur was unable to collect and pay tax to Firoz Shah then he was compelled to dethrone him and making his velour son, Bhogishwar Thakkur as a friend gave him kingdom. They were from the Oini village (Muzaffarpur), and hence, were called OINWAR KINGS and hence from 1326/1353 Brahmins started ruling Mithila.

After some time Bhogishwar Thakur’s younger brother Bhavesh Thakur fell in conspiracy and he started revolt asking for his share in kingdom. Pandits did mediation and Bhavesh Thakur (Bhavsingh) became master of Sugauna (Rajnagar) state but he was not satisfied with that and continued conspiracy.

After the death of Bhogishwar Thakur, his son, Ganeshwar Singh became king but a Muslim feudal Aslan conspiratorially stabbed him with a dagger in 1361 AD. He wanted to kill his two sons-Vir Singh and Kirti Singh too but they were safely hided somewhere.

After some time both princes went secretly Jaunpur and appealed to Emperor Tughlak who sent a platoon of army with them with the help of them both princes fought with Aslan. Aslan and Vir Singh both were killed in the war.

Kirti Singh became king. He could not rule for a long. All three brothers were issueless as well hence, after the death of Kirti Singh, brother of grandfather old man Bhav Singh became king of united Mithila and Bhogishwar’s line was ended.

After Bhavsingh his eldest son Dev Singh became king who made his new capital Devkuli(Dekuli Dham) and several temples and ponds were made in his tenure.

After his death his eldest son boy Shiv Singh became king who whose friend was Mahakavi Vidyapati who was called KHELAN KAVI. Shiv Singh made his new capital at Gajarathgrah. He was so influential king that declaring an independent kingdom he stopped paying tax to Emperor. In 1412 AD he gave Bisfi to Vidyapati as Danpatra and honoured him as a Zamindar.

Emperor Ibrahim Shah Tughlak was angry to know all these and in 1416 he attacked Mithila with a mighty army. People of Mithila fought with heroism. There was a fierce battle- both sides lost much. It was unfortunate for Mithila that Maharaja Shiv Singh was killed and his dead body too was hidden somewhere by the enemies. People thought that Maharaja Shiv Singh has fled somewhere in Himalayas and hence, Lakhima Rani waited for 12 years living at the place of Dronwar king Puraditya (Garh Banaili) and Emperor was being paid tax. After completion of time she jumped to be sati on the lit-pyre of Maharaja.

Maharaja Shiv Singh was issueless and hence, after his death, his younger brother, Padma Singh became tax-payee King(Karad Raja)in 1428 but he too could not live long. After his death in 1431,his queen, Bishwas Devi took over the reins. That queen was also issueless and hence, after her death Shiv Singh’s younger brother (Shiv Singh’s grandfather’s brother) Hari Singh ascended to throne and after his death Hari Singh became King, and after his death Nar Singh became King who died in 1461.

Mahakavi Vidyapati in his long life (1350-1450) could see ten King and Queen of Mithila (from Bhogishwar Thakkur to Hari Singh).

During 1460, one year before the death of King Nar Singh, his son Dhir Singh had taken over the kingdom. After Dhir Singh’s death, his younger brother Bhairav Singh became king. He was a very popular king among the subjects. In his tenure apart from the development of literature, Mithila’s total integral development has been with many ponds, wells,temples,roads, etc. Ruling around 35 years, he died in 1515.

Then his son Rambhadra Singh Dev became King. Due to his handsome personality he was called Rupnarayan as Maharaja Shiv Singh. In his time Mithila was extended from the border of Bengal to UP. Unfortunately his son, Laxminath Singh Dev was not as hero as him who became king after his death and was the last King of OINWAR dynasty.

After 1526 AD—Due to jealousy among clan and Sikandar Lodhi’s attack on Mithila Laxminath was killed in 1526. After the victory Sikandar Lodhi made his son-in-law, Alauddin, the ruler of this area. By that time at Delhi Mogul Empire too was established.

Now for 50 years Muslim rule and exploitation continued in Mithila due to which an anarchy and jungle raj prevailed there. At that time a large number of Maithils were converted to Islam. Many important books were burnt. Vidyapati’s dih Bisfi was made Hinduless and his descendents came to Saurath. Due to fear many scholars and litterateurs from Mithila fled away with the books to Nepal, Bengal, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Assam or went for Kashivas.

When Akbar came on the throne of Delhi after 50 years, then he tried for the peace in Mithila. He came to the conclusion that only after a Maithil Brahmin was made King, peace can prevail and rent can be collected in Mithila. Hence, he called Rajpandit Chandrapati Thakkur (A Shrotiya) to Delhi from Garh Mangala (MP) and asked for a son. Chandrapati Thakkur asked his middle son Pt. Mahesh Thakkur for ruling Mithila. Emperor Akbar declared Pt. Mahesh Thakkur as the ruler of Mithila. At that time some poet has written in Garh Mandala-

“ Ati pavitra mangal karan, ramjanm ke din.

Akbar Tushit Maheshko Tirhut Raja kaun?”

“Navgrah Ved Vasundhara, Shakme Akbar Shah,

Pandit subudh Maheshko, kinho Mithila Raj.”

(On Ramnawami in 1499 San i.e. in 1577 AD, Pt. Mahesh Thakkur became King of Mithila).

But due to prevailing anarchy in Mithila for many years, he could not collect rent and send that Delhi which made Akbar angry to take his kingdom. Then Pt. Mahesh Thakkur’s beloved disciple and talented scholar Pt. Raghunandan went to Delhi and satisfied Emperor, returning kingdom again to him.

Pt. Mahesh Thakkur was of the mool, Kharaure Bhaur and hence that dynasty was called ‘Khandwala Kul’ and the capital was made in the northwest of Sarisab-Pahi and Rajgram.

After the death of Mahesh Thakkur, his eldest son, Gopal Thakur, became King. He being short-lived, his younger brother Parmanand Thakkur became King. When he too died then Mahesh Thakkur’s fifth son Shubhankar Thakkur became King who died in 1617 AD. Then his son Purushottam Thakkur became King but in 1623 he was killed in a conspiracy. Then his stepbrother, Narayan Thakkur became King who died in 1645 and then his son Sundar Thakkur became King. After his death Mahinath Thakkur became King by which time Aurangjeb had became Emperor.

After Mahinath Thakkur his son Narpati Thakkur became king who transferred his capital from Rajgram to Darbhanga and made a fort there, still called Rambag Palace. When Narpati became old, he went to Kashi, handing over the kingdom to his velour son like himself, Raghav Singh.

Raghav Singh was a great warrior and an able administrator. Winning several wars, he added to the glory of Mithila. In 1739,after his death, his eldest son, Vishnu Singh became King who could rule only four years because the Zamindar of Makwanpur (Nepal) called him to Janakpurdham and killed him in a fraud.

In the circumstances, his younger brother, Narendra Singh was made King at Darbhanga. Narendra Singh was also called Warrior Yuvaraj and he soon took revenge of his elder brother’s murder.

In 1760,after his death, his cousin Pratap Singh was made King, after whose death Madhav Singh became King by which time British had hold their feet in India.

British did not like any powerful ruler in Mithila and hence, they made several savants/small kings at many places. People of Mithila were so simpleton that they could not understand that conspiracy.

Eastern Mithila was given separate administration.

Darbhanga’s Maharaj Madhav Singh died in 1807. Then his son Chhatra Singh became king, after whose death Rudra Singh became king and after his death Maheshwar Singh came to throne.

Maheshwar Singh died in 1860 AD. By that time his son Laxmishwar Singh was a minor, hence, the British Govt. put Darbhanga Raj under the’ Court of Wards’.

As a victim to the British conspiracy, western Mithila adopted Urdu-Persian and English as its court and administrative language in place of the mother-tongue,Maithili.

When Laxmishwar Singh became 21 year-old then on written claim his estate was returned to him but after the division of Bengal in 1912, Mithila could not become a state and was kept under Bihar-the misfortune of Mithila starts from there.

After the death of Maharaja Laxmishwar Singh, Rameshwar Singh became Maharaja and after his death Kameshwar Singh who was the last Maharaja.

In 1947, with the Independence of India their rule too ended.

After some years, zamindari too was abolished and separate Mithila State continued since thousands of years was merged in Bihar due to the British Conspiracy while separate Bihar state was never in the history.

In 1912,Bihar and Orissa were carved out of Bengal and in 1936,Orissa too was carved out as a separate State.

In 2000AS, Jharkhand too was carved out of Bihar but still Mithila is under the State of Bihar.

It is surprising how the people of Mithila became Paurushheen?

References:

1. Salhesh Mahagatha(oral traditions)
2. Kirtilata- Vidyapati
3. Mithila Tattwa-Vimarsh- Mahamahopadhyay Pt. Parmeshwar Jha
4. Mithilak Itihas- Dr.Upendra Thakur
5. Pt. Mahesh Thakur,Maharaj,Darbhanga-Dr.Kirtinath Thakur
6. Pt. Sahdev Jha,Andhra-Thadhi
7. Pt. Yugeshwar Jha, Haripur, Majrahi Tol