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Mithila (region)

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For the aspirant state in India, see Mithila, India.
For other uses, see Mithila (disambiguation).

Mithila
Region in Asia
ContinentAsia
Countries
Largest cities
List
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
40 million

Mithila (IAST: mithilā), also known as Tirhut and Tirabhukti, is a geographical and cultural region located in the Indian state of Bihar. This region is bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north.[1][2] It extends into the southeastern Terai of Nepal.[3][4]

The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.[1]

The name Mithila is commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha.[4] In the 18th century, when Mithila was still ruled by the Raj Darbhanga, the British Raj annexed the region without recognizing it as a princely state.[5][6] Today, Mithila comprises the West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger, Khagaria, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Purnia, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Bhagalpur, Godda, Deoghar and Banka districts of India and some adjoining districts of Nepal Terai.[1][7]

Etymology

The name Mithila is derived after mythical King 'Miti' which means "Soil". He was supposed to have been created from the body of his father King Nimi. Since he was born out of body of his father, he took the title Janaka. After this, the Kings of Mithila were called Janaka.[citation needed]

Another name of the region was Tirabhukti meaning "bound by rivers". This was later abbreviated to Tirhut.[8]

History

Main article: History of Mithila Region
See also: Videha

Vedic period

Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan peoples who established the Videha kingdom.[9] During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas.[10]

The Videha Kingdom later became incorporated into the Vajji confederacy, which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila.[11]

Medieval period

Main articles: Oinwar dynasty, Raj Darbhanga, and Karnatas of Mithila

From the 11th century to the 20th century, Mithila was ruled by various indigenous dynasties. The first of these were the Karnatas who were of Thakur origin, the Oinwar dynasty who were Maithil Brahmins and the Khandavalas of Raj Darbhanga who were also Maithil Brahmins.[12] It was during this period that the capital of Mithila was shifted to Darbhanga.[13][14]

Geography

Mithila is distinct geographical region with natural boundaries like rivers and hills. It is largely a flat and fertile alluvial plain criss-crossed by numerous rivers which originate from the Himalayas. The flat plains and fertile land have meant that Mithila has a rich variety of biotic resources; however, frequent floods have restricted the people from taking advantage of these.[15]

Rivers and floods

Mithila has seven major rivers, Mahananda, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, Kamala, Balan, and the Budhi Gandak.[16] They flow from the Himalaya mountains in the north to the Ganges river in the south. These rivers regularly flood, depositing silt onto the farmlands and sometimes causing death or hardship.

People

Main article: Maithils

Maithili language speakers are referred to as Maithils and they are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group. There are an estimated 35 million Maithils in India alone. The vast majority of them are Hindu but there is a small Muslim minority.[17]

The people of Mithila can be split into various caste/clan affiliations such as Brahmins, Thakurs, Kayasthas, Dhanuks,Ahirs, Kurmis, Koeris, Baniyas and many more.[18]

Notable people from Mithila region

The following are notable residents (past and present) of Mithila region.

  • Vidyapati, also known by the sobriquet Maithil Kavi Kokil (the poet cuckoo of Maithili) was a Maithili poet and a Sanskrit writer. He was born in the village Bisfi in Madhubani district of Mithila region of present-day Bihar, India.[19]
  • Ayachi Mishra who was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and great thinker of Mithila and his son shankar called as the “Shankaracharya of northernbihar/mithilanchal” who narrated the poem at the age of five in font of Darbhanga Mahraj "“ Balo aham Jagadananda, na me bala saraswati Apurne panchame varshe, varenyam Jagatrayam”.

Culture

Madhubani art

Main article: Madhubani art

Madhubani painting/Mithila painting was traditionally created by the women of different communities in Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is named after Madhubani district of Bihar, India which is where it originated.[44] This painting as a form of wall art was practiced widely throughout the region; the more recent development of painting on paper and canvas originated among the villages around Madhubani, and it is these latter developments that may correctly be referred to as Madhubani art.[45]

Mithila Madhuri

Mithila Madhuri is a YouTube Channel of Maithili (Mithila Region) songs which provides historical, cultural and wedding ceremony songs to the viewers.

Proposed Indian state

Main article: Mithila, India

There is an ongoing movement in the Maithili speaking region of Bihar for a separate Indian state of Mithila. A likely candidate for the capital of the proposed state is Darbhanga, while other potential sites include Muzaffarpur, Purnia, and Begusarai.[46]

Nepalese Province

Main article: Province No. 2

There was also a movement in the Maithili speaking areas of Nepal for a separate state, which ended after the Constitution of Nepal 2015 guaranteed it and Province No. 2 was established. The 2015 Constitution transformed the country into the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, with a total of 7 provinces.[47]

Hinduism

Mithila holds a significant value in Hinduism as it is thought to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Rama.[48]

Jainism

In the Jain tradition, it is believed that the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira was born in early part of the 6th-century BC into a royal family in what is now Vaishali district in Mithila region of Bihar, India. According to Jain Agamas, 21st Tirthankara Naminatha was born in Mithila[49] to King Vijaya and Queen Vapra.[50] Mithila was ruled by King Vijaya of Ikshvaku dynasty and after him, by Lord Naminatha.[51]

See more

References

  1. ^ a b c Jha, M. (1997). "Hindu Kingdoms at contextual level". Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. New Delhi: M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 27–42. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Mishra, V. (1979). Cultural Heritage of Mithila. Allahabad: Mithila Prakasana. p. 13. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. ^ Ishii, H. (1993). "Seasons, Rituals and Society: the culture and society of Mithila, the Parbate Hindus and the Newars as seen through a comparison of their annual rites". Senri Ethnological Studies 36: 35–84.
  4. ^ a b Kumar, D. (2000). "Mithila after the Janakas". The Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 60: 51–59.
  5. ^ Singh, U. N. (1986). "The Maithili Language Movement: Successes and Failures". Language Planning: Proceedings of an Institute: 174–201.
  6. ^ Jha, M. (1997). "Hindu Kingdoms at textual level". Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. New Delhi: M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Kumāra, Braja Bihārī (26 October 1998). "Small States Syndrome in India". Concept Publishing Company. Retrieved 26 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Cust, R.N. (1901). "The Indian Hero". Linguistic and oriental essays: written from the year 1840 to 1903. London: Trübner & Co. pp. 144–158. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143
  10. ^ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 141-143
  11. ^ Raychaudhuri Hemchandra (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp. 85–86
  12. ^ "Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective". Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Wetlands management in North Bihar". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  14. ^ "Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  15. ^ "City, Society, and Planning: Society". p. 424. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Rivers of Bihar | Bihar Articles". Bihar.ws. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  17. ^ James B. Minahan. "Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia". Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  18. ^ Makhan Jha. "Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective". pp. 33–40. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  19. ^ "The birth place of Vidyapati is Known to be Madhubani in Present day Bihar, India".
  20. ^ Biography and Works anubhuti-hindi.org.
  21. ^ "Sahitya Akademi Award Citation". IndiaPicks.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Special Postage Stamps on Linguistic Harmony of India". Latest PIB Releases. Press Information Bureau of the Government of India. September 1999. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  23. ^ Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar. Penguin Books India. 1 January 2011. ISBN 9780670084593.
  24. ^ Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar By Arun Sinha page 53
  25. ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe (1 January 2010). Religion, Caste, and Politics in India. Primus Books. ISBN 9789380607047.
  26. ^ Religion, Caste, and Politics in India By Christophe Jaffrelot page 475
  27. ^ Padma Awards Official listings Govt. of India portal.
  28. ^ Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' Profile Seasoninindia.
  29. ^ Edited by S.Sengupta & Anjali Basu (2002). Sansad Bengali Charitavidhan (Bengali). kolkata: Sahitya Sansad. pp. 324, 325. ISBN 81-85626-65-0. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ "Bihar elections: Ram Vilas Paswan remained a facilitator, never the face".
  31. ^ IANS (10 December 2013). "BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain on IM hit list". Retrieved 26 October 2017 – via Business Standard.
  32. ^ "BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain's impersonator arrested". NDTV.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  33. ^ "PM's 'lack' of leadership has made UPA 'sinking ship': BJP". NewIndianExpress.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Chief Minister list, cm.bih.nic.in, accessed March 2009". bih.nic.in. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Dalit Freedom Fighters". Google Books. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  36. ^ Jha, Dhirendra K (7 October 2015). "How Bihar chief minister Manjhi revived Dalit politics in the Hindi belt". Scroll.in. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Chief Ministers of Bihar Since 1947". BiharJagran.com. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  38. ^ http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/598.htm
  39. ^ "PRESS COMMUNIQUE". Press Information Bureau. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  40. ^ Ram Baran Yadav
  41. ^ "Nepal parliament elects new PM". AFP via Google News.
  42. ^ "Nepal PM quits in live TV address". BBC News. 30 June 2010.
  43. ^ Madhav Kumar Nepal
  44. ^ "Madhubani Painting". p. 96. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  45. ^ Carolyn Brown Heinz, 2006, "Documenting the Image in Mithila Art," Visual Anthropology Review, Vol. 22, Issue 2, pp. 5-33
  46. ^ "Small States Syndrome in India". p. 146. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  47. ^ Burkert, C. (2012). "Defining Maithil Identity". In Gellner, D.; Pfaff-Czarnecka, J.; Whelpton, J. (eds.). Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of Contemporary Nepal. London, New York: Routledge. pp. 241–273. ISBN 9781136649561. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Minahan, J.B. (2012). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598846607. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  49. ^ Tukol 1980, p. 31.
  50. ^ Jain 2009, p. 87-88.
  51. ^ Shah 1987, p. 163-164.

Bibliography

  • Tukol, T. K. (1980). Compendium of Jainism. Dharwad: University of Karnataka.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Mithila".
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