In Jainism Mithilā is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in
Jainism. Apart from its association with
Mahavira, the 24th
Tirthankara, it is also known for its association with
Mallinatha, the 19th Tirthankara, and
Naminatha, the 21st Tirthankara. As per the
Śvetāmbara canon, the first four of the
five significant events of the life of
Mallinātha and
Naminātha happened at Mithilā. The fifth one, which is the attainment of
nirvana, happened at
Sammet Shikharji.
Mahavira spent 6
varshās (monsoon seasons) at Mithilā.
Akampita Swāmi, one of his 11
ganadharas, was born in Mithilā. Additionally, as per ancient
Śvetāmbara texts, a branch of ancient Jaina ascetics was known as
"Maithiliya" after Mithilā, signifying its historical importance as a center of Jaina scholarship.
Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, a 14th century CE
Śvetāmbara Jaina text by
Ācārya Jinaprabhasūrī, describes Mithilā as a major Jaina pilgrimage center. The scripture locates Mithilā in the
Tirhuta region near the confluence of the
Bāna Gangā and
Gandaki rivers. It also mentions a village called
"Jagai", where temples dedicated to
Mallinātha and
Naminātha existed. The site is also connected to
Sita's marriage,
"Sakulla Kunda". Some researchers suggest that
"Jagai" may be an abbreviation of
Jagadishpur, near present-day
Sitamarhi. In their pilgrimage parties of 17th century CE and 18th century CE respectively,
Panyās Saubhāgyavijaya and
Panyās Vijayasāgara mention the location of the Jaina pilgrimage of Mithilā near present-day Sitamarhi in
Bihar. The temples fell into disrepair, possibly due to a lack of Jaina population. The only remnant was the footprints of
Mallinātha and
Naminātha. These footprints were later preserved in
Bhāgalpur. Based on historical evidence and research, initiatives to restore Mithilā’s lost Jaina heritage were launched. A two-storey temple along the Sitamarhi-Dumra road was constructed. In 2015, the foundation was laid by
Ācārya Mahendrasāgarasūrī of
Kharatara Gaccha. In 2020, the ritualistic installation of idols was conducted by
Ācārya Piyushsāgarasūrī of Kharatara Gaccha and
Ācārya Vinayasāgarasūrī of
Tapa Gaccha.
Vedic period Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by
Indo-Aryan peoples who established the
Videha kingdom. During the Later
Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of Ancient India, along with
Kuru and
Panchala. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called
Janakas. The Videha Kingdom was incorporated into the
Vajjika League, which had its capital in the city of
Vaishali, and is also in Mithila.
Medieval period leading his troops in the capture of the city of Tirhut. Depicted by eyewitness Muhammad Sadr Ala-i in his work
Basātin al-uns, published ca.1410. Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum Library, Ms. R.1032. From the 11th century to the 20th century, Mithila was ruled by various indigenous dynasties. The first of these was the
Karnats of Mithila, the
Oiniwar Dynasty and the Khandwala Dynasty, also known as
Raj Darbhanga. The Malla dynasty and Licchavi dynasty of Nepal are also Maithil in origin. The rulers of the Oiniwar Dynasty and the Raj Darbhanga were
Maithil Brahmins. The Oiniwar Dynasty originated from the village
Oini in the Samastipur district of the Mithila region. It was during the reign of the Raj Darbhanga family that the capital of Mithila was shifted to
Darbhanga. Tughlaq had attacked and taken control of Bihar, and from the end of the
Tughlaq Dynasty until the establishment of the
Mughal Empire in 1526, there was anarchy and chaos in the region.
Akbar (reigned from 1556 to 1605) realised that taxes from Mithila could only be collected if there was a king who could ensure peace there. The Maithil Brahmins were dominant in the Mithila region and Mithila had Maithil Brahmin kings in the past. Akbar summoned Rajpandit Chandrapati Thakur to
Delhi and asked him to name one of his sons who could be made caretaker and tax collector for his lands in Mithila. Chandrapati Thakur named his middle son,
Mahesh Thakur, and Akbar declared
Mahesh Thakur as the caretaker of Mithila on the day of
Ram Navami in 1557 AD. Lakshmeshwar Singh (reigned from 1860 to 1898) was the eldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga. He, along with his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh received a western education from Government appointed tutors as well as a traditional Indian education from a
Sanskrit Pandit. He spent approximately £300,000 on relief work during the
famine of 1873–74. He constructed hundreds of miles of roads in various parts of the Raj, planting them with tens of thousands of trees for the comfort of travellers, as part of generating employment for people effected by famine. He constructed iron bridges over all the navigable rivers He built, and entirely supported, a first-class Dispensary at Darbhanga, which cost £3400; a similar one at Kharakpur, which cost £3500; and largely contributed to many others. He built an Anglo-vernacular school at a cost of £1490, which he maintained, as well as nearly 30 vernacular schools of different grades; and subsidised a much larger number of educational institutions. He was also one of the founders of
Indian National Congress as well as one of the main financial contributors thereto. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh is known for purchasing Lowhter Castle for the venue of the 1888 Allahabad Congress session when the British denied permission to use any public place. The British Governor[
who?] commissioned
Edward Onslow Ford to make a statue of Lakshmeshwar Singh. This is installed at
Dalhousie Square in
Kolkata. On the occasion of the Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria, Lakshmeshwar Singh was declared as a
Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and was promoted to Knight Grand Commander in 1897. He was also a member of the
Royal Commission on Opium of 1895, formed by British Government along with
Haridas Viharidas Desai who was the Diwan of
Junagadh. The Royal Opium Commission consisted of a 9-member team of which 7 were British and 2 were Indians and its chairman was
Earl Brassey. ==Geography==