Tribes in Ancient India c51.7

c51.7

The Videha country, as we have seen, is said to have derived its name from this King Videgha Mathāva or Videha Mādhava, who introduced the sacrificial fire; and according to some, this introduction of the sacrificial fire is symbolical of the inauguration of the Brahmanical faith in the region. This legend, which is of importance in connection with the question of Aryan settlement in the Videha country, may be read in full in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*. According to this account, King Māthava Videgha carried Agni Vaiśvānara (=fire) in his mouth. When invited to do so, Agni sprang forth, and started to flash over the ground, burning it up. Starting from the river Sarasvatī, he went burning along towards the east, drying up all the rivers. Only he did not burn over the river Sadānīrā, flowing from the Northern (Himalaya) mountain. ‘That one of the Brāhmaṇas did not cross in former times, thinking, “It has not been burnt over by Agni Vaiśvānara”. Nowadays, however (i.e. in the time of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa), there are many Brāhmaṇas to the east of it.... Māthava, the Videgha, then said (to Agni), “Where am I to abide?” “To the east of this (river) be thy abode”, said he. Even now this (river) forms the boundary of the Kośalas and the Videhas; for these are the Māthavas (or descendants of Māthava).’¹