Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.334

c8.334

Among the kings of Mithilā, the most important was Janaka who performed his sacrifice at Mithilā (Mahābhārata, Vanaparva, Chs. 132, 134, etc.). Janaka’s imperial sway was obeyed by the people of Mithilā. He was an ally of Daśaratha, king of Ayodhyā. He was highly cultured and firm in his determination (Rāmāyaṇa, Griffith’s Tr., Canto XII, pp. 23, 95). There is a saying attributed to Janaka. Seeing his city burning in a fire, he sang thus: ‘In this nothing of mine is burning’ (Mahābhārata, XII, 17, 18-19; 219, 50; cf. Uttarādhyayana sūtra, Jaina sūtras, II, 37). Some suitors came to win Sītā, the daughter of Janaka (Rāmāyaṇa, XXXIII, p. 89). Paraśurāma to take revenge for breaking Śiva’s bow, arrived at Mithilā, insulted Rāma and demanded a conflict in which he was defeated (Keith, Sanskrit Drama, p. 245). Nimi was the Ādipuruṣa of the Royal family of Mithilā (Rāmāyaṇa, I, 71. 3). King Aṅgati of Mithilā had three ministers to help him in his administration. According to the Sūrya-prajñapti, Jiyasattu was a king of Mithilā. He was no other than king Prasenajita of Kośala (cf. Bhagavatī sūtra, p. 244; Hoernle, Uvāsagadasāo, Tr., p. 6). According to the Jaina Nirayāvaliya sutta Videha claimed Ceṭaka as its king (Jaina sūtras, I, p. xiii). He was an influential leader of the Licchavi confederacy. His daughter Cellanā was married to Śreṇika Bimbisāra of Magadha and became the mother of Ajātaśatru. King Puṣpadeva was the ruler of Mithilā who had two pious sons named Candra and Sūrya (Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā, Pallava 83, p. 9). The munificent king Vijitāvī of Mithilā was banished from his kingdom (Mahāvastu, III, p. 41). Karṇa conquered Mithilā during his digvijaya (Mahābhārata, Vanaparva, 254). King Sādhina of Mithilā lived in happiness for many years. He ruled this city righteously (Jātaka, Vol. IV, 355ff.). Mahājanaka was the reigning king of Mithilā. After his death he was succeeded by his elder son and his younger son was made the viceroy. The law of primogeniture seems to have been in vogue in the city of Mithilā (Jātaka, Vol. VI, 30ff.). After defeating the Kaivarta usurper, Rāmapāla of the Pāla dynasty conquered Mithilā. After the Senas of Bengal had taken possession of Varendra and Magadha, a dynasty seems to have sprung up in Tirhut under the leadership of Nānadeva (Cunningham and Garrick, Report of Tours in North and South Bihar in 1880-81, A.S.I., pp. 1-2).