Introduction of Mithila

Mithila Region of Nepal

Mithila is an ancient cultural region of North India bounded on the north by the Himalaya, on the south the Ganga, on the east the Koshi, and on the west the Gandak

It consisted of the modern districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Saharsa, Purnea, North Munger, and North Bhagalpur, as well as the terai under Nepal lying between the district and lower ranges of the Himalaya

There is no denying the fact that the contribution of ancient Mithila to Indian civilization is considerably more remarkable than that of other parts of the country

It has a glorious past of which any civilized nation and country may justly be proud

It was the scene of the work of the two most venerated names in the religious history of the world - Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira - and one of the world's great rulers, Emperor Ashoka

The greatness of Mithila also lies in the fact that it was an important ancient seat of learning in India that attracted students from different part of the country

All the learning and philosophy of ancient India was the product of her solitary hermitages in the forests

The idea that has inspired the men of Bihar from age to age is that of Janak, and the women of this province have kept up the glorious tradition of Sita whose love of her husband, chastity, and fortitude is still unparalleled in the history of the world

Well marked naturally by the foothills of the Himalaya in the north, the river Ganga in the south and by the rivers Mahananda and Gandaki in the east and west respectively, Mithila spreads over 25,000 sq miles of rock-free alluvial plains
It is dotted over with thousands of pools, and crops of cotton, indigo, sugarcane, wheat, rice, lentils, maize and all the vegetables of a temperate clime are grown here

It is this fertility, which inspired people to name it Madhubani (Madhu means, Honey and the term Ban means, forest), "the Forest of Honey." Today, Madhubani is one of Mithila's two chief towns (the other is Darbhanga)

This enables them to learn early to draw and paint - skills which are put to the test when, as grown-up women, they are expected to present the Kohbar- a picture used as a marriage proposal, to a man or their choice

Heavily charged with tantric symbolism in its basic design and composition, a kohbar depicts a pictorial intercourse using the lingam (phallus) and yoni (vulva) symbols

Not only can this fresco be seen on every bedroom wall in Mithila but the first kohbars in a courtship are used to wrap various gifts

Another central figure of Maithili paintings is Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu and one of the most popular gods in India

The ecstatic circle in which he leads the gopis or his cowherd-lovers is interpreted as the wheel of life, of appearances revolving eternally

If the Shiva lingam represents mystic ecstasy, and Krishna the passionate repetition of the act of love, Rama - the seventh avatar oi Vishnu - is archetypal together with his wife Sita (an incarnation of Vishnu's wife, goddess Lakshmi), of marital devotion

Other avatars of Vishnu; female deities like Kali, Durga, Parvati - different aspects of the same power; Lakshmi and Saraswati are all honored at appropriate times

In the dense background are depicted their consorts, their respective mounts, fruit-bearing trees, clumps of bamboo, floral motifs and numerous other symbols to which the viewer can relate without mental
Maithili women are known internationally for their traditional art, especially their paintings on pottery, walls, and courtyards
Madhubani painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns

There are paintings for each occasion and festival such as birth, marriage, holi, Surya shasti, Kali puja, Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), and Durga puja
Mithila named after the king Mithi, is a land of wonders

Valmiki the first epic poet of Sanskrit literature has highly praised the natural beauty of Mithila

This region extends up to the Himalayas in the north, beyond river Ganga in the south, beyond Koshi in the east and beyond Gandak or Gandaki in the west
The climate is mild, neither extremely cold or extremely hot

There is abundance of drinking water available throughout the year in the region

Any kind of fruit from Mango, Litchi, Kathal (Jackfruit), banana to orange, apple and grape can also be grown here

There are so many rivers here that one can find a river after every two or three villages

Unfortunately, the vast natural resources of this region are not properly tapped for the benefit of the region or of the whole country

For want of proper utilization of water resources, this region sorrowfully lives perpetually in the shadow of flood and drought

They are very gentle, cultured and sweet tongue
Maithili, the regional language has been acclaimed as the sweetest language of the world

The people of Mithila love fine arts like music, literature, philosophy, painting and folk arts like Siki works, bamboo works, and pottery

The womenfolk of this region are well versed in painting popularly known as Madhubani painting, folk music and embroidery works

Mithila painting or Madhubani painting has become popular all over the world – in Japan, in the USA, in the U.K., and in many other foreign countries

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