Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh, a Maithil Brahmin King of Raj Darbhanga
History
Some of the dynastic families of the Mithila region, such as the Malla dynasty (Nepal), Karnat dynasty (Nepal), Oiniwar Dynasty (India) and Khandwal Dynasty (Raj Darbhanga India),[4] were Maithil Brahmins and were noted for their patronage of Maithil culture.[5]
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Maithil Brahmins became politically significant in Nepal and around India. Durgananda Jha (Nepal), Binodanand Jha and Lalit Narayan Mishra emerged as prominent political leaders of the community. Under the Chief Ministry of Jagannath Mishra many Maithil Brahmins assumed important political positions .[6]
Divisions
According to the Vedic Samhita, Maithil Brahmins originated from Janakpur (capital of Ancient Mithila Kingdom), spread far and wide towards India are divided into the Vajasaneyi (Yajurvedic) and the Chandogya(Samavedic) and each group is strictly exogamous. They are also further classified by four main categories, the Srotriyas (Soit), the Yogyas (Bhalmanush), the Painjas and the Jaiwars. They are all expected to be morganatic (anuloma) however these days this is no longer enforced strictly. They are also divided into various Mools or Clan's name. And every mool is further divided into upamool or sub clans.
Panjis or Panji Prabandh are extensive genealogical records maintained among Maithil Brahmins similar to the Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar and Nepal Panjikaran Patra.[9] While marriage they obtain the “Aswajan”(Non-relative) certificate from the panjikars, this system was started by Harisinghdeva.[10]
Pratyush Kumar, Homo Connubialis Brahmanicus: Marriage Relations Among Brahmins, Baden-Baden: Nomos (Ergon), Germany, 2025, ISBN 978-3-98740-189-3 (Print).
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