| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Maithili | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Brahmin groups |
Maithil Brahmins are the Hindu Brahmin community originating from the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent that comprises Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Munger, Bhagalpur and Santhal Pargana divisions [lower-alpha 1] of India [1] and some adjoining districts of Nepal. They are one of the five Pancha-Gauda Brahmin communities. [2] [3] The main language spoken by Maithil Brahmins is Maithili .
Some of the dynastic families of the Mithila region, such as the Oiniwar Dynasty and Khandwal Dynasty (Raj Darbhanga), [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 Bihar. 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 in Bihar. [6]
According to the Vedic Samhita, Maithil Brahmins 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. [7]
They are mainly practitioners of Shaktism in various forms, however there are also Vaishnavites and Shaivites. [8] [9]
Panjis or Panji Prabandh are extensive genealogical records maintained among Maithil Brahmins similar to the Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar. [10] While marriage they obtain the “Aswajan”(Non-relative) certificate from the panjikars,this system was started by Harisinghdeva. [11]
Supaul is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Supaul district in the Indian state of Bihar. Supaul is the administrative headquarters of this district. There Are 11 block under the Supaul district Supaul, Kishanpur, Saraigarh-Bhaptiyahi, Pipra, Triveniganj, Raghopur, chhatapur, Nirmali, Marauna, Basantpur and pratapganj.
Kosi division is an administrative geographical unit of Bihar state of India. Saharsa is the administrative headquarters of the division. Currently (2022), the division consists of Saharsa district, Madhepura district, and Supaul district.
Maithils, also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit the Mithila region, which comprises Northern and Eastern Bihar and Northeastern Jharkhand in India and some adjoining districts of Nepal constituting Madhesh Province in addition to some terai districts of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.
Panjis or Panji Prabandh are extensive genealogical records maintained among the Maithil Kayasthas and Maithil Brahmins of the Mithila region similar to the Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar.
Saurath Sabha is a historical village situated approximately 6 km northeast of Madhubani in the Madhubani District of Bihar, India. It is famous for its annual gathering of thousands of Maithil Brahman to match couples during the Hindu months of Jyestha-Aasadh. The gathering is organised in an orchard covering 22 acres (bighas) of land, which are said to have been donated by the Maharaja of Darbhanga. It is an important social event in India that is focused on arranged marriages between Maithil men and women according to a reading of their lineage history by the registrars (Panjikars).
Mithila, also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north. It comprises certain parts of Bihar and Jharkhand of India and adjoining districts of the Koshi Province, Bagmati Pradesh and Madhesh Province of Nepal. The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.
Mithila is a geographical and cultural region located in the Indian subcontinent. The native language is known as Maithili and its speakers are referred to as Maithils. The majority of the Mithila region falls within modern-day India, more specifically in the state of Bihar. Mithila is bounded in the north by the Himalayas, and in the south, west and east by the Ganges, Gandaki and Mahananda respectively. It extends into the southeastern Terai of Nepal. This region was also called Tirabhukti, the ancient name of Tirhut.
Mithila culture or Maithil culture refers to the culture which originated in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. Mithila comprises Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Munger, Bhagalpur and Santhal Pargana divisions of India and adjoining provinces of Province No. 1, Bagmati Pradesh, and Madhesh Province of Nepal.
Nargona Palace is situated at Darbhanga in State of Bihar, India. This Palace was the last royal Brahmin palace to be built in Raj Darbhanga.
Brihadbala is a king featured in Hinduism. He is a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He is described to be the last king of the Kosala Kingdom. In the Kurukshetra War, Brihadbala fought for the Kauravas and was killed by Abhimanyu.
Simraungadh, Simraongarh or Simroungarh is a municipality situated in Bara district of Nepal.
Harisimhadeva was a King of the Karnat dynasty who ruled the Mithila region of modern-day parts of North Bihar in India and South Nepal.
The Oiniwar dynasty, or Oiṇīvāra dynasty also known as the Sugauna dynasty, was a Maithil ruling dynasty of territories that form part of the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. They governed the area between 1325 and 1526, being preceded by the Karnat dynasty. Following the demise of the dynasty, emerged the dynasty of the Raj Darbhanga. One of the Oiniwar Dynasty's most notable rulers was Shivasimha who was known for his patronisation of the art as well as leading military campaigns against neighbouring polities.
Nanyadeva was the founder of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila. He established his capital in Simraungadh and ruled the greater Mithila region for 50 years. He is known for his patronage of scholars. He was from Karnat Kshatriya Kula and began to rule Mithila from the citadel of Simraungadh which was situated on the modern India-Nepal border, in 1097 CE. A stone inscription found at Simraongarh and Nepālavaṃśāvalī states that he made an erection in a Singha Lagna of a Saturday in a Sravana, the tithi being Sukla seven and the Naksatara Svati in the year 1019 Shaka.
Ugna or Ugna Mahadev is believed to be an incarnation of Shiva as the servant of his devotee, the Maithili poet Vidyapati around the 14th century in Mithila. According to legend, the people of Mithila generally remember and worship Shiva by the name of Ugna, which is among the deity's thousand names.
Mithila Madhya Parikrama is an annual periodic journey of the central part of the ancient Mithila. It is held every year between the months of Kartik (October–November), Falgun (February–March) and Baishakh (April–May). But nowadays only Falgun (February–March) journey is famous. It is a circular journey of the central part of the Ancient Mithila. It covers a distance of 128 km circular path. It is mentioned in the epic Mithila Mahatmya which was composed in the 18th century.
Shiva Simha Singh was the King of Oiniwar dynasty in Mithila. He is also known as Sivasimha. He was also referred to as Rūpanārāyana. He was the King of Mithila. He declared himself independent and stopped paying taxes to Jaunpur Sultanate. Due to his decision to challenge the authority of the Sharqi empire, Ibrahim Shah Sharqi attacked Mithila but was defeated.
Mahesha Thakura was the ruler of Mithila in the 16th century. He made his capital in the northwest of Sarisab-Pahi and Rajgram. He was also wrote some treatises and commentaries on astronomy and Indian philosophy. He was gifted the Kingdom of Mithila for his scholarly wisdom by the Mughal emperor. He established the Khandwala dynasty in Mithila, later known as Raj Darbhanga, in 1527.
Dhruva Kund is an ancient site in the Mithila region of Nepal related to the Vedic sage Dhruva. It is located near Kanchan Van in Mahottari district of Madhesh Pradesh in the present Nepal. Dhruva Kund is also the part of Mithila Madhya Parikrama.