Tantric culture of Mithila

The land of Mithila is known for its rich traditional values. My aim is here to project its tantric aspect which is obscure among some scholars and practioners.History of Mithila goes far back to ancient India.According to D.D. Kosāmbi, the 1st millennium BCE text Śatpath Brāhmana tells that the king Māthava Videgha, led by his priest Gotama Rahugana, first crossed the Sadānirā (Gandaka) river and founded a kingdom. Gotama Rahugana was a Vedic sage who composed many hymns of the first mandala of the Rgveda.

The most important reference to Mithila is in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama's wife Sita is said to have been the princess of Videha, born to King Janaka who ruled in Mithila.It should be well understood that Janaka was the title bear by the kings of Mthila and Janaka occurred in the Ramayana was Siradhvaja.He was one of the great tantric king of Mithila who knew Ratri- puja or technically Nisharcana.

The lineage of Janaks is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana. In Valimiki Ramayana, King Seeradhwaja Janaka, himself mentioned his ancestral list to King Dasratha, Father of Rama.Other famous kings of Mithila during ancient period were Kings Bhanumath, Satghumanya, Suchi, Urjnama, Satdhwya, Kriti, Anjan, Arisnami, Srutayu, Supasyu, Suryasu, Srinjay, Sourmabi, Anena, Bhimrath, Satyarath, Upangu, Upgupt, Swagat, Snanand, Subrachya, Supraswa, Subhasn, Suchurut, Susurath, Jay, Vijay, Critu, Suny, Vith Habya, Dwati, Bahulaswa and Kriti Tirtiya.These all have their great contribution in the tantric culture of Mithila.

Mithila has developed various tantric cultures.During the medieval period especially from the oinwar dynasty of Mithila to the early kharore dynasty upto 18 th century, band of tantric scholar flourished in Mithila and created a history in the tantric world.Shiva and Shakti cult are the main source of tantric tradition of Mithila.Vidyapati, Mahesh Thakur,Chanda etc.have their major impact on the tantric culture of Mithila.

The falk tale of Anamgkusuma refers Tantric rituals spread in this society. But during the days of Huen-tsang Mithila was a vedic country. The king Arjuna or Arunashwa merely a samat of king Harsha was a prominent follower of vedic culture. Acording to the chinese source king Arunashwa was defeated by the combined army of Nepal, China and Tibbat in 8th century just after the death of king Harsha and the vedic culture was abolished from Mithila. Thereafter the Mahayani tantric culture started in Mithila.

Madhuvani art or paintings express the most significant Maithili aspect of tantra. Nowadays various Maithili rituals are associated with tantra.It is a very common saying that tantra was originated in Bengal and nourished in Mithila.Recently Pt. Laxmipati’s scholarly article on the tantric structure of Mithila i.e. Yantramayi Mithila is so interesting which describes the tantric significance of Mithiala. Actually this holy land was worshiped by the tantrikas  in the form of yantra i.e.static form of highly dynamic consciousness.Hence  it’s tantric significance.