MITHILA, a historical country north of the Ganges, between the Gandak and Kosi rivers, com prehending the modern provinces of Puraniya and Tirhut. The remains of the capital founded by Janaka, and thence termed Janakapur, according to Buchanan, are still to be seen on the northern frontier, at the Janickpur of the maps. Nearly coeval in point of time with Ayodhya was Mithila, founded by Mithila, grandson of Icshwaca. The name of Janika, son of Mithila, eclipsed that of the founder, and became the patronymic of this branch of the Solar race. These are the two chief capitals of the kingdoms of the Solar line described in the early ages, though there were others of a minor order, such as Rotas, Champapur, etc., all founded previously to Rama.
But Mithila, according to Elphinstone (p. 215), seems to have been the capital of a sovereignty in Rama's time, and to have endured till A.D. 1325. It was the capital of the father of Sita, wife of Rama. It is little mentioned in history, but it was famous for a school of law, and has given its name to one of the Indian Inguages. By the numerous dynasties of the Lunar race of Budha many kingdoms were founded. Much has been said of the antiquity of Purag, yet the first capital of the Indu or Lunar race appears to have been founded by Sehesra Arjuna of the Ilihya tribe.
This was Mahesvati on the Nerbadda, still existing in Maheswar. The rivalry between the Lunar I race and that of the Surya race of Ayodhya, in whose aid the priesthood armed and expelled Sehesra Arjuna from Mahesvati, has been men tioned. A small branch of these ancient Ilihya, until the early years of the 19th century, were still existing in the line of the Nerbadda, near the very top of the valley at Sohagpur, in Baghelcund, aware of their ancient lineage, and, though few in number, were still celebrated for their valour. Kusust'hulli Dwaraka, the capital of Krishna, was founded prior to Purag, to Surpur, or Mathura. The Bhagavat attributes the foundation of the city to Anirt, the brother of Icshwaca, of the Solar race, but states not how or when the Yadu race became possessed thereof. The ancient annals of the Jeysulmir family of the Yadu stock give the priority of foundation to Purag, next to Mathura, and last to Dwaraka.—Tod's Rajasthan, i. p. 39 ; Wilson's Hindu Theatre, i. p. 298; Elphinstone.