Mithila
|
|
Mithila was a kingdom in ancient India. It existed in the eastern Gangetic plains in areas which is today spread over Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states of India, and parts of Nepal.
The legend of Mithila extends over many centuries. Both Gautama Buddha and Vardamana Mahavira are said to have lived in Mithila. It also formed the center of Indian history during the first millennium, and has contributed to various literary and scriptural works.
The dialect spoken in Mithila is Maithili. This dialect is categorised under the Bihari subset of the numerous dialects of Hindi, the most prevalently spoken language in India.
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 the land, born to King Janaka, who ruled Mithila from Janakpuri.
Mithila is also a style of Hindu art created in the Mithila area. It started as ritual geometric and symbolic decorations of households done by women, especially before a marriage, on the walls and floors of a house, and not known to many outside the region. After paper was brought to the area, women began to sell their artwork and expand their subjects to popular and local Hindu deities as well as to the depiction of everyday events. Ganga Devi is perhaps the most famous Mithila artist; she illustrated traditional ritual Mithila decorations, depictions of popular deities, scenes from the Ramayana, and events in her own life.
You can get more detailed information at following link http://www.csuchico.edu/anth/mithila/index.htm