Mithila Kal aur Aaj

Mithila is an ancient cultural region of North India bounded on the north by the Himalaya, on the south the Ganga, on the east the Kosi, and on the west the Gandak. It consisted of the modern districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Saharsa, Purnea, North Munger, and North Bhagalpur, as well as the tarai under Nepal lying between the district and lower ranges of the Himalaya.

 

There is no denying the fact that the contribution of ancient Mithila to Indian civilization is considerably more remarkable than that of other parts of the country. It has a glorious past of which any civilized nation and country may justly be proud. The relics of its glorious past can yet be seen in its ancient cities. It was the scene of the work of the two most venerated names in the religious history of the world - Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira - and one of the world's great rulers, Emperor Ashoka.

 

The Ramayana immortalizes the name of Mithila. The greatness of Mithila also lies in the fact that it was an important ancient seat of learning in India that attracted students from different part of the country. King Janak was an eminent philosopher king. All the learning and philosophy of ancient India was the product of her solitary hermitages in the forests. The ideal that has inspired the men of Bihar from age to age is that of Janak, and the women of this province have kept up the glorious tradition of Sita whose love of her husband, chastity and fortitude is still unparalleled in the history of the world.

Well marked naturally by the foothills of the Himalaya in the north, the river Ganga in the south and by the rivers Mahananda and Gandaki in the east and west respectively, Mithila spreads over 25,000 sq miles of rock-free alluvial plains. It is dotted over by thousands of pools, and crops of cotton, indigo, sugarcane, wheat, rice, lentils, maize and all the vegetables of a temperate clime are grown here. It is this fertility, which inspired people to name it Madhubani (Madhu means, Honey and the term Ban means, forest), "the Forest of Honey." Today, Madhubani is one of Mithila's two chief towns (the other is Darbhanga).

The folk paintings of Mithila are-the exclusive monopoly to women artists. This is a communal activity and one in which young girls are allowed to assist. This enables them to learn early to draw and paint - skills which are put to the test when, as grown-up women, they are expected to present the Kohbar- a picture used as a marriage proposal, to a man or their choice. Heavily charged with tantric symbolism in its basic design and composition, a kohbar depicts a pictorial intercourse using the lingam (phallus) and yoni (vulva) symbols. Not only can this fresco be seen on every bedroom wall in Mithila but the first kohbars in a courtship are used to wrap various gifts.

Another central figure of Maithili paintings is Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu and one of the most popular gods in India. The ecstatic circle in which he leads the gopis or his cowherd-lovers is interpreted as the wheel of life, of appearances revolving eternally. If the Shiva lingam represents mystic ecstasy, and Krishna the passionate repetition of the act of love, Rama - the seventh avatar oi Vishnu - is archetypal together with his wife Sita (an incarnation of Vishnu's wife, goddess Lakshmi), of marital devotion.

Other avatars of Vishnu; female deities like Kali, Durga, Parvati - different aspects of the same power; Lakshmi and Saraswati are all honoured at appropriate times. These divine beings are positioned centrally or lineally in the framework. In the dense background are depicted their consorts, their respective mounts, fruit bearing trees, clumps of bamboo, floral motifs and numerous other symbols to which the viewer can relate without mental .