Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a2a98e1efda2f162

Jump to content

// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Shaivism in Mithila say to the wall? You're a shrine thing.

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shaivism in Mithila
View of a Shivalinga in the Manokamna Mandir in the region.
TypeSanatana Dharma
ClassificationHinduism
RegionMithila
LanguageSanskrit and Maithili
OriginEarly period
Sloganॐ नमः शिवाय।
View of Parthiva Shivalingas made by a Maithil Brahmin in Basuki Bihari during Satyanarayana Puja at the Chaudhary Tol in the village.

The Shaivism in Mithila is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted religious traditions in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent.[1][2] It is deeply rooted since the early period of the Mithila region. According to scholars, the Shaivism tradition in the region has played a vital role in shaping the cultural identity of Mithila. The deep influence of Shaivism on the folk life in Mithila still exists. The worship of clay-made Shivalingas known as Parthiva Shivalinga Puja is a unique tradition of worship that emerged in the region and is still in practice by the Maithils community.[3] In the region of Mithila, each and every village has at least one Shiva temple within the village.[4][5]

The devotions of Maithils community towards Shaivism can also be traced from the popular Maithili folk songs of Maheshvani and Nachari. These Maithili folk songs point out the great place of Lord Shiva in the hearts of the Maithil community in the region.[3]

History

[edit]

The history of Shaivism tradition in Mithila can be traced from the ample of literary, numismatic, epigraphic and sculptural remains found in the region.[3]

An ancient Shiva temple at Basbaria village near Saharghat. The temple is known as Basbaria Mahadev Mandir.

During the period of Ramayana, the King Janaka of Mithila was a great devotee to Lord Shiva. According to legends, it is said that the King Janaka established several Shivalingas in the region of his kingdom during the Treta Yuga.[6]

A legendary temple known as Kalyaneshwar Mahadev Mandir at Kalna village of Madhubani district. It is believed that, the Shivalinga of the temple was established by King Janaka in Mithila.

According to the legend of Kalyaneshwar Mahadev Mandir, it was established by the King Nimi of the Videha Kingdom. There is a legend that the King Nimi established a Shivalinga at the legendary site and performed a tapsya in the devotion of Lord Shiva there.[7] It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Kalyaneshwar Mahadev[8] at site after the completion of the tapsya. The legend says that the original ancient temple around the Shivalinga was built by Lord Vishwakarma as wished by the King Nimi. The present structure of the temple was constructed about 200 years ago.[7]

Similarly, his son King Mithi was also a very great devotee of Lord Shiva. There is a legend that he used to visit the sacred Kailash mountain daily, using his yogic power to see Lord Shiva.[9] In the Uttra village, there is a legendary temple called Dakshineswar Nath Mahadev Mandir[10] related to the legend of King Daksha Prajapati. The temple is believed to be established by him.

In the Sursand town of the Sitamarhi district, there is a legend that the ancient author Maharshi Valmiki performed a long tapasya at the legendary site Valmikeshwar Sthan near the outskirts of the town. He established a Shivalinga there later known as Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Shivalinga after his name. During the period of the Zamindar estate Sursand Raj, a temple was built by the queen of the estate at the site. The temple is known as Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir.[11]

Rituals and practices

[edit]

The tradition of Shaivism in Mithila is practiced by several unique rituals and process. These include Parthiva Shivalinga Puja and Lakhram Puja, etc. The Parthiva Shivalinga Puja is the major ritual practiced for the worship of Lord Shiva in the region. Even nowadays, almost in every house of the region, the Parthiva Shivalinga Puja is performed with all the rules and regulations. In this ritual, the women of the family build a large number of earthly Shivalingas and then the men of the family worship these Parthiva Shivalingas chanting Vedic mantras and invoke the Lord Shiva. After doing invocation of Lord Shiva and worshiping the earthly Shivalingas, these are immersed in the soil.[12]

Similarly, the Lakhram Puja is other major ritual and ceromany practiced in the region for performing worship to Lord Shiva. It is performed for the welfare of the people. In this puja, one and a quarter lakh Parthiva Shivlingas are made and then these are worshipped by a group of devotees in the village.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Burghart, Richard (1996). The Conditions of Listening: Essays on Religion, History, and Politics in South Asia. Oxford University Press (published 170). ISBN 978-0-19-563807-3.
  2. ↑ Sharma, Bal Krishna (1999). The Origin of Caste System in Hinduism and Its Relevance in the Present Context. Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Samdan Publishers, Nepal. ISBN 978-81-7214-496-8.
  3. 1 2 3 Kumar, Dharmendra (1998). "Saivism in Early Mithila". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 59: 138–143. ISSN 2249-1937.
  4. ↑ "Maha Shivaratri in Mithila". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  5. ↑ Rajput, J. S. (2004). Encyclopaedia of Indian Education. NCERT. ISBN 978-81-7450-303-9.
  6. ↑ "राजा जनक ने कब और कहां पर की थी शिवलिंग की स्थापना, मां सीता से है गहरा नाता - How Many Shiva Lingas Did King Janaka Establish in Mithila to Welcome Goddess Sita Check Details". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  7. 1 2 "राज्य की रक्षा को लेकर राजा जनक के पिता ने लिया था ये फैसला, अनोखी है कहानी". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  8. ↑ "कल्याणेश्वर शिव, कलना - Kalyaneshwar Shiva, Kalna". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  9. ↑ Vimala (1984). Maithilī Rāmakāvya: paramparā aura pr̥shṭhabhūmi (in Hindi). Ushā Pabliśiṅga Hāusa.
  10. ↑ "झूमते-गाते शिवालयों को पहुंचे कांवरिए - null". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  11. ↑ "बाबा वाल्मीकेश्वरनाथ धाम में भगवान श्रीराम, लक्ष्मण व विश्वामित्र ने भी की थी पूजा-अर्चना - asdfg". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  12. ↑ "worship of Parthiv Shivling is still done in Mithila". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 2023-02-18. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shaivism_in_Mithila&oldid=1369065811"