Mithila Kshetra - Mithila Shakti Peetha (Mithila) - Pilgrimages and Temples

• Meditation:

Sri Rama hearing about the birth of Devi Sita

► I meditate on Mithila where Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama.

► I meditate on Mithila where Devi Sita incarnated, grew up and married Sri Rama and which is also a Shakti Peetha.

• Mithila Overview:

Mithila Kshetra - Mithila Shakti Peetha (Mithila):

Sri Rama delivering Devi Ahalya

Puranic Mithila Kshetra is identified with regions (given below) spanning across the Bihar - Nepal border:

Mithila (Darbhanga district, Bihar), (Sitamarhi district, Bihar), (Madhubani district, Bihar), (Janakpur, Dhanusha district, Nepal):
▬ Rivers Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan and Kamala surround Janakpur

Darbhanga:
Rama: Ahilya Asthan, Brahmapur Gautam Kund
Hanuman: Manokamna Hanuman Temple
Devi: Shyama Kali Temple, Subhankarpur Sati Sthan, Rambag Kankali Temple
Mithila Shakti Peeth (identified): Uchaith Bhagavati (50 km), Begusarai Jayamangala Garh (86 km), Saharsa Mahishi Ugratara (90 km)

Sitamarhi:
Sita: Janaki Mandir, Punaura Dham (5 km), Panth-Pakar (8 km)
Shiva: Haleshwar Sthan, Deokuli
Mithila Shakti Peeth (identified): Uchaith Bhagavati (60 km)
Others: Ranjitpur Baghi Dham (10 km)

Janakpur:
Sita-Rama: Janaki Mandir, Ram Mandir, Ram-Sita Vivaha Mandap, Manimandap, Dhanusha Dham (25 km)
Shiva: Jaleshwarnath
Others: Ganga Sagar, Dhanush Sagar, Ratna Sagar

◍ Greatness:

1. Delivering Devi Ahalya: Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama on the upavana of Mithila.

2. Appearance of Devi Sita: Sri Rama heard about the appearance of Devi Sita at Mithila.

3. Breaking bow of Lord Shiva: Sri Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva at Mithila before marrying Devi Sita.

4. Sita-Rama marriage: Sri Rama married Devi Sita at Mithila.

• Shakti Peetha: Mithila is identified with the Mithila Shakti Peetha. Where the Vama Skanda (Left Shoulder) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Uma and the Bhairava is called Mahodara.

◍ Puranic References:
• Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 51 to 73 (About the deeds of Sri Rama and Devi Sita in Mithila)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 47 (About Mithila Shakti Peetha)

• Places to See:

1. Sri Rama delivering Devi Ahalya on the outskirts Mithila (Mithila Upavana):

Places associated with the deliverance of Devi Ahalya in Mithila:
◼ Darbhanga and Buxar
• Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama in the erstwhile hermitage of sage Gautama on the Upavana of Mithila. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 48 to 49)
► Ahilya Asthan Ahilya Asthan of Darbhanga is identified with the place where Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama. (Darbhanga district, Bihar)
► Ahirauli Ahirauli Temple of Buxar is also identified with the place where Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya. (Buxar district, Bihar)

2. Devi Sita incarnating (appearing) in Mithila:

Places associated with the incarnation (appearance) of Devi Sita in Mithila:
◼ Sitamarhi
1. Sri Rama visited Mithila and heard the story of sage Vishwamitra. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 51 to 65) 2. Sri Rama visited Mithila and heard the story of the bow of Lord Shiva. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 66)
3. Sri Rama visited Mithila and heard the story of the appearance of Devi Sita. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 66)
► Sitamarhi - Punaura Dham Punaura Dham of Sitamarhi is identified with the place where Devi Sita appeared when king Janaka was ploughing the field. (Sitamarhi district, Bihar)
► Sitamarhi - Janaki Temple Janaki Temple of Sitamarhi is also identified with the place where Devi Sita appeared when king Janaka was ploughing the field. (Sitamarhi district, Bihar)

3. Devi Sita marrying Sri Rama in Mithila:

Places associated with king Janaka's palace and marriage of Devi Sita in Mithila:
◼ Janakpur
4. Sri Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva at Mithila. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 67) 5. Sri Rama married Devi Sita at Mithila. (Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 68 to 73)
► Janakpur Dham - Janaki Temple Janki Temple of Janakpur Dham is identified with the palace of king Janaka where Sri Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva. (Dhanusha district, Nepal)
► Janakpur Dham - Sita-Rama Vivaha Mandap Sita-Rama Vivaha Mandap of Janakpur Dham depicts the marriage set-up of Sita-Rama. The actual marriage took place a little further away. (Dhanusha district, Nepal)

4. Mithila Shakti Peetha:

Places identified with Mithila Shakti Peetha:
◼ Madhubani, Begusarai and Saharsa
• Mithila Shakti Peetha: The Vama Skanda (Left Shoulder) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Uma and the Bhairava is called Mahodara. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Madhubani - Uchhaith Devi Vana Durga Uchhaith Devi Vana Durga Temple of Madhubani is identified with the Mithila Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. (Madhubani district, Bihar)
► Begusarai - Devi Jaya Mangala Devi Jaya Mangala Temple of Begusarai is also identified with the Mithila Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. (Begusarai district, Bihar)
► Saharsa - Devi Ugratara Devi Ugratara Temple of Saharsa is also identified with the Mithila Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. (Saharsa district, Bihar)

• Location:

• Mithila is spread across the Nepal-Bihar border. Some of the important places identified with the ancient Mithila are:

(a) Darbhanga located in the Darbhanga district of Bihar.
(b) Buxar located in the Buxar district of Bihar.
(c) Sitamarhi located in the Sitamarhi district of Bihar.
(d) Madhubani located in the Madhubani district of Bihar.
(e) Janakpur located in the Dhanusha district of Nepal.

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