History Darbhanga

the history of darbhanga dates ramayana , mahabharata periods; among oldest cities of bihar. according vedic sources, videhas first migrated area banks of saraswati in punjab; guided east of sadanira (gandak river) agni, god of fire. settlements established and, thus, flourished kingdom of videhas, selfless.

shyama temple in darbhanga

in course of time, videhas came ruled line of kings called janaks. in line of kings, there famous king named mithi. commemorate greatness territory named mithila. famous king janak sirdhwaja, father of sita. legends speak of various learned men patronized janak sirdhwaja, himself erudite scholar. prominent among them yagyavalkya, codified hindu law in yagyavalkya smriti , gautam, had various valuable philosophical treatises credit. king janak himself great philosopher , ideas have been eternally enshrined in upanishads, in brihad-āraṇyaka upaniṣada.

the name darbhanga mutated form of dwarbanga . is, combination of words dwar (gate) , banga (bengal) meaning gateway of bengal . if 1 notices bengali , maithili, find many phonetic similarities particularly in main verbs of both languages ends word sounding chhe .

some scholars darbhanga named after dar (dwar) , bhangaa means broken gates. assumed gates of qila (at qilaghat probably) broken (by cannons or elephants) in 1326 ad when tughlak forces attacked last independent north indian hindu king.

statue of lakshmeshwar singh bahadur, former maharaja of darbhanga

according imperial gazetteer of india vol 11 page 158 darbhanga family traces origin 1 mahes thakur, said have come jubbulpore about; beginning of sixteenth century. took service priest descendants of :raja siva singh, still exercised nominal supremacy in tirhut ; when collapsed before advancing muhammadan power, mahes thakur induced akbar grant him darbhanga raj estates. , descendants gradually consolidated power of family in both agrarian , social matters; , though, owing recusancy @ permanent settlement, raja of period time deprived of portion of property, british government recognized him. during first half of nineteenth century, owing mismanagement , litigation, estate fell considerable difficulties. litigation had effect of deciding estate impartible , inheritance regulated primo- geniture; , owing long minority of on twenty years x860 onwards, during estate under court of wards, in flourishing condition. darbhanga town has been headquarters of family since 1762, prior date re- sided @ madhubaru. present maharaja bahadur, sir rameswar singh, k.c.i.e., succeeded on death of brother in 1898. estates @ present comprise lands situated in districts of darbhanga, muzaffarpur, gaya, monghyr, purnea, , bhagalpur, total area of more 2,410 square miles .

in thirteenth century mithila invaded afghans, deposed kshatriya ruler , placed maithil brahman in control of land revenues on of region. family began calling kings, distributing land other members of caste, gradually land passed control of maithil brahmans. taken turks in 14th century. during akbar’s reign in sixteenth century, second maithil brahman family came rule khandavala dynasty.

mithila painting originates darbhanga , surrounding region

it enjoyed stability under mughals , hindus began flock town since beginning of 19th century when maharaja of darbhanga shifted residence town , granted title maharaja east india company. biggest town of north bihar centuries, after muzaffarpur connected broad-gauge railway in mid-1970s, latter overtook darbhanga due shift of trade, commerce, business , transport extent.

during akbar s reign in sixteenth century, second maithil brahmin family came rule khandavala dynasty. during period, akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in darbhanga, @ place known lakhi bagh. in british times, estate, darbhanga raj, largest , richest of great zamindari estates. capital in bhaur village in madhubani, later shifted town of darbhanga. controlled of mithila until after independence when republic of india abolished zamindari (maharaja of darbhanga zamindar entitled add title maharaja in name, besides british title: kcie (knight commander of eminent order of indian empire).

statue of maharajadhiraj @ chaurangi square darbhanga city

the maharaja of darbhanga, sir kameshwar singh, integral part of constituent assembly of india , instrumental in campaigning retention of privy purses , land rights rulers. single-handedly negotiated rights of various rulers , nawabs.

maharaja of darbhanga spent time in today s called kolkata, bengal. can seen in various places has built various important places bengal, in calcutta university building darbhanga building dalhousie square , various important buildings there made him. has made great contributions bengal , indian education , society.