Patna. The area of Mithila is famous for devotion to Lord Rama as well as Krishna. While the first Ram temple was built in Mithila area in 1806, the tradition of Krishna devotion is more than a thousand years old. Krishna has been the main theme in Vidyapati’s songs as well. Along with Surya and Vishnu, old statues of Krishna have also been recovered in Mithila area. At some places in Mithila, the Krishna Ashtami festival continues for 15 days. In Mithila, there is a tradition of celebrating Krishnajanma festival from Ekadashi to Purnima. However, in most of the places Jhulan Utsav is now organized for six days. During the lifetime of Queen Rajlakshmi of Mithila, a big celebration of Jhulan was held in Darbhanga, but even today Krishna Ashtami fast and worship is observed with full devotion in every village.
Bhakti of Mithila In the world Ram was not there, but Krishna was
Mithili researcher and retired Reserve Bank of India official Ramanand Jha Raman says in this context that there was no Ram in Mithila, but there was Krishna. The tradition of Krishna has been revered here since ancient times. In this tradition, Manbodh wrote ‘Krishna Janam’. Krishna has spread to every home. ‘Krishna Janam’ is popular here. Dr. Pandit Jeevnath Jha, educated from Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University, said that Mithila has a household tradition of devotion to Krishna. By the way, this area has also been inhabited by people of Jagannath sect.
The tradition of worshiping Lord Krishna in Mithila is old
Pandit Bhavnath Jha, head of the publication department of Mahavir Mandir, Patna, explaining in detail in this context, says that the tradition of worshiping Lord Krishna in Mithila is old. It is famous in Dakvachan of 8-9th century-
Sutta, Uttha Panjarmora, left the feces in the middle.
The ducks are fourteen, the ducks are eight, they spend their lives without food.
In this, Harishayan Ekadashi, Devotthan Ekadashi, Karmadharma Ekadashi and the festival of birth of Choda i.e. Shri Krishnashtami have been mentioned as the main fasts respectively. Apart from this, there is a folk tradition of fasting on Shiva’s Chaturdashi date and Mahashtami day of Durga Puja. The essayists of Mithila have recognized Krishna Ashtami fast as a daily fast. A daily fast is one which requires atonement for not observing it. This is the classical recognition of Mithila.
Vaishnav sect has its own special importance in Mithila.
Considerable influence of Jagannath sect is found in medieval Mithila. Stories related to Jagannath Yatra are found by great personalities like Naiyayik Udayan, Govind Thakur, Shridhar Upadhyay etc. Vaishnav sect holds special importance in Mithila. The specialty of Mithila tradition is that here Vishnu is not worshiped in the group of Panchadevatas but is worshiped separately. The Krishnabhakti tradition of Chaitanyadev of Bengal and Shankardeva of Assam has had a significant impact on the literature of Mithila. Paramhansa Vishnupuri, Rohinidatt Gosai etc. of Mithila are considered to be the best devotees of Krishna. Saints like Mahakavi Vidyapati, Govind Das, Saheb Ramdas etc. have also composed many verses in the Krishna Bhakti tradition. The seriousness of a small composition of Rohinihat Gosai can be seen
आयाहि ह्रद्यारान्यामसन्मतिकरेनुके आयती
Yati Govind Bhaktikanthiravi Yatah.
That is, oh elephant in the form of foolishness, you come to the forest in the form of my heart, here the lioness in the form of devotion to Shri Krishna comes and goes.