Chapter 5: A JOURNEY TOWARDS THE BEEJ\MUL PURUSH

"Aham Bramhashmi", the tag line of our most sacred and spiritual book-'GEETA', very clearly says that we all are the part of the Almighty. Our spiritual house is our body and mind, in which our soul resides. Therefore, it is the most important factor of our life, to cleanse our soul as a continuous process.

Now the question arises as to how the soul becomes so dirty so that it needs cleaning. It is said in our scriptures that we humans suffer from 5 attributes- 'KAMA', 'KRODH', 'MUD', 'LOAV', and 'MOHA'.  These act as impediments to our growth; especially Anger (Krodh) and Ego (Mud). In the daily continuation of our lives, we are cluttered with thoughts of the past and future- The deeds that we have done and are professed to do. These thoughts are mostly filled with worry. Thence, we clutter our house with fear and apprehension of what will happen.

The best way to understand whether we have purified our soul sufficiently or not is to see where our attention is. We should have an internal vacuum cleaner that keeps sucking out the dust from the past and of thoughts of the future. This would make our spiritual house  perfectly clean for the Almighty to enter. The stage would naturally help us meditate and focus within easily. We would be like an empty bowl ready to be filled with the divine love.

In following my child hood passion - search of my forefathers ending with the 'Mul Purush' - I have drifted away remarkably, even acceding the 'PARAM BRAHMA'. I cannot reduce the scope of these chapters any further, even after zipping it as much as possible and believable.

During this journey, I came across several manuscripts, stone writings, ancient books and a few documents written on palm leaves and the old bamboo shoot pulp paper (Basaha Kagaz). And I got many proofs for being deep rooted to the area around Vaishali and Mithila, jointly known as Tirhut (known earlier as Tirabhukti- the bank of three rivers, Ganga, Kosi, and Gandaki). 

                                         LORD BRAMHA, THE CREATOR

In the Padma Purana-Shrishti Khand-Page 25, the 'Suryavansha' genealogy (Vaivasvat Manu was the son of  Vivasvan-'Surya', and Ikshwaku, the son of Vaivasvat Manu), the most ancient Kings, who created the first kingdom on Earth of 'KOSALA' and ruled from 'AYODHYA', from around 11250 B.C.E. follow:-

1. Vaivasvat Manu
2. Ikshwaku
3. Vikuksi/Sasada
4. Kakustha/Vann
5. Anranya
6. Prithu
7. Trishanku/Visvagasva
8. Dhundhumar/Ardra
9. Yuvanasva
10. Sravasta (The founder of the city of Sravasti)
11. Brihadasva
12. Kuvalasva
13. Dridhasva
14. Pramoda
15. Haryasva
16. Nikumbha
17. Samhatasva
18. Ranasva
19. Mandhata
20. Purukutsa
21. Trasadasyu/Sambhooty
22. Bharata
23. Tridhanva
24. Traiaruna
25. Satyavrata
26. Satyaratha
27. Harishchandra
28. Rohitasva
29. Harita
30. Bahu
31. Sagara
32. Asmanjasa
33. Ansuman
34. Dilipa
35. Bhagiratha
36. Nabhaga
37. Ambarisa
38. Sindhudvipa
39. Ayutayu
40. Rituparna
41. Kalmashpada
42. Sarvakarma
43. Anaranya
44. Nighna
45. Raghu
46. Dilipa
47. Aja
48. Deerghabahu
49. Prajapal
50. Dasaratha
51. RAMA
52. Lava - Kusha
53. Atithi
54. Nishadha
55. Nala
56. Nabha
57. Pundareeka
58. Kshemdhanva
59. Devaneek
60. Ahinagu
61. Paripatra
62. Sila
63. Unnava
64. Uktha
65. Vajranabha
66. Sankhanabha
67. Vyusitasva
68. Visvasaha
69. Hiranyanabha-he was the pupil of Jaimini
70. Pushya
71. Dhruvasandhi
72. Sudarshana
73. Agnivarna
74. Sighra
75. MARU-he is still in KALPA
76. Prasusruta
77. Susandhi
78. Amarsa
79. Mahasvat
80. Visrutavat
81. Brihadval-he was killed by Abhimanyu in MAHABHARATA war, i.e. in 3139 B.C.E..

As per the Vishnu Purana, book-4, chapter-22, page no.296, the future Ikshawaku Vanshiya(Suryavanshi) kings in KALI YUGA will be :-

1. Brihadval
2. Brihatksaya
3. Urukriya
4. Vatsavyuha
5. Prativyoma
6. Divakara
7. Sahadeva
8. Brihadasva
9. Bhanurath
10. Prateetasya
11. Suprateeka
12. Marudeva
13. Sunakshatra
14. Kinnara
15. Antariksa
16. Suvarna
17. Amitrajeet
18. Brihatraja
19. Barhi
20. Kritanjaya
21. Rananjaya
22. Sanjaya
23. Shakya-his descendents were Shakya caste of Kshatriya 'Varna', belonging to 'Suryavansha'.
24. Shuddhodana/Siddhartha
25. Rahula
26. Prasenjit
27. Ksudraka
28. Ranaka
29. Suratha
30. Sumitra 

The list of Kuru kings as mentioned in the Rig Veda from 1200 B.C.E. - 500 B.C.E.

01. Pratipa

02. Shantanu

03. Chitrangada

04. Vichitravirya

05. Pandu-Dhritrastra(100 sons)

06. Arjun

07. Abhimanyu

08. Parikshit

09. Janmejaya

10. Satanika

11. Aswamedhadutta

12. Asimakrishna

13. Nichakra

14. Ushna

15. Chitraratha

16. Vrishnimat

17. Susena

18. Sunitha

19. Richa

20. Nrichakshu

21. Sukhihala

22. Pariplava

23. Sunaya

24. Medhavi

25. Nripanjaya

26. Mridu

27. Tigma

28. Brihadratha

29. Vasudana

30. Satanika II

31. Udayana

32. Ahinara

33. Khandapani

34. Niramitra

35. Kshemaka       

Navanedistha, son of  Manu, founded an Aryan kingdom in the eastern area of Aryavrat. The most important king of this kingdom was 'Vishal', after his name the capital city of Vaishali was constructed. Mithila was Aryanised by Mathava Videgha, and so named 'VIDEH'. Videh is mentioned in 'Shatpath Brahman'. Mathava Videgha with his head priest Gautam Rahugan followed Vaishwanar Agni from the Saraswati river to Sadaneer (Gandaka) river. Vaishwanar Agni ordered Mathava Videgha to cross the Sadaneer river and settle down there. So the area on the other side of river Sadaneer was called 'Videh', and that time onward river Sadaneer (Gandak) became the boundary between 'Kosala' and 'Videh'. King Anga established the Anga janapada.   

As per 'Agni Purana' the earliest ruling dynasty of 'Magadha' was established by the legendry Brihadratha, who was the eldest son amongst the five sons of Vasu, the Kuru king of Chedi, and his queen Girika. The name of Brihadratha is also found in the 'Riga Veda' (1.36.18, X 49.6). His son Kushagra was succeeded by his son Vrishava. His son Pushpavanta was succeeded by his son Satyahita. Satyahita’s son was Sudhanvana(Dhanusha). Dhanusha was succeeded by his son Sarva. Sarva was succeeded by his son Sambhava. Sambhava was succeeded by his son Jarasandha. Jarasandha was succeeded by his son Sahadeva, who was killed in the Mahabharat war at Kurukshetra.

The Rig Veda (X.95.18) states that Pururava was the son of Ila, and a pious king. According to Vishnu Purana, the lunar line was established at Pratisthana in Madhya Desh (the doab) by Pururava, the son of Budha, the illegitimate child of Soma, the moon god. The tale of his love for the nymph Urvasi is one of the few tales that has caught the Indian imagination for generations, first told in the Rig Veda (X.95.1-18). Pururava’s younger son Amavasu, founded the kingdom at Kanyakubja (modern Kannauj).

The Lunar Dynasty:-

1. Pururava
2. Ayu, Amavasu and other five
3. Nahush
4. Yayati
5. Yadu
6. Sahashtrajeet
7. Shatjeet
8. Haihaya
9. Dharmanetra
10. Kumbhi
11. Sanhat
12. Mahishman
13. Bhadrasena
14. Doordarsha
15. Bhim
16. Buddhiman Kanaka
17. Kritagni
18. Kirtiveerya
19. Kartyaveerya Arjun
20. Jayadhwaj
21. Taljangha-He had 100 sons, and were called the Haihaya Vanshi kings
22. Veetihotra
23. Ananta
24. Durjaya

In the "Brihad Vishnu Purana" under the heading of the Mithila Mahatmya in the second chapter, shlokas 20 & 21, they have given 12 names of Mithila. Mithila is understood to be Rajrishi Janak’s kingdom and bears its name from ( Mi)'s Makar signifies, founder of the world ; (Thi)’s Thakar signifies, who looks after, and (La)’s Lakar signifies, the destroyer. Trimatra stands for the power. During the 24th chaturyugi Brahma asked Vashishtha to go to the 'Mrityubhumi' for becoming priest of Suryavanshi kings. Vashishtha protested as 'Purohiti' was a profession looked down upon at that time.  Brahma assured him of  Lord Vishnu taking birth in the family of Suryavanshi kings in the Treta yuga. Vashishtha then requested to bring Treta yuga before the Dwapar yuga, as he did not want to stay for such a long time in the 'Mrityubhumi'. Brahma accepted his request and thus Treta  yuga came after  Sat yuga. Now again there was a trifle, Lord Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Treta yuga, was to marry Sita, both being the same Gotra-Vashishtha and the same dynasty-Suryavanshi. One day Brahma distracted the mind of Nimi, son of King Ikshwakku, who in turn requested his priest Vashishtha to perform a 1000 years yajna, so that he could reach heaven with his own body, as also the Kali yuga time cycle was only 5087 years remaining. Vashishtha advised him to wait, as he was performing a yajna for King Indra for 500 years. Baffled King Nimi appointed Gautam as his priest, thereby changing his Gotra to Gautam, and started  the 1000 years yajna, as per the custom of those days. After return saint Vashishtha was advised by his son Shaktiji about the decision of King Nimi. Saint Vashishtha reached King Nimi’s palace and after some heated talks, cursed him-“Sadyah Videha Bhava”. With the curse of saint Vashishtha Nimi died spontaneously. After his death there was a period of anarchy. The sages in the leadership of priest Gautam gathered and implored the spirit of King  Nimi to reassume a human form. The dead body was placed in a churn. Soil(Mithi) emerged from the churn and Mithi was created. Thereafter this region is known as Mithila/Mithilapuri. As Mithi was born out of the body of his father, he was called ‘Janak’.

After this all the kings of Mithila from this dynasty were called a 'Janak'. The most famous being Seeradhwaj Janak, the father of Sita. He was the 21st Janak of Mithila and the last ruler in Treta yuga. There were another 31 Janaks in the Dwapar Yuga and other 5 Janaks in the Kali yuga. In total there were 57 Janaks ending with Kirti Janak in 750 B.C.E. It is said that the last king of Janak dynasty –Kirti Janak, was an atrocious ruler, who lost control over his subjects. He was dethroned by public under the leadership of Acharyas (learned men).

BOUNDRY OF MITHILA-

Mithila is bounded on the north by the Himalayas, and on the south, west and east by the river Ganges, Gandaka and Kaushiki respectively. It comprises the district of Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Purnea, north Monghyr and parts of the terai region in Nepal.

Mithi, son of Nimi(younger brother of King Ikshwaku), was a king of great prowess. He established his capital in the region, which was named "Mithila" and all the preceding kings were known as "Janak". After Mithi they follow as:-

1. Udavasu
2. Nandivardhana
3. Suketu
4. Devavrat
5. Brihadukchha
6. Mahaveerya
7. Dhritiman
8. Sudhriti
9. Dhristiketu
10. Haryashwa
11. Maru
12. Pratimbaka
13. Keertivrat
14. Devamidha
15. Bibhudha
16. Dhriti
17. Keertiraj
18. Maharoma
19. Savarnaroma
20. Harswaroma
21. Seeradhwaj-Janak, father of SITA
22. Bhanuman
23. Pradyumna
24. Muni
25. Urjavaha
26. Sutadhwaj
27. Sakuni
28. Swagata
29. Suvarcas
30. Sruta
31. Susruta
32. Jaya
33. Vijaya
34. Arta
35. Sunaya
36. Vitahavya
37. Dhriti
38. Bahulasva
39. Kriti Janak

The literary sources of the period during 8th to the 4th century B.C.E. divide Bharat into five macro-regions- Madhya Desa, Uttarpatha, Praticya (Western side), Pracya (Eastern side) and Dakshinapath. Madhya Desa underwent several stages of expansion during the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan periods. Its original core comprised the Kurukshetra plain and the Ganga-Yamuna doab to the Panchala and Vatsa regions. Between the 8th and 6th century B.C.E. Kosala and Kasi constituted transitional areas between the central and eastern regions. However, early Buddhist sources extended the eastern limits of the central region upto Kajangla. Brahmanical sources of the 5th century B.C.E. confined Madhya Desa to the west of Prayaga, but they attempted to expand to areas of south-west ward, as far as western Vindhyas and Aravalli range and often employed a new term "ARYAVRAT" (Land of Aryans). Madhya Desa was defined by the "Manusmriti" (2nd century B.C.E. to 2nd century C.E.) as the region from Himavat in the north, Vindhya in the south, Vinasana in the west and Prayaga in the east.

From Kirti Janak till the 7th century B.C.E. 'Vajji Sangha', the first democratic set up in the world remained active in the region. In fact Magadh was the first democracy in the world, which worked on the basis of a 'Panchayati' system under the guidance of Acharyas. They used to say-

“Na Raja Na cha Rajyasit, Na Dando, Na cha Dandika ;
 Dharme naiv Praja Saevaih, Rakshatim Parasparam".

Including Vaishali, in whole of Mithila, such state continued for long. Outsiders started attacking, firstly Egyptian emperor Sume Rames attached Sindh in 810 B.C.E., then Darius I reigned Sindh during 522-486 B.C.E., lastly Alexander the great stormed through the Indus valley in 326-325 B.C.E., and afterwards Lichhavi’s, Shaishunag, Nand, Maurya, Shung, Kanva, Satvahana, Gupta and Vardhan dynasties ruled upto 5th century C.E. Now again Mithila was broken into several small kingdoms and was also being attacked several times by Turks and Tibetans. One Jaywardhana took control and thwarted the Tibetan attacks. He made his capital at Mahisautha-Sirha(presently in Nepal) and used to be called the King of Mountains or Shailesh, afterwards in local dialect 'Salhesh'. His period continued till the mid of 6th century C.E., and then after Pal dynasty ruled north and north-east India for around three centuries.

Tirhut (Tirabhukti) played a very important role in the history of North-Eastern India. The Hindu kingdom of this region from 1097-1532 A.D., was just like an island in the vast ocean of Muslim dominated areas of the northern India. Even after 1532, the kingdom of Tirhut (mostly known as Raj Darbhanga) had an autonomous status and the Muslims of the land opposed the establishment of Mughal ascendancy in this region.

Karnat dynasty ruled Mithila from 1097-1325 C.E.. The last ruler of this dynasty King Harisinghdeva ordered Shankardutta of Mul-Sarisab to write "Panji Prabandh" of Karna Kayasthas in 1310 C.E., which was completed in 1314 C.E..With reference to this "Panji Prabandh" and the book "Maithil Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan" by Major Benod Bihari Verma, I am able to give my family tree since 1097 C.E.-