| Mithi | |
| Janaka | |
| Predecessor: | King Nimi |
| Successor: | Udāvasu |
| Birth Name: | Mithi |
| Birth Place: | Mithila region |
| Full Name: | King Mithi Janaka |
| Father: | King Nimi |
| Religion: | Sanatana Hinduism |
| Dynasty: | Ikshvaku dynasty |
Mithi (Sanskrit: मिथि) was the king of Videha Kingdom in the ancient Indian Subcontinent. He was the son of the King Nimi.[1]
According Vishnu Purana and Bhavishya Purana the name “Mithila” is derived from King Mithi, who established the city of Mithilapuri.[2] He was also known as Janaka because he was born out of the body of his father. The title Janaka was later adopted by subsequent kings of Mithila.[3] [4] According to Bal Kand of Valmiki Ramayana, King Mithi had a son named as Udavasu who became successor of the kingdom after him.[5]
The story of the birth of the King Mithi is described in Vishnu Purana, Shrimadbhagwat Purana, Ramayana, Devī Bhāgavata, Matsya Purana etc.[6] [7]
According to the sixth chapter of Devi Bhagavata, once the King Nimi was cursed to death by the sage Vashishtha for performing Yajna in his absence. Then the other sages present there took the lifeless body of Nimi and after performing Yajna rituals and worshipping the gods, they started churning the body. After some time, a great, radiant, powerful and accomplished man was born from it. Since he was born by Mathana (churning) he was named Mithi.