Tradition-Dependent IdentificationEditorial Framework #32 of 51

Mithila (Uma / Janakpur / Uchaith)

मिथिला (उमा / जनकपुर / उच्चैठ) · Uchaith Bhagawati / Janaki Mandir axis (Mithilanchal) (Bihar / Madhesh Province, India / Nepal border region)

Editorial & Scholarly Protocol: AnantaMarg uses a 51-site Pithanirnaya-based framework for this catalogue. Other Shakta traditions preserve different enumerations and identifications.

Spiritual Significance

Enshrining the left shoulder of Sati in sacred Mithilanchal, the land of King Janaka, Yajnavalkya, and Gargi, celebrated for the confluence of Shakta philosophy and Vedic scholarship.

Sacred Triad & Field-Level Provenance

Pithanirnaya Recension

Shakti (Devi)Primary

Uma

उमा

Basis: Pithanirnaya, v. 32

Sources: pithanirnaya

Documented Variants:

Uchaith Bhagawati (उच्चैठ भगवती)

Maithili regional tradition; Kalidasa vidya-prapti site

BhairavaPrimary

Mahodara

महोदर

Basis: Pithanirnaya, v. 32

Sources: pithanirnaya

Relic / Body PartPrimary

Left Shoulder (Vama Skandha)

बायां कंधा (वाम स्कंध)

Basis: Pithanirnaya, v. 32

Sources: pithanirnaya

Modern Location & Geographic Coordinates

26.4719° N, 85.9234° E

Identified Site

Uchaith Bhagawati / Janaki Mandir axis (Mithilanchal)

Benipatti, Madhubani (India) & Janakpur (Nepal)

State/Province & Country

Madhubani (India) / Dhanusha (Nepal), Bihar / Madhesh Province (India / Nepal border region)

Access Guidance: Benipatti (Uchaith) is 22 km from Madhubani railway station. Janakpur (Nepal) is 45 km across the international border.

Geographic Uncertainty: The ancient Mithila kingdom transcends modern borders. In Madhubani (Bihar), Uchaith Bhagawati Mandir is venerated as the primary Shakti Peetha where poet Kalidasa attained poetic enlightenment, while in Nepal, the Janaki/Rajdevi shrine at Janakpur is similarly revered.

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Alternate Identifications & Scholarly Discussion

Competing / Alternate Sites:

Shree Janaki Temple & Rajdevi Shrine (श्री जानकी मंदिर / राजदेवी)Janakpurdham, Madhesh Province (Nepal)

Traditional Basis: Capital of King Janaka where the divine Mother Sita manifested.

Documentary Sources & Provenance Hierarchy

Tier 1 — Scriptural Texts (प्रामाणिक धार्मिक ग्रंथ)

Pithanirnaya (Mahapithanirupana) (Verse 32) [D.C. Sircar (1948)]
Brihad Vishnu Purana (Mithila Mahatmya)

Tier 2 & 3 — Institutional, Archaeological & Scholarly Sources

Bihar State Religious Trust Board (official temple)
Mithila Heritage Foundation (scholarly academic)

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