The capital of the Videha country.
The city was very ancient, and, according to the Mahágovinda Sutta (D.ii.235), was founded by Mahágovinda, steward of King Renu.
It was also the capital of Makhádeva (M.ii.72f; MT.129; see also Dpv.iii.9, 29, 35) and eighty four thousand of his descendants, and of various other kings mentioned in the Játakas - e.g.,
The size of the city is frequently given (E.g., J.iii.365) as seven leagues in circumference, and the Mahájanaka Játaka (J.vi.46f) contains a description of it. There was a road leading from Campá to Mithilá, a distance of sixty leagues (J.vi.32).
According to the Maháummagga Játaka (J.vi.330f) there were four market towns at the four gates of Mithilá, each being known by the name of Yavamajjhaka.
The Buddha is mentioned as having stayed in Mithilá and having preached there the Makhádeva Sutta (M.ii.74) and the Brahmáyu Sutta (M.ii.133).
It was also in Mithilá that the Therí Vásetthí (Thig. vs. 135; see also Dvy., p. 60) first met the Buddha and entered the Order, after having heard him preach.
After the Buddha's death, the Videhas of Mithilá claimed a part of his relics and obtained them (Bu.xxviii.11).
In the time of Konágamana Buddha Mithilá was the capital of King Pabbata, and the Buddha preached there on his visit to the city (BuA. 215). Padumuttara Buddha preached his first sermon to his cousins, Devala and Sujáta, in the park of Mithilá, (Bu.xi.23; BuA.159) and later to King Ananda and his retinue in the same spot (BuA.160).
Mithilá is generally identified with Janakapura, a small town within the Nepal border, north of which the Mazaffarpur and Darbhanga districts meet (CAGI., p. 718).
In the Indian Epics (E.g., Ramayana i. 48) Mithilá, is chiefly famous as the residence of King Janaka.