Madhepura district

Madhepura district is one of the thirty-seven districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhepura town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhepura district is a part of Kosi division.

[Madhepura] [http://madhepuradistrict.blogspot.com/] is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Madhepura. The district occupies an area of 1787 km² and has a population of 1,524,596 (as of 2001). Madhepura district is surrounded by Araria and Supaul district in the north, Khagaria and Bhagalpur district in the south, Purnia district in the east and Saharsa district in the West. It is situated in the Plains of River Koshi and located in the Northeastern part of Bihar at longitude between 25°. 34 to 26°.07' and latitude between 86° .19' to 87°.07'.
*Districts of BiharMadhepura in details:Madhepura district stands on the heaps of raveges caused by the mythological river Kosi originating at a height of 5400 metres in the Himalayas and crossing Tibbet reaching plains at Chatra in Nepal and in India in the boarder of Madhubani & Darbhanga and flowing through Supaul & Saharsa negotiates with the Ganges near Kursela covering 254 Kilo Meters. The legend has it that Satyavati, the young sister of Vishwamitra, after being widowed at the demise of her old husband Richik reached heaven and appeared on the earth in the form of struggling and raveging Kosi river, popularly known as the 'sorrow of Bihar'. (Extracted from Shaiv Avdharna Aur Singheshwar Asthan - Written by Harishankar Shrivastava 'Salav' & Dainik Jagran, Bhagalpur, Nagar Sanskaran, dated 30.07.03).Being carved out of Saharsa district, Madhepura got the status of revenue district on 9th May, 1981. Prior to that Madhepura was a sub-division under Bhagalpur district with effect from 3rd September, 1845. Subsequently, it was on 1st April, 1954 that Saharsa district was carved out of Bhagalpur district.Facing the onslaughts of the Kosi river, the history of Madhepura is replet with tales of owes, sorrow and sufferings. Since time immemorial, it has seen several ups and downs perpetuated by Kosi in the form of flood, famine and drought. Flood and drought have remained the regular feature of the area so much so that the then Government had to shift the Court & the Sub-divisional headquarters from Madhepura to Supaul from 1935 to 1938.There is not any authentic information regarding the origine of Madhepura. Available sources indicate that the name Madhepura was evolved from Gangapur- a village named after Gangadeo, the grand son of King Mithi, who is said to have established state Mithila. It is also said that the village Gangapur was named after King Gangsen of the Sen dynasty.From 1704 A.D. to 1892, the Kosi river with its diverse courses remained striding the areas right from Forbisganj to Chandeli Karamchand and Raghuvansha Nagar & thereafter submerging itself into the Ganges at Kursela. As Madhepura stands at the centre of Kosi ravine, it was called Madhyapura- a place centrally situated which was subsequently transformed as Madhipura into present Madhepura. Another view is also there as to its naming as the area is said to have been inhabited by the bulk of Madhavas - clan of Lord Krishna, it was termed as Madhavpur which gradually became Madhavpur into Madhepura. (Extracted from Brihad Hindi Kosh, 5th Edition, Page- 887).In ancient times, Madhepura remained a part of Anga Desh. It was also governed by Maurya, Sunga, Kanva and Kushan dynasty. It wasa part of Mithila Province during Gupta period. The Mauryan Pillar discovered at Kishunganj bears testimony to it. Madhepura remained under the dominance of Bihar rulers during Rajput rule. Present Raibhir village under Singheshwar block was a stronghold of Bhars. During Mugal period Madhepura remained under Sarkar Tirhut.

The place has remained the meditation ground of Lord Shiva and other Gods. Sri Hari Shankar Shrivastav 'Salav', a distinguished historian, finds the area of Madhepura part of Singheshwar as the place of adoration and experiment of Vivandak and his son Rishya Shringa. The name of village Satokhar standing on the western embankment of one of the tributaries of Kosi west of Singheshwar at a distance of 5 Kilometers has been derived from Sanskrit word Sapta Pokhar - Seven Ponds, said to have been created 'Yajna Shala' by Rishi Shring for Putreshthi Yajna (Sacrificial ceremony for a son's birth).

Rishi Shring at the request of his wife Santa, the adopted daughter of Rompad, agreed and performed the Yajna to precipitate God to bless King Dashratha with sons. Consequently, the wives of Dashratha were impregnated after taking medicated Khir prepared by Rishi Shring and their sons Ram, Laxman, Bharat & Satrughan were born one after the other. The Barah Puran also refers to Singheshwar as Sringeshwar. The area has been identified as Rishi Shring Ashram during Ramayan period, its vicinity being surrounded by jungle inhabited by deer, leopards, bears, etc. King Yudhishthir is said to have visited the place along with Rishi Lomus during Mahabharat period. Sheet and Basant - rulers of Kushan dynasty also inhabited in this area. The fort of Sheet was located at present Kadamma whereas the fort of Basant was located at present Basantpur, a village under Singheshwar block. Ruins & remains of those forts are still visible. Sri Nagar- a village under Ghailarh block recently carved out of Madhepura block situated at a distance of 22 Kilometers west of Madhepura town also present the remains of the two forts of King Sri Deva.

In the history of Indian National Congress Madhepura had due prominence, being stronghold during freedom Movement. The delegation led by Babu Rash Bihari Lal Mandal participated in the 25th Session of Indian National Congress at Allahabad in 1910. Prominent leaders of Khaddar Andolan were Jai Narayan Mandal & Raj Kishore Chaudhary. Dr. Rajendra Prasad & Md. Saukat Ali coducted releif works after the earthquake of 1934. The place was also visited by Mahatma Gandhi. During Quit India Movement Late Bhupendra Narayan Mandal had a prominent role and it was under his leadership that a 14 years old boy Hare Krishna Chaudhary unfurled the National Tri-Colour on the Treasury building of Madhepura court on 13th August, 1942.Situated at 6.34 latitude and 86.19 longitude, Madhepura with its damper climate and sandy soil is expanded up to 1888.5 sq.km.

The district has 2 sub-divisions - Madhepura and Uda Kishunganj, 13 blocks, 13 police stations, 170 panchayats and 434 revenue villages. The total population of Madhepura, as per census of the year 2001 is 15,24,596 of which 7,96,272 are male and 7,29,324 are female. Literacy rate is 36.9% as against the national rate of 64.8% and state rate of 47%. The density of population is 859 per sq.km.

Madhepura is also in the limelight for Singheshwar Temple that the Istha Linga of Lord Shiva established in it. The Barah Puran also refers to Singheshwar as Shringeshwar. Mahakavi Vidyapati also refers to it in his literature in the 14th century. The Valmiki Ramayana gives due reference of Rishi Shring Ashram. Lord Shiva has been imagined to be residing on the bank of his favourite and affectionate river Kosi in the epic Kumar Shambhavam written by Mahakavi Kalidas. As per another belief, Lord Vishnu himself established this linga. The present temple was erected by Kushan dynasty. In early survey, the temple is recorded in the name of one Bhanu Das. They say that a night's stay at Singheswar gives the fruit of the gift of thousand cows.

ee Also

*Districts of Bihar

References

Districts of Bihar