Political Sciences in the Ancient Mithila University
Political sciences in Mithila is a fascinating subject that explores the history and theory of politics and statecraft in the ancient and medieval region of Mithila, which is now part of Bihar and Nepal. Mithila was known for its rich culture, literature, art, and philosophy, as well as its political institutions and thinkers.
Some of the main aspects of political sciences in Mithila are:
The role of the Janakas, the kings of Mithila, who were also renowned as sages and patrons of learning. They held philosophical dialogues and debates with various scholars and teachers, such as Yajnavalkya, Ashtavakra, Gargi, and Maitreyi. They also established a system of law and justice, and maintained diplomatic relations with other kingdoms.
The development of Nyaya Shastra, the school of logic and epistemology, by Aksapada Gautama, who was born in Mithila. Nyaya Shastra provided the principles and methods of reasoning and argumentation, and was applied to various fields of knowledge, such as ethics, theology, and politics. Nyaya Shastra also influenced the Buddhist and Jain schools of logic.
The contribution of Chandeshvara Thakur, who wrote Rajnītiratnākāra, the oldest work on the subject of state affairs and politics in Mithila, in the second half of the 13th century. He was the most renowned political thinker of Mithila, and was patronized by the Karnata king. Rajnītiratnākāra discussed the topics such as the origin and nature of the state, the qualities and duties of the king, the sources and types of law, the administration and taxation, the foreign policy and war, and the welfare and happiness of the people.
Political sciences of Vidyapati in the Ancient Mithila University is a topic that relates to the life and works of Vidyapati, a famous poet and scholar of Mithila, who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries. Vidyapati was not only a poet of love and devotion, but also a political thinker and advisor, who wrote on various aspects of statecraft, law, diplomacy, and ethics.