NIMI I. A famous emperor who was the son of Iksvaku, Pancala. The of this royal dynasty
1) Genealogy.
#nimi descended from Visnu thus: BrahmaMarici-Kasyapa – Vivasvan – Vaivasvata ManuIksvaku-Nimi. Among’ the sons of Iksvaku, Danda, Vikuksi and Nimi became famous. 2) ITasis,tha’s curse.
Emperor Nimi was very generous with his gifts. He was interested in performing yajnas. The feeding hall that can be seen even today near the .srama of Gautamaaharsi was built by emperor Nimi. The emperor, a person of rajasic nature, decided to conduct a Yajna which would take a long time to end and which required much money for gifts; and he got his father Iksvaku’s permission for it. Arrangements were made for the Yajna, and Rsis like Bhrgu, Angiras Vaxnadeva, Pulastya, Pulaha and Rcika who were competent to perform yajnaand great scholars in the Vedas were invited for the Yajna. Lastly he met his family preceptor Vasistha and told him thus: “Oh preceptor! I have made all arrangements for a Yajna, which it is my desire should last for five hundred years. You would also come with me and see that the Yajna is duly performed.”
Vasistha listened to Nimi’s request with great attention. But, he had already been invited by Indra to conduct a Yajna which would last for five hundred years, and he would be able to oblige Nimi only after that period of time. So Vasistha asked the emperor to postpone his proposed yajna by five hundred years. Nimi returned disappointed.
Nimi had no patience to wait for five hundred years. So he started the yajna with Gautama as his preceptor. After Indra’s Yajna for 500 years was over, Vasistha came to Nimi’s Yajna hall. Nimi, at the time, was in the inner apartment of his palace. Though his servants went to him to tell him that his preceptor Vasistha had come, they waited outside his chamber as he was sleeping then. Within a few moments Vasistha was ablaze with anger. He raised his hands and cursed Nimi thus: “Oh ! Nimi, you have insulted me, your preceptor. You disobeyed my injunction and began the Yajna. Therefore, let your body be parted from the soul and fall on the ground.”
This curse of Vasistha alarmed the servants of Nimi so much that they roused him from sleep and told him all about the affair. Nimi hurried to Vasistha and prostrated at his feet. But, he did not shed his anger. This made Nimi also angry. He also raised up his hands and cursed Vasistha thus: “Oh muni !you who got angry without reason are worse than a Candala. Therefore let your body also be parted from the soul and fall to the ground.”
Vasistha got alarmed at the above curse. He ran up to and submitted his grievance to Brahma, who told him thus :- “My son, your action was really fool-hardy. Yet, I shall advise you a way out of your troubles. You dissolve your-self in the effulgence of Mitra and Varuna and remain there permanently. After sometime you will be able to be born without being present in the womb of a woman. Then you will thing about your previous birth will acquire sense of righteousness and knowledge of the Vedas will become respected by all and will be omniscient.
The soul of Vasistha parted from his body on account of the curse of Nimi, saluted Brahma, went to the asrama of Mitravarunas and got mixed with their remember every-
effulgence. Meanwhile Urvasi one day came to the asrama of Mitravarunas, who had seminal emission at her sight. The semen fell into a pot. The pot duly burst open and there emerged from it Agastya and Vasistha.
Nimi returned to the Yajna hall and told the mums about the curse on him of Vasistha. While the mums were helplessly looking on, Nimi’s body got separated from the soul and fell down. The mums placed the dead body in an uncovered coffin, kept it free from putrefaction with the help of medicines and mantras and continued with the Yajna. At the close of the Yajna the Devas appeared and asked Nimi which did he prefer to have, a human body or body of a Deva. He preferred to have a Deva body, and accordingly ascended to Svarga along with the Devas.
As Nimi had no sons to perform his obsequies the mums began churning the corpse repeating mantras and there arose from it an ideal person as glowing as Nimi. As he was created by `mathana’ (churning) the mums named him Mithi. Again, as he was created from a dead body he came to be known as,Janaka also. Further, as he was born from the body from which the soul had departed he was called Videha also. The famous kingdom of Mithila on the banks of the Ganga was founded by this Janaka.
Janaka, the father of Sita, was a King born in this dynasty. To all the Kings born in this dynasty the surname `,Janaka’ came to be applied. This dynasty is known as Janakavamsa and Videhavariisa after emperor Mithi. ( Devi Bhagavata, 6th Skandha).
3) Other information.
(i ) He worships Surya’s son Yama in, his court. (Sabha Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 9) .
(ii) He gave gifts of land to Brahmins. (Vana Parva, Chapter 234, Verse 26).
(iii) He did not eat flesh. (Anusasana Parva, Chapter 115, Verse 65 ) .
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