Nimi (king)

Nimi is considered to be the first king of the Videha kingdom and belonged to the Janaka lineage of Mithila. Nimi was the grandson of Manu and son of Ikshwaku. According to Bhagavat purana geneology of Ikshvaku is as follow:

Vishnu

Brahma

Marichi

Kashyap

Aditi

Surya

Saranyu

Shraddhadeva Manu

Shraddhadevi

Ikshvaku

Nimi (Vedic king)

Story of Nimi

According to Vishnupurana and Brihad Vishnupurana Nimi became the first King of Mithila. His capital was Jayantapura, which later became the city of Janakpur.

Nimi's Yagya

Once Nimi performed Yagya and invited Sage Vasishtha to be the main priest to conduct Yagya. However Sage vasishtha had already committed to conduct yagya for Lord Indra, he told Nimi that he would officiate as Head Priest after having conducted Lord Indra's Yagya and thus Nimi will have to wait. Nimi went away without replying. Sage Vashistha got impression that King Nimi has assented to wait for him.

Sage Vasishtha conducted Lord Indra's Yagya and rushed to preside at King Nimi's Yagya only to find that the Yagya was already being conducted. Sage Vasishtha got angry and cursed King Nimi that "he would cease to live in corporal form". Thus, King Nimi was left without his body to heaven with Indra and stayed there for 9,000,000 years. After the Yagya was conducted successfully, the priests asked the Gods to return King Nimi in his corporal form. He returned and ruled Mithila for 84,000 years

References

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