Videgha Mathava

Videgha Mathava is made of two Sanskrit words Videgha and Mathava. According to the commentary of Sayana, Mathava was the name of a son from the King Mathu from Videgha. Similarly Gautama was a son from the Rishi Rahugana.[3] According to some books Mathava is also written as Madhava. It is believed that the name of the kingdom came to be known as Videha after the tribal name Videgha of Mathava.[4]

The story of Videgha Mathava is narrated in Yajurveda. According to Shatapatha Brahmana, Videgha Mathava migrated from the Sarasvati river to the middle Ganga valley. He travelled towards east with Agni ( fire ) but stopped at the river Sadanira (Gandak).[5] Then Videgha Mathava asked to Lord Agni that where he abided now. Lord Agni then said that your abode was at the east of the river Sadanira. It is said that Lord Agni ordered Videgha Mathava to establish the new kingdom of "Videha" amongst the "Easterners".[2] Lord Agni burned away the vegetation on the other side of the river Sadanira, so that the tribe could settle there. In later times, the Sadanira formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Videha and Koshala . He had taken his tribe to the plains of the Ganges which had dense vegetation in the east. This is the Theory of Aryanisation of Videha Kingdom in the eastern India.