King Mithi

• The first promoter of the Karmakanda ritual in the Pitripaksha festival of Hinduism.
• Shraddha Karma for ancestors

Mithi ( Sanskrit: मिथि ) was the king of Videha Kingdom in the ancient Indian Subcontinent. He was the son of the King Nimi. He was the first King Janaka in the Janaka Dynasty of Mithila. The Sanskrit epic text Brihada Vishnu Purana mentions a list of 54 Janakas in the dynasty of the King Mithi, who ascended the royal throne at the court of King Janaka in Mithila.

In the text Mithila Mahatmya, the survived section of the Brihada Vishnu Purana, there is a verse for the salutations to the King Mithi as

मिथिर्येन नमस्यन्ति देशान्तर गताअपि । तेषां भुक्तिश्चमुक्तिश्च जायतेनात्र संशयः ॥

The verse translates to "Even those who have traveled to other countries should bow down to the King Mithi. They undoubtedly attain enjoyment and liberation". It was told by the revered Vedic sage Parashara to his disciple Maitreya in Mithila.