#mithila

Yes, ofc. <3

Hara-Dhanush.

Who can lift the bow of Shiva? Janak wonders as he sits in his throne, his daughter decked up as a bride. Is there anyone who is eligible for Shri who has blessed me as my daughter? He shifts in his seat, doubt slowly entering as mist in his mind as his worry increases.

Who can lift the bow of Shiva? Sunaina wonders, and in her mind, she is still cradling the child that earth had bestowed upon her lap. It wasn’t her womb that birthed earth’s daughter, yet she was her own child all the same. Her first gift from the gods, her first child.

Who can lift the bow of Shiva? Urmila wonders stealing a look of her elder sister who sits patiently, a gentle smile on her opulent visage. Like a shadow to a person, Urmila tries to calm down her frantic heart to mirror her sister. If Seeta wasn’t tensed, then Urmila knew that nothing would go wrong.

Who can lift the bow of Shiva? The people of Mithila wonders, their mind drifting back to when Maithili in her infancy had managed to lift it with ease. Like Shri was to the ocean, they loved her as if she were a child and revered her for the goddess she was.

“Who can lift the bow of Shiva?” Gauri asks Shiva who smilingly looks down at Rama heading towards the palace of Mithila along with Vishwamitra and Lakshmana. Gauri looks down at her friend who looked resplendent, all the prosperity of the universe personified.

“Who can lift the bow of Shiva?” Mandavi asks Seeta, shifting closer to her.

“Who except Hari?” Shiva smiles.

‘Who except Hari?’ Seeta thinks in her mind before shrugging at her sister feigning ignorance.

Confusion clouded her people, and so Shri’s Hari will come to clear them away.

~•~•~

Rama x Seeta were second most voted along with Arjun x Draupadi. So this is a little something on them, and hopefully the next will be on Arjun and his beloved! :pp

Couldn’t write much to actually put my vision into words, so another one is in the pages of my edit later list. 🥲

Inktober Day 17 : Ornate

Medium : Digital Ink, Sumi

Study of a Mithila Painting design from a bag I own. Design credit to the original artist.

This Inktober, I'm planning on using the prompts to explore South Asia's folk traditions!

All Inktober 2025 posts

Like my work?

Tried madhubani painting after a long time.

The key feature of this type of painting are the lines used. All the patterns used for decoration of the figures are made simply through the combination of different kinds of lines.

Madhubani paintings also known as mithila painting are a famous folk art style of India.

It derives it's name from the place of it's birth that is mithila in present day bihar.

Harvestfest...

Maya and Nish had woken early Harvestfest morning to finish their preparations for the day. Freshly back from his business trip to Strangerville – which he said had been one of the most bizarre experiences of his life – Nish had volunteered himself to help with the roasting of the turkey. Considering neither he nor Maya ever had hosted Harvestfest dinner before, it would be their first time having to cook such a large bird. Once it was slow roasting in a citrus herb marinade, Maya finished up the sides while Nish got out the extra tables and chairs. Autumn and Paolo made the short walk from next door in the early afternoon, followed closely behind Zahira and Rami. The adults chatted while Mithila and Lily played with the cats on the living room floor. The Lakotas made their appearance a half hour before dinner was scheduled to be served, Nish greeting them at the door.

Nish: Come right in, guys! Hey, babe. Look who’s here!

Maya turned from where she was arranging silverware to greet their guests.

Maya: Welcome, guys!

Chenoah: Thanks for inviting us! I hope we’re not too early.

Maya: Not at all, you’re right on time. We’ve just been getting the table set while everyone rolls in. Just hang tight in the living room while I finish up.

Chenoah and Mato joined the other couples while Onawa sat with Lily and Mithila. Maya turned to Nish with a stack of plates in her hands.

Maya: Who else are we waiting for?

Nish: Just Brent, Brant, my parents, and…yours.

Maya: [flustered] Good. Everyone should be here soon then. Um, let’s just leave the food in the oven for maybe 15 more minutes and then we’ll bring it to the table—

Nish: Hey, you okay? You sound out of breath.

Maya: [nodding] Yeah, I’m good. The stress is just starting to catch up with me.

In truth, it was more so nerves that was catching up with her. This would be the first time her parents would be seeing where she lived – and the first time she’d be seeing her dad in five years. She almost regretted having extended the invitation, but there was no going back now. Her ultimatum would decide once and for all what relationship she had with her mother and father, if there was any left to have at all.