Nimi (Mithila king)
Nimi is considered to be the first king of Mithila in the lineage of Janaks born in Janakpur, Nepal. The Janaks were Kings of Mithila region in Nimi was the grandson of Manu and son of Ikshwaku.[1]
Story of Nimi
According to Vishnupurana[2] and Brihad Vishnupurana[3] Nimi became the first King of Mithila. His capital was Jayantapura, which later became Janakpur, in present-day Nepal.
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. After the Yagya was conducted successfully, the priests asked the Gods to return King Nimi in his corporal form. However, King Nimi declined to go back in his body but requested that he be allowed to live in eyes of all beings. Gods assented to his desire and gave him form of eyelashes, which is present in all beings.
The Sanskrit word for eyelashes is Nimi.
References
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