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{{Short description|Heritage mounds or elevated sites in Mithila}}

'''Dih''' ([[Maithili language|Maithili]]: डीह) generally refers to historical mounds or elevated sites that often hold archaeological significance in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]] of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. These sites can represent the remnants of ancient settlements, structures, or religious places. They are important for understanding the historical and cultural heritage of the Mithila region. The major ''dihas'' in the region are attributed to the prominent historical personalities of Mithila.<ref>{{Cite web |title=कुमारिल भट्ट डीह को मिलेगा पर्यटन केंद्र का दर्जा - Kumaril Bhatt Dih will get tourism center status - Bihar Madhubani General News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/madhubani-kumaril-bhatt-dih-will-get-tourism-center-status-19846807.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=डीएम ने विद्यापति डीह का किया निरीक्षण - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/madhubani-dm-inspires-vidyapati-dah-17535405.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिला की पावन भूमि है अयाची मिश्र डीह - Ayachi Mishra deh is the holy land of Mithila - Bihar Madhubani General News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/madhubani-ayachi-mishra-deh-is-the-holy-land-of-mithila-19562764.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिला आदिकाल से संत-महात्माओं की धरती - The land of saints and mahatmas since Mithila - Bihar Madhubani General News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/madhubani-the-land-of-saints-and-mahatmas-since-mithila-19698428.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Dih is a Maithili word derived from another Maithili word ''Dihi''. The literal meaning of the term ''Dihi'' is earliest original ancestor or founder of a village.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nāgārjuna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRQOAAAAMAAJ |title=Pāro |date=1975 |publisher=Sambhāvanā Prakāśana |pages=23 |language=hi}}</ref> Similarly the literal meaning of the term ''Dih'' signifies the place where the original ancestor or a prominent personality of the village may had lived. Sometimes it also signifies the worship place where the folk deity ''Gram Devata'' or ''[[Brahma Sthan|Brahm Baba]]'' or ''Dihavar Baba'' of the village is established.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-27 |title=बिहार के लोक देवताओं के बारे में आप कितना जानते हैं? |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2016/06/160627_bihar_folk_deities_tk |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=BBC News हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref>

== Description ==
Dih in Mithila signifies a location of historical and archaeological importance, often marked by mounds that hold clues to the region's past history. In the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent, there are several historical, archaeological, religious, educational and cultural Dihas in the villages or towns of the region. The famous dihas in the region are [[Banauli Vidyapati Dih]], [[Bisfi Vidyapati Dih]], [[Ayachi Mishra Dih]], [[Vachaspati Mishra Dih]] and [[Kumarila Bhatta Dih|Kumarila Bhatt Dih]], etc.

Similarly at [[Uchhaith|Uchchaith]] village in the Madhubani district, there is a historical and educational Dih known as [[Kalidas Dih]]. It is related to the Sanskrit scholar [[Kalidasa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=बिहार के मधुबनी में महाकवि कालिदास को मां भगवती से मिला था ज्ञान का वरदान - Mahakavi Kalidas got the gift of knowledge from mother Bhagwati in Madhubani of Bihar |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/muzaffarpur-mahakavi-kalidas-got-the-gift-of-knowledge-from-mother-bhagwati-in-madhubani-of-bihar-21384782.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> The other famous dih is [[Musaharniya Dih]] at ''Paston Navtoli'' Village which has archeological evidence that it may have been a Buddhist Mahavihara, or the ruins of a royal palace in Mithila. The other dihas in the Madhubani district of the Mithila region are [[Parjuar Dih|Parjuar dih]], Garokhar Dih, Satlakha Dih, Rahika Dih, Malangiya Dih, Kanail Dih, Serma Dih, Basuara Dih, [[Viratpur|Biratpur]] Dih, Hathiya Dih, Teliya Dih, Raghunathpur Dih, Bhagwatipur Dih, Manserpur Dih, [[Bisaul|Vishaul]] Dih, Jiraul Dih, Loha Dih, Sakradhi Dih, Usarahi Dih, Bherba Dih, Sasnma Dih, Chhachhua Dih, Usauthu Dih, Koria Dih, Khoir Dih, Bharchaura Dih, Raghuni Dehat Dih, Kusahi Dih, Balaha Dih, Ekamma Dih, Chataila Dih, [[Padma Village|Dharharha Dih]], Harhi Dih, Jalpayi Dih, Gadhauli Dih, Jamdhar Dih, Sukhet Dih, Wali Dih, Pali Dih, Sugauta Dih, Pauam Dih, Devpura Dih, Kapsiya Dih, Narhi Dih, and Akaur Dih, etc. These dihas had been recognised and explored by the archeological research institute named as [[Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute]] in [[Patna]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Archaeological Explorations - District- Madhubani Block |url=https://kpjri.res.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Madhubani.pdf |journal=KP Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna}}</ref>

In the [[Bhagalpur district]] of the region, the major dihas are ''Kurudih'', ''Kurpatdih'', ''Shivaydih'', ''Goradih'', ''Swarupchak Dih'', ''Saur Dih'', ''Brahmachari Dih'', ''Banokhar Dih'', and ''Sanokhar Dih'', etc. All the villages in which they are located are the namesakes of these dihas respectively. In all these villages there is a mound spread over an area of 50 to 300 acres. According to the archaeologist ''Arvind Sinha Rai'', these dih-namesake villages are centuries old and some civilizations are buried beneath the mounds of these dihas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=यहां हर डीह के नीचे दफन है एक सभ्यता - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/bhagalpur-dih-dih-16035009.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

The [[Udayanacharya Dih]] at [[Kariyan]] village is the famous dih in the [[Samastipur district]]. It was the location of residence as well as academy of the eminent Indian philosopher [[Udayana|Udayanacharya]]. The mound is 20 feet high from the ground and spread over an area of 96 acres. After excavation, some antiquities of the 2nd century BC have been unearthed. Similarly, objects dating from the 6th century AD to after 1200 AD have been also found at the site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kariyan |url=https://samastipur.nic.in/tourist-place/kariyan/ |website=Government of Bihar}}</ref> ''Waini Dih'' is another important dih within the district, at the historical village [[Oini]]. It was the first capital of the [[Oiniwar dynasty|Oiniwar Dynasty]] in Mithila. There are ruins of the fort of the capital covered by bushes and trees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=Hindustan Special: जहां कभी सजता था राजा शिव का दरबार, अब सन्नाटे के सिवाय कुछ नहीं |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/story-hindustan-special-now-nothing-but-silence-where-king-shiva-darbar-used-to-held-with-poet-vidyapati-8400342.html |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=www.livehindustan.com |language=hi}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Tell (archaeology)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Types of monuments and memorials]]
[[Category:History of the Mithila region]]
[[Category:Culture of Mithila]]

Dih archaeology - Revision history

Chardhamyatrahotels at 03:06, 6 May 2026