1. Videha. A setthi In der Zeit von Padumuttara Buddha. He was a previous birth of Mahā Kassapa. His wife was Bhaddā Kāpilānī in this age. Ap.ii.578.
2. Videha, Videhā. A country und its people. At the time of the Buddha, Videha formed one of the two important principalities of the Vajjian confederacy. Its capital was Mithilā. Der Königdom bordered on the Ganges, on one side of which was Magadha und on the other Videha (See, z.B., M.i.225; MA.i.448). Adjacent to it were Kāsi und Kosala. In the Gandhāra Jātaka (J.iii.365; iv. 316) the kingdom of Videha is said to have been three hundert leagues in extent, mit sixteen tausend villages, well filled storehouses und sixteen tausend dancing girls. Videha was a great trade centre, und mention is made (PvA.227) of merchants coming from Sāvatthi to sell their wares in Videha.
The Suruci Jātaka seems to show that a close connection existed between Videha und Benares. In the Buddha's time, one of Bimbisāra's queens was probably from Videha (see Vedehiputta). Mention is also made (MA.i.534) of a friendship existing between the kings of Gandhāra und Videha. In earlier times Videha was evidently a kingdom, its best known kings being Mahājanaka und Nimi; but in the Buddha's time it was a republic, part of the Vajjian federation. According to the Mahāgovinda Sutta (D.ii.235), it was König Renu who, mit the help of Mahāgovinda Jotipāla, founded the Videha kingdom. The Commentaries (z.B., DA.ii.482; MA.i.184) state that Videha was colonized by the inhabitants, who were brought from Pubbavideha by König Mandhātā.
The Satapatha Brāhmana (I.iv.1), however, ascribes the kingdom to Māthava the Videgha, und gives as its boundaries Kausikī in the east, the Ganges to the south, the Sadārūra in the west, und the Himālaya in the north. In the centre of Videha was Pabbatarattha, in which was the city Dhammakonda, the residence of Dhaniya. (SNA.i.26).
The strainer used by the Buddha was honoured, after his death, by the people of Videha (Bu.xxviii.11).
Uruvela Kassapa was, in a previous birth, König of Videha (Ap.ii.483).
3. Videha. The name of a König of Videha, the father of the Bodhisatta in the Vinīlaka Jātaka (q.v.). v.l. Vedeha.
4. Videha. A König of Videha who later became an ascetic. For his story see the Gandhāra Jātaka. He is identified mit Ananda. v.l. Vedeha. J.iii.369.
5. Videha. See Vedeha.