Mihira Bhoja I

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Coin of King Bhoja-I (Mihirabhoja or Adivaraha) , AR Dramma or Adivaraha Dramma , circa 836 - 885 CE. Obv: Figure of Nrvaraha /Adivaraha , The boar incarnation of Vishnu wearing long "Vanamala" to right with left leg raised ; below a small lion , to right a sun / wheel (chakra) symbol , Moon symbol and dumbbell like symbol above , A trident and conch shell on left side of Adivaraha. Rev: Two lined inscription " Shrimad Adi / Varaha " with traces of Stylised fire alter accompanied with two ladies (attendants ) to right and left.
Coin of King Bhoja-I (Mihirabhoja or Adivaraha) , AR Dramma or Adivaraha Dramma , circa 836 - 885 CE.
Obv: Figure of Nrvaraha /Adivaraha , The boar incarnation of Vishnu wearing long "Vanamala" to right with left leg raised ; below a small lion , to right a sun / wheel (chakra) symbol , Moon symbol and dumbbell like symbol above , A trident and conch shell on left side of Adivaraha. Rev: Two lined inscription " Shrimad Adi / Varaha " with traces of Stylised fire alter accompanied with two ladies (attendants ) to right and left.

Mihira Bhoja I (836-885 CE) or Bhoja I was a ruler of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of India. He succeeded his father Ramabhadra. He seems to have started his career with a debit balance of reverses and defeats suffered by his father Ramabhadra which had considerably lowered the prestige of the Pratihara family. Mihira Bhoja gradually rebuilt the empire by his conquests of the territories in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. His empire extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas up to the river Narmada and included the present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh[1].

According to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman, Mihira Bhoja I maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry. The territories under his rule were most prosperous in India and safe from robbers. His state was rich in natural resources, especially gold and silver mines[2]. Bhoja I was succeeded by his son Mahendrapala (c. 885-910 CE). During his reign, the capital was in Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh), during his period Kannauj was referred as Panchala.

[edit] Coins of Mihira Bhoja I

Mihira Bhoja I's epithet was Srimadadivaraha (the fortunate primeval boar incarnation of Vishnu) and therefore there is a broad agreement amongst the scholars on the attribution of adivaraha dramma billon coins to him. These coins have a depiction of adivaraha on the obverse. On the reverse,Proto-Devanagari legend srimadadivaraha is written along with some pictorial elements.[3]

Preceded by
Ramabhadra		 Gurjara Pratihara Emperor
836 - 885 CE		 Succeeded by
Mahendrapala

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ E-gazeteer-History of Etawah district
  2. ^ Mahajan 1960, p. 644
  3. ^ Deyell 1999, pp. 28-29
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[edit] References

  • Deyell, John S. (1999), Living without Silver, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, ISBN 0 19 564983 4.
  • Mahajan, V.D. (1960, Reprint 2007), Ancient India, S. Chand & Company, New Delhi, ISBN 81-219-0887-6.
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