Mihira Bhoja I
Encyclopedia
Mihira Bhoja I or Bhoja I was a ruler of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of India
. He succeeded his father Ramabhadra
. Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu
and adopted the title of Adivaraha which is inscribed on some of his coins. One of the outstanding political figures of India in ninth century, he ranks with Dhruva Dharavarsha
and Dharmapala as a great general and empire builder.
At its height, Bhoja's empire extended to Narmada River
in the South, Sutlej River
in the northwest, and up to Bengal
in the east. It 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
.
of Bengal
, but was defeated by Devapala
. He then launched a campaign to conquer the territories to the south of his empire and was successful. He gradually rebuilt the empire by conquest of territories in Rajasthan
, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
. The Chandela
s of Bundelkhand
acknowledged his suzerainty. Besides being a conqueror, Bhoja was a great diplomat. During his reign, the capital was in Kannauj
(present-day Uttar Pradesh
), during his period Kannauj was referred as Panchala
.
He was a bitter enemy of the Muslim
invasions who, according to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman, maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry. The territories under his rule were prosperous and safe from robbers. His state was rich in natural resources, especially gold and silver mines.
Many temples made by him still survive. Teli Mandir, near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
, marks the presence of Vishnu
on earth. The temple's architecture, design and layout features an outstanding fusion of architectural styles: the roof resembles a Dravidian style while the decoration highlights the art of North India. He was a scholar and respected learned persons. Raj Shekhar was his court poet.
Bhoja had the reputation of a strong ruler, able to maintain peace in his empire and defend it and to make this task a sacred legacy to his succession. He was succeeded by his son Mahenderpal 1 (c.890 - 910 CE).
Mihira Bhoja finds a mention in the Daulatpura copper plate.
Mihira Bhoja I's epithet was Srimad-Adivaraha (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.
Adivaraha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, wears a long "Vanamala" to right with his left leg raised. Below is a small lion, to the right a sun-wheel (chakra) symbol, a moon symbol and another dumb-bell-like symbol is above and a trident and conch shell on the left and a two-lined inscription Shrimad Adi Varaha, with traces of a stylised fire-altar and two female attendants.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He succeeded his father Ramabhadra
Ramabhadra
Ramabhadra was a ruler of Gurjar Pratihar dynasty. According to Jain Prabhavakacarita, Nagabhata II was succeeded by Ramabhadra, sometimes also called Rama or Ramadeva. His mother's name was Istadevi. Ramabhadra had a brief reign of three years. He encountered many difficulties during his reign...
. Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and adopted the title of Adivaraha which is inscribed on some of his coins. One of the outstanding political figures of India in ninth century, he ranks with Dhruva Dharavarsha
Dhruva Dharavarsha
Dhruva was one of greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta Empire. He ascended the throne after replacing his elder brother Govinda II. Govinda II had become unpopular among his subjects on account of his various misconducts and demeanors as a ruler, including excessive indulgence in sensual pleasure....
and Dharmapala as a great general and empire builder.
At its height, Bhoja's empire extended to Narmada River
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
in the South, Sutlej River
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
in the northwest, and up to Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
in the east. It extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
up to the river Narmada
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
and included the present district of Etawah
Etawah
Etawah is a city on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. The city was an important center for the Revolt of 1857 . Also is the place of sangam or confluence between Yamuna and Chambal...
in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
.
Reign
When Mihira Bhoja started his career reverses and defeats suffered by his father Ramabhadra had considerably lowered the prestige of the Royal Gurjar Pratihar family. He invaded the Pala EmpirePala Empire
The Pāla Empire was one of the major middle kingdoms of India existed from 750–1174 CE. It was ruled by a Buddhist dynasty from Bengal in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, all the rulers bearing names ending with the suffix Pala , which means protector. The Palas were often described...
of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, but was defeated by Devapala
Devapala
Deva Pala , was a powerful emperor from the Pala Empire of Bengal region in the Indian Subcontinent. He was the third king in the line and had succeeded his father, emperor Dharamapala...
. He then launched a campaign to conquer the territories to the south of his empire and was successful. He gradually rebuilt the empire by conquest of territories in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. The Chandela
Chandela
The Chandela is a Rajput clan found in North India. A section of the Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region of central India for long periods between the 10th and the 13th centuries AD. The Chandela dynasty is famous in Indian history for King Vidyadhar, who repulsed the attacks of Mahmud...
s of Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
acknowledged his suzerainty. Besides being a conqueror, Bhoja was a great diplomat. During his reign, the capital was in Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
(present-day Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
), during his period Kannauj was referred as Panchala
Panchala
Panchala is an ancient region of northern India, which corresponds to the geographical area around the Ganges River and Yamuna River, the upper Gangetic plain in particular. This would encompass the modern-day states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. During the ancient times, it was home to a...
.
He was a bitter enemy of the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
invasions who, according to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman, maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry. The territories under his rule were prosperous and safe from robbers. His state was rich in natural resources, especially gold and silver mines.
Many temples made by him still survive. Teli Mandir, near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, marks the presence of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
on earth. The temple's architecture, design and layout features an outstanding fusion of architectural styles: the roof resembles a Dravidian style while the decoration highlights the art of North India. He was a scholar and respected learned persons. Raj Shekhar was his court poet.
Bhoja had the reputation of a strong ruler, able to maintain peace in his empire and defend it and to make this task a sacred legacy to his succession. He was succeeded by his son Mahenderpal 1 (c.890 - 910 CE).
Mihira Bhoja finds a mention in the Daulatpura copper plate.
Coins of Mihira Bhoja I
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
) 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.
Adivaraha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, wears a long "Vanamala" to right with his left leg raised. Below is a small lion, to the right a sun-wheel (chakra) symbol, a moon symbol and another dumb-bell-like symbol is above and a trident and conch shell on the left and a two-lined inscription Shrimad Adi Varaha, with traces of a stylised fire-altar and two female attendants.