Mihira Bhoja (836–885 CE) 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 Ādivarāha which is inscribed on some of his coins.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3][4]

Contents

 1Reign
 2Military career
 3Coins of Mihira Bhoja
 4Notes
 5References

Reign

Sculptures near Teli ka Mandir, Gwalior Fort.

 Gate of Teli ka Mandir, Gwalior Fort.

Teli ka Mandir is a Hindu Temple built by Mihira Bhoja.[5]

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 Arab invaders[2] who, according to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman,
maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry.[2]
He was succeeded by his son Mahendrapala I (c.836 - 910 CE).

Military career
When Mihira Bhoja started his career reverses and defeats suffered by his father Ramabhadra
had considerably lowered the prestige of the Royal Gurjara Pratihara family. He invaded
the Pala Empire of Bengal, but was defeated by Devapala.[2] He then launched a campaign to
conquer the territories to the south of his empire and was successful. After Devapala's death,
Bhoja defeated the PalaKing Narayanapala and the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna II.[6]:20–21 He
gradually rebuilt the empire by conquest of territories in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya
Pradesh. The Chandelasof Bundelkhand acknowledged his suzerainty.[2] Besides being a
conqueror, Bhoja was a great diplomat.[2]

Coins of Mihira Bhoja

Adivaraha Dramma coin, circa 836 - 885 CE

Mihira Bhoja'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.[7]

Notes