Bagamira
| Bagamira | |
|---|---|
| Kings of Kings | |
Pāratarājas. Bagamira. Circa 150 CE | |
| 2nd ruler of the Paratarajas | |
| Reign | 150–150 CE |
| Predecessor | Yolamira |
| Successor | Arjuna |
| Issue | Bagavharna[1] |
| Father | Yolamira |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Bagamira was the supposedly second ruler of Paratarajas. He succeeded his father Yolamira and ruled areas of modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan. He rule was very short as he was overthrown by his brother Arjuna.[2]
Coinage
The dye used in Bagamira's coin is used by both Yolamira and his successor Arjuna. The coin is a silver drachm, weighing 3.66 gm and measuring 15 mm in diameter, with the usual bare-headed, diademed bust of king right on the obverse, and a swastika turning right surrounded by a circular legend in Brahmi Script on the reverse.[3][4]
Etymology
A pattern that exists across all the royal families in this dynasty can be found in the name of the King of Bagamira. Many of the names of the kings are derived, using root words from the names of the previous kings. In the case of Bagamira, the use of both root words is evident; Baga (meaning god) is borrowed from Bagareva and Mira (Mithra) from Yolamira. As a result, Bagamira translates to "Lord Mithra".[5]
Biography
Bagamira was possibly considered to be able eldest son of Yolamira, According to the evidences found his ruled before his brother Arjuna. Bagamira's coins have ties through his father and his brother Arjuna, and it stands to reason that he ruled for a brief period using his father's last-drachm die to issue them; however it appears as though Arjuna overthrew his brother and took over shortly afterwards.[6]
The reasoning behind this theory is strengthened by the fact there are very few known examples of Bagamira's coinage in comparison to Arjuna's. In addition, based on how similarly Bagamira's coin die is to one of Arjuna's and the one that matched up with one of Yolamira's coin dies as opposed to one of Hvaramira's, it would seem possible that the majority of Bagamira's rule occurred earlier during Arjuna's rule.[7]
References
- ^ Falk, H (2007). The Names of the Pāratarājas Issuing Coins with Kharoṣṭhī Legends.The Numismatic Chronicle Vol. 167. p. 172.
- ^ "The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Paratarajas or Parata Rajas". coinindia.com. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
- ^ Paratarajas-Synthesis, p. 6.
- ^ Tandon 2021, p. 5.
- ^ Tandon 2006, p. 138.
- ^ Tandon 2006, p. 138–139.
- ^ Tandon 2006, p. 139.
Sources
- Tandon, Pankaj (2021). "The Paratarajas: Successors of Romans and Parthian" (PDF).
- Paratarajas-Synthesis (PDF). Bosten University. 2021.
- Tandon, Pankaj (2006). "Further Light on the Paratarajas: An Absolute Chronology of the Brahmi and Kharoshthi Series".
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