Paratarajas

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Obv: Robed bust of Bhimajhunasa left, wearing tiara-shaped diadem.
Rev: Swastika with Brahmi legend around: "Yolatanamputrasa Parataraja Bhimajhunasa" ("Of the Parataraja Bhimajhuna, son of Yolatanam").
1.70g. Senior (Indo-Scythian) 286.1] The Pāratarājas (lit. "Pārata Kings") are a dynasty of Indo-Scythian kings who ruled in the Baluchistan region of today's Pakistan and Iran, from the 1st century to the 3rd century CE.

The dynasty of the Pāratas is thought to be identical with the Pāradas of the Mahabharata, the Puranasand other Indian sources. ["New light on the Paratarajas" p11]

Numismatics

They are essentially known through their coins, which typically exhibit the bust of the ruler on the observe, with long hair within a headband), and a swastika within a Brahmi legend on the reverse (usually silver coins) or Kharoshthi (usually copper coins). The coins can mainly be found in the Loralai area of modern Pakistan.

Paratas in Classical sources

Herodotus in 650 BCE describes the "Paraitakenoi" as a tribe ruled by Deiokes, a Persian king, in nort-western Persia (History I.101).

Arrian describes how Alexander the Great encountered the "Pareitakai" in Bactria and Sogdiana, and had them conquered by Craterus (Anabasis Alexandrou IV).

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE) describes the territory of the "Paradon" beyond the Ommanitic region, on the coast of modern Baluchistan. [ [http://people.bu.edu/ptandon/Paratarajas.pdf "New light on the Paratarajas" p29-30] ]

Major kings

* Kuvhusuvhume
* Spajhana
* Spajhayam
* Bhimajhuna
* Yolamira, son of Bagavera (2nd century)
* Arjuna, son of Yolamira (2nd century)
* Karyyanapa
* Hvaramira, another son of Yolamira(2nd century)
* Mirahvara, son of Hvaramira (2nd century)
* Miratakhma, another son of Hvaramira (2nd century)

References

* "New light on the Paratarajas", Numismatic Chronicle, 2006. [http://people.bu.edu/ptandon/Paratarajas.pdf Pdf]

External links

* [http://home.comcast.net/~pankajtandon/galleries-parata-rajas.html Paratarajas coin gallery]