Paratarajas

The Pāratarājas (Brahmi: Pāratarāja, Kharosthi: 𐨤𐨪𐨟𐨪𐨗 Pa-ra-ta-ra-ja, Parataraja) was a dynasty of Parthian kings, and ruling family from what is now Pakistan, from circa 125 CE to circa 300 CE.[1] The seat of their capital was Balochistan.

Paratarajas
c.125 CE–c.300 CE[1]
Portrait of Paratarajas ruler Kozana circa 200-220 CE.[2]
The Paratajas and neighbouring polities in Southern Asia in the 2nd century CE.[3][4]
Historical eraLate Antiquity
• Established
c.125 CE
• Disestablished
c.300 CE[1]
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Indo-Scythians
Hind (Sasanian province)
Today part ofPakistan

The Pāratas are thought to be identical with the Parθava of Iranian literature, the Parthians of Greek literature, and the Pāradas of Indian literature.[5][6]

Sources

Coinage
The name "Parataraja" in the Brahmi script ( Pāratarāja) on a coin of Arjuna.[7]

The dynasty is essentially known through their coinage which have been primarily found in and around the district of Loralai, Balochistan, western Pakistan.[lower-alpha 1] Coins were also found as far as Sri Lanka, suggesting intense trade.[8] The coinage was first studied by E. J. Rapson in 1905 before being subject to a comprehensive evaluation by B. N. Mukherjee in 1972; they have been since superseded by Pankoj Tandon's analyses.

Coinage was issued in five denominations: didrachms, drachms, hemidrachms, quarter drachms, and obols. However all rulers did not issue every denomination. The first six rulers minted in silver, before it was devalued and then gave way to billon followed by copper.

The coins exhibit the bust of a monarch on the obverse (having long hair within a headband), and a swastika—either right-facing or left-facing—on the reverse, circumscribed by a Prakrit legend in Brahmi script (usually silver coins) or Kharoshthi script (usually copper coins). This legend carried the name of the issuer, followed by patronymic, and identification as the "King of Paratas". Many similarities have been noted with Indo-Parthian coinage, as well as with the coinage of the Western Satraps, who were roughly contemporary and contiguous to the Paratarajas.

Classical literature

In about 440 BCE, the Greek historian Herodotus had described a tribe named Paraitakenoi, who was ruled by Deiokes, a Median monarch.[9] Strabo in his Geographica placed the same tribe in northern Iraq and western Persia.[9] Arrian described how Alexander the Great encountered the tribe in Bactria and Sogdiana, and had Craterus conquer them.[9]

According to Isidore of Charax, the geographical area beyond Sakastene is called "Paraitakene", corresponding to modern Baluchistan and Seistan, possibly their new territory from that time (25-1 BCE).[9] The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE) describes the territory of the Paradon beyond the Ommanitic region, on the coast of Balochistan.[9]

Inscriptions

Shapur I's inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht of 262 CE in Naqsh-i-Rustam, notes one "P'rtu"/"Pardan" to be among one of the many provinces of the Sasanian Empire:[10]

Parthian version of the Shapur I inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht.

And I hold (under my protection these) lands: (...) Sagestān (Σακαστανή), Tūrān, Makurān (/ Mukrān), Pāradān (Παραδηνή), Hindustān (India), and the Kušān-land until forward to Pašakbur (Puruṣapura, Pēšāwar), and up to kāš (Κασία χώρα, Kāshgar), Suγd (Σογδιανή), and Cācestān (Tashkent), and on the other side of the sea the Mazūn-land (Oman).

— Shapur I's inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht (262 CE), translation by Daryaee, Touraj (2018).[11][12][13]

The Paikuli inscription, erected by Narseh (293-302) on his victory over Bahram III, noted the "Pāradānshah" (King of Pardan) to have been among his congratulators.[9]

However, no other inscription or literature documents this place, rendering any identification contentious. Most scholars operate on the hypothesis that Shapur I's inscription had listed regions in a geographical order from West to East thereby sandwiching Pardan between the inexact provinces of Makran and Hind. Tandon additionally corelates this Pardan with the territory of the Paratarajas.

History

Based on ancient sources, the Paratas may have originated in northwestern Iran, northern Iraq or even eastern Turkey, roughly in the areas where Kurds live today, around the 7th century BCE.[14] Most of the names of kings on Parataraja suggest an Iranian origin.[15] They then migrated, so that Alexander the Great encountered them in the area of Bactria and Sogdiana.[14] They then moved through Seistan to reach Baluchistan in the 1st century CE, where they settled, first on the coast, and then in the interior.[14] Indian sources also locate them in the same general area, beyond the Indus river.[14]

The Paratarajas must have maintained a strong interaction with their neighbors to the West (the Indo-Parthians), and their neighbors to the east (the Western Satraps), perhaps having a role of intermediary.[15] The presence of the Paratarajas in Baluchistan suggests that the Kushans did not rule in that area.[15] It seems that the Paratarajas fell into the orbit of the Sasanian Empire circa 262 CE.[9]

From a linguistic standpoint, the Baluchi language belongs to the Iranian group of Indo-European languages, and is most closely related to Kurdish, whose locutors live today in the area from which the Paratas seem to have originally immigrated. This raises the possibility that today's Baluchis are somehow descendants of the Paratas.[16]

Rulers

A rough lineage of Paratarajas rulers can be reconstructed as follows.[17] The individual dates are rough estimates based on approximate general dates about the dynasty and reconstructions of the lineage, and Tandon gives two possible starting points, in 125 CE and 150 CE.[18]

RulerCoinFiliationApprox. datesDiscussion
Yolamira[19]
Pāratarājas. Yolamira. Circa AD 125-150
Son of Bagarevac. 125–150 CEThe only king whose name can be corroborated from non-numismatist sources — potsherds note him to be the patron of a vihāra. The name translates to "Warrior Mithra."

Coinage was issued in all five denominations. Three distinct phases of minting—bearded bust (obv.) + right-facing swastika (rev.); clean-shaven bust + left-facing swastika; clean-shaven bust + right-facing swastika—have been observed. The didrachm was minted only in the second phase.

The coin legend—mostly, Yolamirasa Bagarevaputrasa Pāratarājasa ("Of the king of the Paratas, Yolamira, son of Bagareva") runs in the Brahmi script.

Bagamira[20]Eldest son of Yolamirac. 150 CEThe name translates to "Lord Mithra."

Only two drachms are known, both of which were struck on the die used by Yolamira in his third phase. The reverse features a right-facing swastika.

The coin legend—Bagamirasa Yolamiraputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Brahmi script.

Arjuna[21]
Paratarajas_ruler_Arjuna_Circa_150-165_CE.
Second son of Yolamirac. 150–160 CEThe name was probably adopted from the eponymous character in Mahabharata, a Hindu epic; Tandon hypothesizes that he might have been the son of an Indian wife.

In his first phase, used Bagamira's die with a right-facing swastika on the reverse to issue drachms and hemidrachms. A new obverse die was then coupled with a left-facing swastika to mint the same denominations. In another (probably succeeding) phase, the same die was coupled with a right-facing swastika to mint drachms.

The coin legend—Arjunasa Yolamiraputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Brahmi script.

Hvaramira[22]
Pāratarājas. Hvaramira. Circa AD 165-175
a third son of Yolamirac. 160–175 CEThe name translates to "Glorious Mithra"; hvara > khwarrah.

In his first phase, used Arjuna's die from the last phase with a right-facing swastika on the reverse to mint drachms. Then, a new die was used with a right-facing swastika to mint drachms as well as didrachms. Finally, this die was coupled with a left-facing swastika to mint drachms.

The coin legend—Hvaramirasa Yolamiraputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Brahmi script; some coins use a variant spelling of Yodamiraputrasa.

Mirahvara[23]
Pāratarājas. Mirahvara. Circa AD 175-185
son of Hvaramirac. 175–185 CEThe name translates to "Glorious Mithra".

In his first phase, used Hvaramira's die from the last phase to mint drachms; Arjuna's hemidrachm die from the second phase to mint quarter drachms; and Yolamira's die from the third phase to mint hemidrachms. All had a right-facing Swastika on the reverse. In the next phase, Hvaramira's dies from the second and third phases were coupled with a left-facing swastika to respectively mint didrachms as well as drachms. In the third phase, a new die and Yolamira's die from the third phase were coupled with a right-facing swastika to respectively mint drachms and hemidrachms.

The coin legend—Mirahvarasa Hvaramiraputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Brahmi script.

Miratakhma[24]
Parata Rajas. Miratakhma
another son of Hvaramirac. 185–200 CEThe name translates to "Heroic Mithra."

Drachm and hemidrachm issues have been found: Tandon suspects didrachms were likely, given the abundance of his coins. Phases are not very coherent. Used Mirahvara's die from the third phase as well as a new die to mint drachms; both right-facing and left-facing Swastika is found on the reverse. The hemidrachm used Arjuna's die from the second phase with a right-facing swastika.

The coin legend—Mirahvarasa Hvaramiraputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Brahmi script. Is the only king to feature a Sanskrit legend—Miratakhmasya Hvaramiraputrasya Pāratarāja(sya)—on some drachms.

Kozana[25]
Pāratarājas Kozana Circa 200-220 CE
son of Bagavharna (and perhaps grandson of Bagamira?)c. 200–220 CEThe meaning of the name cannot be conclusively deciphered; Harry Falk speculates a connection with the homonymous founder of the Kushana empire. Was the first Pāratarāja king to issue coins with the legends in Kharoshthi, which was adopted by upcoming rulers. Significant devaluation is observed for the first time.

All mints used Miratakhma's dies. In the first phase, minted hemidrachms (and prob. drachms) with Brahmi legends. In the second phase, drachms were minted with Kharoshthi legend. In the third phase, minted drachms, didrachms, and hemidrachms on a reduced weight base. All coinage had a right-facing Swastika on the reverse.

The Brahmi legend ran, Kozanasa putra Pāratarāja. The Kharoshthi legend ran, Kozanasa Bagavharnaputrasa Pāratarājasa.

Bhimarjuna[26]
son of Yolatakhma (and perhaps grandson of Arjuna?)c. 220–235 CEApart from Arjuna, the only King to adopt an Indian name; the name is a portmanteau of two characters in Mahabharata, a Hindu epic.

Last King to issue silver mints; only drachms have been found. Used a new die—that did not match with any previous ruler's but was stylistically similar to Kozana's (i.e. Miratakhma's)—with a right-facing Swastika on the reverse. There is a drastic devaluation from silver to billon to copper.

The coin legend—Bhimarjunasa Yolatakhmaputrasa Pāratarājasa—runs in the Kharoshthi script.

Koziya[27]
Pāratarājas. Koziya. Circa AD 230-270
son of Kozanac. 235–265 CE
Koziya standing
The meaning of the name remains unknown.

Most abundant and complex coinage among all Paratarajas with several innovations—from inscribing names of Kings on the obverse to changing the bust image to that of a standing King—which would become the mainstay of upcoming rulers.

The coin legend—Koziyasa Kozanaputra Pāratarāja—runs in the Kharoshthi script.

Datarvharna[28]
Pāratarājas. Datarvharna. Circa AD 270-280
son of Datayola I (and perhaps grandson of Bhimarjuna?)c. 265–280 CEThe meaning of the name cannot be conclusively deciphered; Harry Falk translates to "Glory of the Creator".

Only a few didrachms have been found, in what Tandon suspects as an indicator of short regime as well as extreme inflation reducing the need for lower denomination coins. Used dies stylistically similar to Koziya's with a right-facing Swastika on the reverse.

The coin legend—Datarvharnasa Datayolaputrasa Pāratarāja—runs in the Kharoshthi script. The nominative Datarvharna is inscribed on the obverse.

Datayola II[29]son of Datarvharnac. 280–300 CEThe meaning of the name cannot be conclusively deciphered; Harry Falk translates to "Fighter for the Law".

Notes
  1. Finds have been also reported from Zhob, Quetta, Chaman, and Kandahar.

References
  1. Tandon 2021, p. 1.
  2. CNG Coins
  3. Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 21, 145. ISBN 0226742210.
  4. Coins depicting Pārata monarchs have been found in and around the district of Loralai, Balochistan, western Pakistan. This was the seat of their capital. Coins were also found as far as Sri Lanka, suggesting intense trade.TANDON, PANKAJ (2006). "New Light on the Pāratarājas". The Numismatic Chronicle. 166: 173–209. ISSN 0078-2696.
  5. New light on the Paratarajas, Pankaj Tandon p11
  6. TANDON, PANKAJ (2006). "New Light on the Pāratarājas". The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-). 166: 173–209. ISSN 0078-2696.
  7. TANDON, PANKAJ (2009). "Further Light on the Pāratarājas: an Absolute Chronology of the Brāhmī and Kharoṣṭhī Series". The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-). 169: 137–171. ISSN 0078-2696.
  8. TANDON, PANKAJ (2006). "New Light on the Pāratarājas". The Numismatic Chronicle. 166: 173–209. ISSN 0078-2696.
  9. "New light on the Paratarajas" Pankaj Tandon p29-30
  10. Tandon (2012). "The Location And Kings Of Paradan". Studia Iranica (41): 28.
  11. Daryaee 2018, pp. 1294–1295.
  12. Rapp 2014, p. 28-29.
  13. Wiesehöfer 2001, p. 184.
  14. TANDON, PANKAJ (2006). "New Light on the Pāratarājas". The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-). 166: 201–203. ISSN 0078-2696.
  15. "New light on the Paratarajas" Pankaj Tandon p.37
  16. The Baluchi language "is classified as a member of the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family, which includes Farsi (Persian), Pushtu, Baluchi, and Kurdish. Baluchi is closely related to only one of the members of the Iranian group, Kurdish": see Selig S. Harrison, In Afghanistan’s Shadow: Baloch Nationalism and Soviet Temptations (Washington: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1981) quoted in "New light on the Paratarajas" Pankaj Tandon p.31 Note 35
  17. The dates are estimated with a start date from 125 CE. A slightly later estimate also appears in Tandon, with a start date of 150 CE TANDON, PANKAJ (2009). "Further Light on the Pāratarājas: an Absolute Chronology of the Brāhmī and Kharoṣṭhī Series". The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-). 169: 155. ISSN 0078-2696.
  18. The dates are estimated with a start date from 125 CE. A slightly later estimate also appears in Tandon, with a start date of 150 CE TANDON, PANKAJ (2009). "Further Light on the Pāratarājas: an Absolute Chronology of the Brāhmī and Kharoṣṭhī Series". The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-). 169: 155. ISSN 0078-2696.
  19. Tandon 2021, p. 2-3.
  20. Tandon 2021, p. 3.
  21. Tandon 2021, p. 4-5.
  22. Tandon 2021, p. 5.
  23. Tandon 2021, p. 6-7.
  24. Tandon 2021, p. 7-8.
  25. Tandon 2021, p. 8-9.
  26. Tandon 2021, p. 9-10.
  27. Tandon 2021, p. 10-12.
  28. Tandon 2021, p. 12-13.
  29. Tandon 2021, p. 13-14.

Bibliography
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