Mihirakula (Chinese: 大族王, Japanese: Daizoku-o) was the most important Sveta Huna ruler in India. He was the son of Toramana, the founder of Hun power in India. He came to power in 510. In Sanskrit, Mihira and Kula means "belonging to the Sun (Mihira) Clan (Kula)". In Pashto also, kul means "clan" and myer (Karlan dialect) means "Sun".
Mihirakula is described in The Record of the Western Regions by Hsüan-tsang (7th century) as a good ruler who started to conquer neighbouring territories. His Gwalior inscription issued in the 15th regnal year shows that his soverignty extended at least up to Gwalior. Mihirkula suffered a defeat by Yasodharman of Malwa in 528, and the Gupta emperor Narasimhagupta Baladitya. By 542 Mihirakula had been driven off the plains of northern India, taking refuge in Kashmir, with his capital at Sialkot, and he is thought to have died soon after.
Mihirakula is remembered in contemporary Indian and Chinese histories for his cruelty and his destruction of temples and monasteries, with particular hostility towards Buddhism. He claimed to be a worshipper of Shiva. One legend specifically portrays Mihirakula enjoying captured wild elephants being driven off the cliffs to their deaths into deep gorges.
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