Palas of Bengal

Pala empire was founded by Gopala in 750 CE, and they controlled Bengal and Bihar for nearly 400 years, from the eighth to the twelfth centuries. Rulers of this dynasty had ‘Pala’ in their name, which means ‘protector’ i.e. it was called the Pala dynasty. In the Indian subcontinent, this empire was one of the most powerful Buddhist imperial powers. The Palas were best known for their patronage of art, sculpture, painting and university construction, as well as their ongoing conflict with contemporary powers such as the Pratiharas of western India and the Rashtrakuta Dynasty of southern India.

Origin of Pala Empire

• Gopala established the Pala Empire in the eighth century.
• After Harshvardhana’s death, many kingdoms rose to dominance in Northern and Eastern India in the 7th century.
• The ruler of Gauda Kingdom i.e. Shashanka was the contemporary of King Harshavardhana and between 590 and 625 CE, he controlled the Bengal area.
• Soon after the death of Gauda King Shashanka, lawlessness erupted in the country’s northern and eastern parts, allowing the Palas to seize control and establish the Pala Empire.
• The Pala Empire began its authority in the states of Bihar and Bengal, but the borders of the Pala dynasty’s ruled provinces changed frequently due to the kingdom’s various collapses and revivals.
• The Bengal region was in a state of revolt after the fall of the Shashanka’s empire, and there was no central authority to rule the state, so Gopala ascended the throne as the first emperor.
• For nearly four centuries, the Palas dynasty ruled over Bihar, Bengal, and parts of Orissa and Assam, with numerous ups and downs.
• Sulaiman, an Arab trader, attests to their influence. Sulaiman described the Pala empire as Ruhma (or Dharma), short for Dharmapala.
• The Pala monarchs were at war with their neighbours, the Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas, although his armies outnumbered his opponents.
• ‘It was customary for the Pala king to be accompanied by a force of 50,000 elephants,’ Sulaiman added.
• In Bengal’s history, the Pala Empire is regarded as the ‘Golden Age.’

Rulers of Pala Empire

Gopala (750–770 AD)

• Gopala (750–770 CE) was the founder of the Pala dynasty in Bihar and Bengal provinces.
• The word Pala signifies “protector” and was used as a suffix for all Pala monarchs’ names.
• He ascended to power in Gaur / Gwal around 750 CE after being elected by a group of provincial chieftains.
• Before Gopala, Bengal experienced unrest, internal strife, and foreign invasions.
• Gopala brought an end to the chaotic state of affairs and brought peace to the Bengal region.
• He is known as the first emperor of the Pala dynasty.
• Taranatha, a 16th-century text, provides information about Gopala.
• Gopala was the son of a warrior named Vapaata (destroyer of adversaries) and grandson of Dayitavishnu, described as Sarva-vidyavadata (highly educated).
• He was married to Deddadevi of the Bhadra dynasty.
• The Ramacharita text from the Pala period describes Gopala as a descendant of the Solar dynasty.
• During the period of unrest, the people of Bengal elected Gopala as their monarch in a revolution to end the Matsyanyaya.
• Gopala ended the Matsyanyaya (near-anarchy) in Bengal.
• The term Matsya Nyaya (fish justice) refers to a state where the larger fishes prey on the smaller ones, symbolizing the chaos in Bengal before Gopala’s rise.
• After the death of Sasanka, the ruler of Bengal, there was significant turmoil, and Gopala rose to power.
• According to mythology, Gopala survived the assassination attempts by the Naga queen and was recognized as the destined king after surviving his first seven days as ruler.
• Gopala was elected by a group of feudal chieftains rather than his subjects, a practice widespread in contemporary tribal societies.
• Gopala ruled for over 20 years and died at the age of 80.
• The exact boundaries of his empire are unknown, but it is believed to have covered much of the Bengal region.
• Gopala’s son, Dharmapala, succeeded him and extended the kingdom, making it one of India’s most powerful empires at that time.
• Gopala’s administration was modeled after the Gupta empire’s practices.
• He established a monarchical administrative structure, concentrating power in the hands of the king.
• The throne was hereditary and passed down through generations.
• The king was assisted by a group of hereditary ministers nominated from prominent families.
• Gopala was a devout supporter of Mahayana Buddhism.
• He built the famous Buddhist Mahavihara at Odantapuri, which became the second oldest Buddhist Mahavihara after Nalanda.
• Gopala also constructed numerous monasteries and temples throughout his reign.
• Odantapuri was located in Magadha, present-day Odantapuri, Bihar, and was destroyed in the late 1100s by the Turko-Muslim conqueror Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji.

Dharmapala (770–810 AD)

• Dharmapala (770–810 CE) was the second emperor of the Pala Empire of Bengal and Bihar.
• He was the son of Gopala and is considered one of the greatest rulers of the Pala dynasty and one of the greatest kings in Indian history.
• Dharmapala succeeded his father around 770 CE and embarked on a plan to expand his empire.
• He was married to Rannadevi, a princess of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
• He assumed the highest imperial titles of the time, including Paramabhattaraka, Paramesvara, and Maharajadhiraja.
• Dharmapala assumed the name Vikramasila, possibly to show his power or to honor the founding of the Vikramasila monastery.
• During his reign, a tripartite struggle took place between the Pala, Pratihara, and Rashtrakuta dynasties for control of Kanauj.
• Dharmapala ruled for about 40 years and expanded the Pala Empire significantly.
• His empire spanned from the Bay of Bengal to Delhi, Jalandhar in the north, and the Vindhya hills in the south.
• He had significant vassal states in Punjab, the western highlands, Rajputana, Malwa, and Berar.
• Dharmapala’s rise marked a shift in the political climate, with power temporarily moving from the Pratiharas to the Palas.
• He defeated the king of Kanauj, Indrayudha, and placed his nominee, Chakrayudha, on the throne, holding an imperial court in Kanauj.
• The court in Kanauj was attended by rulers of Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Yadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kira, showing Dharmapala’s dominance.
• A tripartite battle took place between the Pala, Pratihara, and Rashtrakuta dynasties for control of Kanauj.
• Dharmapala fought Vatsaraja, the Pratihara king, at Prayag but was initially defeated.
• Vatsaraja was later defeated by Rashtrakuta king Dhruva, and Dharmapala took control of Kanauj.
• Dharmapala’s control of Kanauj was short-lived as he was defeated again by Dhruva, but he regained the throne after Dhruva’s death in 793 CE.
• After Dhruva’s death, Dharmapala took advantage of the Rashtrakuta succession struggle and recovered Kanauj, placing Chakrayudha back on the throne.
• Dharmapala ascended to the position of Uttarapathasvamin (“Lord of the North”), making him the most powerful ruler in North India.
• During his reign, numerous monasteries and universities were established, including Nalanda University, Vikramasila University, and Somapura Mahavihara.
• Nalanda University became well-known worldwide, with around 10,000 students and teachers, including those from Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, and Sri Lanka.
• Dharmapala contributed royal income from 200 nearby villages to cover the expenses of Nalanda University.
• He founded Vikramasila University, which competed with Nalanda University and was famous for providing specialized Tantra training.
• Atia Dipankara, a creator of Tibetan Buddhism’s Sharma traditions, was a notable graduate of Vikramasila University.
• Vikramasila University flourished for 400 years until it was destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji’s soldiers in 1200 CE.
• Somapura Mahavihara, founded by Dharmapala in Bengal in the late 8th century, was a prominent center for Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jina Dharma (Jainism), and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).
• Somapura Mahavihara was a major influence on Buddhist architecture in Cambodia and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Devapala (810–850 AD)

• Devapala ruled the Pala Empire from 810 to 850 CE and succeeded his father Dharamapala as the third king of the dynasty.
• He was the son of Rannadevi, a Rashtrakuta princess.
• Devapala was a great warrior, inheriting his father’s military skills, and contributed significantly to expanding the empire.
• His empire extended from Kamboja in the northwest to Deccan in the south, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the east.
• His military campaigns included Kamboja, Pragjyotisha (Assam), and Utkala (Odisha).
• Devapala was praised for his successful military campaigns, including destroying the Utkalas, invading Pragjyotisha, breaking the Hunas’ dignity, and humbling the Gurjara and Dravida lords.
• The Badal Pillar inscription mentions that Devapala invaded Pragjyotisha where the king surrendered and Utkala whose king fled.
• Vajrasattva, a Buddhist poet, was present in Devapala’s court and authored Lokeshwarasataka.
• Devapala maintained a huge army of more than fifty-thousand elephant infantry units and was praised by Suleiman, an Arab trader, for the army’s power and discipline.
• There were reportedly fifteen thousand washermen dedicated to cleaning the army’s uniforms.
• Devapala was skilled in war strategies, commanding his army effectively to win battles.
• He organized a military campaign with his cousin and commander Jayapala and kept an eye on the Pratihara and Rashtrakuta forces.
• He marched his army south to the Vindhyas and west to the Indus.
• Devapala meddled in Tamil Nadu affairs and formed a confederacy against the Pandya king.
• He invaded and occupied the kingdoms of the Khasas and Latas, violent tribes.
• King Balaputradeva of Java and Sumatra sent an envoy to Devapala, requesting permission to erect a monastery in Nalanda with the help of five villages.
• According to the Badal Pillar inscription, Devapala was the supreme lord of northern India, stretching from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas and from the eastern to the western seas.
• Devapala was a devout Buddhist and supported the advancement of Buddhism.
• He gifted five villages to Buddhist monasteries for the welfare of Bhiksus.
• Under his reign, Nalanda University became the most important Buddhist learning center in ancient India, attracting students from all over India and other countries.
• Bengal prospered during his rule, with a flourishing of scholars and advancements in culture and education.
• Devapala was a benevolent administrator, tolerant of other religious beliefs and encouraging the spread of new religions in his empire.
• He built countless temples and monasteries in Magadha.

Mahipala I

• Mahipala I was the 9th Pala king who reigned from 977 to 1027 CE for 50 years.
• He is regarded as the 2nd founder of the Pala dynasty, restoring its old glory after a period of decline.
• Mahipala I was the son of Vigrahapala II and succeeded him to the throne.
• After ascending the throne, he began the process of restoring Bengal to its former glory.
• According to the Sarnath inscription, Mahipala I ordered the construction of sacred structures throughout Bihar.
• He inherited south Bihar from his father and successfully fought the Kambojas to reclaim northern and western Bengal.
• Bhangarh and Tippera inscriptions detail the reclamation of northern, western, and eastern Bengal.
• Mahipala I defeated the Kambojas and Chandras, who had claimed the Pala territory after Devapala‘s reign.
• He restored Pala power over their old realm, except for a region of southern west Bengal, which was held by Ranasura and Dharmapala.
• The invasion of Rajendra Chola was a major event during Mahipala’s reign.
• According to the Tirumalai inscription of the Cholas, Rajendra Chola conquered Bengal between 1021 and 1024 CE.
• Rajendra Chola defeated local Bengali monarchs, including Dharmapala of Dandabhukti, Rana Sura of Southern Radha, and Govindachandra of Vangla.
• The Cholas then moved to fight Mahipala and conquered the Northern Radha region.
• Mahipala I was defeated, and other Bengali monarchs were forced to accept Chola supremacy.
• Despite losing control over parts of Bengal, northern Bengal and northern Radha still swore allegiance to Mahipala I.
• Rajendra Chola’s northern expedition was a sweeping attack with no intention of holding land.
• After early years of warfare, Mahipala I devoted himself to peaceful work and religious activities.
• His public deeds earned him favor among the Bengali people, and his name can still be seen in several cities and huge tanks.
• He renovated temples and monasteries and built votive stupas at the Tara shrine in Satyapir Bhita.
• Places such as Mahiganj in Rangpur, Mahipur in Bogra, Mahisantosa in Dinajpur, Mahipala in Murshidabad, Mahipal Dighi (tank) in Dinajpur, and Sagardighi in Murshidabad bear testimony to his deeds.
• His contributions are also reflected in the countless ballads dedicated to his name that still exist in Bengal.
• Brindaban Das, in his Chaitanya Bhagavat (1572 CE), mentions that people in Bengal during the early 16th century were fond of Mahipala’s songs.
• The traditional expression Dhan bhante Mahipaler git (songs of Mahipala while husking rice) reflects the ongoing popularity of Mahipala’s songs in rural Bengal.

Rampala

• Ramapala (1072–1126 CE) was the last great ruler of the Pala Dynasty, succeeding Shurapala II.
• He was the son of Vigrahapala III and married to Madanadevi.
• He ruled for nearly 54 years, marked by a series of successful military campaigns.
• Bengal experienced a period of peace and prosperity under his reign.
• Ramapala expanded his kingdom to Kamarupa, Orissa, and Northern India, crushing the Varendra uprising.
• He followed a liberal taxation policy, supported agriculture, and built public utilities.
• His accomplishments were glorified in Sandhyakara Nandi’s poetical work, the Ramacharitam.
• Ramapala was succeeded by his son Kumarapala after his death.
• The Pala dynasty eventually fell apart after the death of Ramapala.
• After the Kaivarta takeover, Ramapala escaped captivity and traveled to North and Central India.
• He sought support from local feudatory chiefs and Rashtrakuta monarchs, who agreed to assist him.
• Ramapala and his army crossed the Ganga’s northern bank in Varendra and battled the Kaivarta king Bhima.
• After a fierce struggle, Bhima was defeated and killed, and Ramapala reclaimed his ancestral kingdom.
• After capturing Varendra, Ramapala worked to restore the earlier glory of the Pala dynasty.
• He governed from Ramavati, which remained the Pala capital until the dynasty’s end.
• He lowered taxes, supported agriculture, and built public utilities.
• Ramapala expanded his territory by conquering Kamarupa and Rarh and forcing the Varman monarch of east Bengal to submit.
• He sent an allied chief, Timgyadeva, to conquer the eastern kingdoms.
• Ramapala fought the Ganga ruler for control of Orissa, but the Ganga ruler recaptured it after Ramapala’s death.
• He maintained close ties with Chola ruler Kulottunga to gain support against mutual enemies, the Ganas and Chalukyas.
• He used a matrimonial alliance to thwart the aggressive plans of Gahadavala monarch Govindachandra.