Pala Empire

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Pala Empire (750–1174) was a Buddhist imperial power in Classical India.

Origin of name

It is named after its ruling dynasty, all of whose rulers bore names ending with the suffix -Pala (meaning "protector" in Prakrit).

History

The kingdom was centered around present-day Bangladesh and eastern India. The Palas had ushered in a period of stability and prosperity in the Bengal-Bihar region. They were the followers of the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism. They created many outstanding temples and works of art, including the Somapura Mahavihara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The renowned universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila flourished under their patronage. The commercial and cultural influence of the Palas reached far and wide, with trade networks and intellectual contacts spanning across the Himalayas to Southeast Asia. The Arabs recorded them as the most benevolent rulers in India.

Gopala, the first ruler from the dynasty, came to power during the 750s in a landmark election by regional chieftains. The empire reached its peak under his successors Dharmapala and Devapala, who fought with the Rashtrakutas and the Gurjara-Pratiharas for the control of Kannauj. The death of Devapala ended the period of ascendancy of the Pala Empire, and several independent dynasties and kingdoms emerged during this time.

The Pala rule was temporarily rejuvenated, first by Mahipala I and then by Ramapala. Subsequently, the Pala power declined, and they were dethroned by the Senas in the second half of the 12th century.

The Palas were the last major Buddhist dynasty to rule in South Asia.

Foundation

According to the [[Khalimpur] copper plate inscription, the first Pala king Gopala was the son of a warrior named Vapyata. The Ramacharitam attests that Varendra (North Bengal) was the fatherland (Janakabhu) of the Palas. The ethnic origins of the dynasty are unknown, although the later records claim that he was a Kshatriya belonging to the legendary solar dynasty. The Ballala-Carita states that the Palas were Kshatriyas, a claim reiterated by Taranatha in his History of Buddhism in India as well as Ghanaram Chakrabarty in his Dharmamangala (both written in the 16th century CE).

The Ramacharitam also attests the fifteenth Pala emperor, Ramapala, as a Kshatriya. The Kamauli copper plate inscription of king Vaidyadeva of Kamarupa (Assam) connects the Palas to the Kshatriyas of "Mihirasya vamsa" ("solar lineage").[1] However, such claims of belonging to the mythical solar dynasty are unreliable and clearly appear to be an attempt to cover up the humble origins of the dynasty.[2] The Pala dynasty has also been branded as Śudra in some sources; this might be because of their Buddhist leanings.[5][6][7][8][9]

According to Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (in Ain-i-Akbari), the Palas were Kayasthas.


After the fall of Shashanka's kingdom, the Bengal region was in a state of anarchy. There was no central authority, and there was constant struggle between petty chieftains. The contemporary writings describe this situation as matsya nyaya ("fish justice" i.e. a situation where the big fish eat the small fish). Gopala ascended the throne as the first Pala king during these times. The Khalimpur copper plate suggests that the prakriti (people) of the region made him the king.[3] Taranatha, writing nearly 800 years later, also writes that he was democratically elected by the people of Bengal. However, his account is in form of a legend, and is considered historically unreliable. The legend mentions that after a period of anarchy, the people elected several kings in succession, all of whom were consumed by the Naga queen of an earlier king on the night following their election. Gopal, however managed to kill the queen and remained on the throne.[4] The historical evidence indicates that Gopala was not elected directly by his citizens, but by a group of feudal chieftains. Such elections were quite common in contemporary societies of the region. [5][6]

Gopala's ascension was a significant political event as the several independent chiefs recognized his political authority without any struggle.[7]

Gopala's empire was greatly expanded by his son Dharmapala and his grandson Devapala. Dharmapala was initially defeated by the Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja. Later, the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva defeated both Dharmapala and Vatsaraja. After Dhruva left for the Deccan region, Dharmapala built a mighty empire in the northern India. He defeated Indrayudha of Kannauj, and installed his own nominee Chakrayudha on the throne of Kannauj. Several other smaller states in North India also acknowledged his suzerainty. Soon, his expansion was checked by Vatsaraja's son Nagabhata II, who conquered Kannauj and drove away Chakrayudha. Nagabhata II then advanced up to Munger and defeated Dharmapala in a pitched battle. Dharmapala was forced to surrender and to seek alliance with the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda III, who then intervened by invading northern India and defeating Nagabhata II.[8][9] The Rashtrakuta records show that both Chakrayudha and Dharmapala recognized the Rashtrakuta suzerainty. In practice, Dharmapala gained control over North India after Govinda III left for the Deccan. He adopted the title Paramesvara Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja.[10]

Dharmapala was succeeded by his son Devapala, who is regarded as the most powerful Pala ruler.[11] His expeditions resulted in the invasion of Pragjyotisha (present-day Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and the Utkala (present-day Orissa) whose king fled from his capital city.[12] The inscriptions of his successors also claim several other territorial conquests by him.

External links

See also

References

  1. Epigraphia Indica, XXIV, p 43, Dr N. G. Majumdar
  2. Nitish K. Sengupta (1 January 2011). "The Imperial Palas". Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India. pp. 39–49. ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4.
  3. Nitish K. Sengupta (1 January 2011). "The Imperial Palas". Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India. pp. 39–49. ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4.
  4. Biplab Dasgupta (1 January 2005). European Trade and Colonial Conquest. Anthem Press. pp. 341–. ISBN 978-1-84331-029-7.
  5. Biplab Dasgupta (1 January 2005). European Trade and Colonial Conquest. Anthem Press. pp. 341–. ISBN 978-1-84331-029-7.
  6. Nitish K. Sengupta (1 January 2011). "The Imperial Palas". Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India. pp. 39–49.
  7. Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 277–287. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  8. The Cambridge Shorter History of India p.143
  9. The Cambridge Shorter History of India p.143
  10. Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 277–287. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  11. Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 277–287. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  12. Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, The Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.