Class 8 - Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala: Dynasty Along With Their Contributions
Class 8 - Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala: Dynasty Along With Their Contributions
Class 8 - Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala: Dynasty Along With Their Contributions
2. Dharmapala (son)
3. Devapala (son)
4. Mahipala I
Gopala, Dharmapala and devapala were related on
family tree. But we coudn’t find any source that relate
Mahipala I to that family tree.
The Establishment of Pala Dynasty
The anarchy or Matsyanyayam and confusion which prevailed for more than a
century led to a natural reaction. The people, who had suffered untold
miseries for a long period, suddenly developed a political wisdom that
impacted positively in the establishment of Pala dynasty.
They perceived that the establishment of a single strong central authority is
the only effective remedy against political disintegration. They also realised
that such a happy state of things could only be brought about by the voluntary
surrender of authority to one person by the numerous petty chiefs who had
been exercising independent political authority in different parts of the
country.
This process of transition ended through a bloodless revolution which made a
popular local hero Gopala as the elected king of the country. This event is
recognized as one of the first democratic elections (?) in South Asia since the
time of the Maha Janapadas.
• According to R.C Majumder, this group of people, whom we
know as Prakriti Punja were actually a group of noble who
elected Gopala as their chief. This decision was perhaps
subsequently endorsed and acclaimed by the people.
• Being a king Gopala’s first task was the removal of
lawlessness and disorder from the country which he did
without any delay and thereby fulfilled the expectation of
the people of Bengal. His reign was occupied largely by war
for bringing peace and to protect the country from foreign
invasions.
• His efforts were crowned with success and Bengal enjoyed a
period of peace and prosperity. it is believed that he
brought whole of Bengal under his control.
• The period of ascendency of the Pala empire happened during the reign of
Dharmapala and Devapala, when they were powerful enough to change
the political map of the whole of northern India.
• Dharmapala, son and successor of Gopala, the second and considered to
be the greatest ruler of the Pala dynasty of Bengal. During Dharmapala’s
reign (c 781-821 AD) the Pala empire extended beyond he boundaries of
Bengal and Bihar as far as Kanauj. Dharmapala’s name stands out in the
annals of the Pala dynasty as a great conqueror under whose leadership
Bengal’s influence came to be felt in northern India.
• Dharmapala was a devout Buddhist and a great patron of Buddhism. He is
credited with the foundation of the Vikramasila monastry in Bihar, one of
the most important seats of Buddhist learning.
• Devapala (c 821 - 861 AD) , the son and successor of Dharmapala, maintained the
aggressive policy of his father and during his reign the Pala empire was extended
in other directions. Under their leadership, Bengal came to be reckoned as a
powerful force in northern Indian politics. But with them ended the period of
glory and a period of stagnation which led to the gradual decline of the empire.
There was a brief attempt towards resurgence during the reign of Mahipala I
(995-1043 AD) and Ramapala (1082-1124 AD). Ramapala succeeded in restoring
Pala authority in northern Bengal and also attempted towards expansion. But his
success was short-lived as his successors were too weak to check the gradual
decline. Vijayasena, a feudatory ruler of Pala empire found the opportunity and
by the middle of 12th century AD ousted the Palas from power in Bengal. Thus the
foundation of Sena dynasty was laid in Bengal.
Contribution of the Palas
• The Pala Empire can be considered as the golden era of Bengal.
Never had the Bengali people reached such height of power and
glory to that extent.
• Palas were responsible for the introduction of Mahayana Buddhism
in Tibet, Bhutan and Myanmar. The Palas had extensive trade as
well as influence in south-east Asia. This can be seen in the
sculptures and architectural style of the Sailendra Empire (present-
day Malaya, Java, Sumatra).
• The Pala Empire eventually disintegrated in the 12th century
weakened by attacks of the Sena dynasty followed by the invasion
of Bakhtiyar Khilji's Muslim armies.
We can discuss the contributions of the Palas from different aspects:
Political Contributions
• The empire reached its peak under Dharmapala and Devapala.
Dharmapala extended the empire into the northern parts of the
Indian Subcontinent.
• This triggered once again the power struggle for the control of the
subcontinent. Both Dharmapala and Devapala were engaged in a
long drawn struggle for the possession of the madhyadexa of
northern Indian empire with two other powers - the Gurjara
Pratiharas of western India and the Rastrakutas of Deccan, and
they had success for a limited period.
• The Pala records are full of glorifying verses portraying Dharmapala
and Devapala as great conquerors. Bengal came to be reckoned as
a powerful force in northern Indian politics. The Tibetan historian
Taranath has specifically mentioned that the empire of Dharmapala
extended from the Bay of Bengal in the north to Delhi, Jullundhar,
and to Vindhyas to the south.
Religious Contributions
• After the Buddhist king Harshabhardhana, Buddhism faced the
possibility of extinction. However, The Palas emerged as the
survivors of Buddhism, and they patronized Mahayana Buddhism
in all over northern India. The Palas supported the Universities of
Vikramashila and Nalanda which became the premier seats of
learning in Asia.