Medieval India Pal A Dynasty

Medieval India
Pala Dynasty
By – Chauhan Sir
Pala Dynasty:
• The Pala dynasty was founded by Gopala.
• It was asserted by the Khalimpur copper plate of
Dharampala( a successor of Gopala).
• The Pala empire was an Imperial power during the
late classical period in the Indian subcontinent,
which originated in the region of Bengal( modern
day Bangladesh and West Bengal).
• It is named after its ruling dynasty, whose rulers
bore names ending with suffix of Pala(
"protector" in Sanskrit).
• They were followers of the Mahayana and the
tantric schools of Buddhism.
• The empire was founded with the election of
Gopala as the emperor of Gauda in 750CE.
• The Pala stronghold was located in Bengal and
Bihar, which included the major cities of
Vikrampura, Patliputra, Gauda, Monghyr,
Somapura, Ramavati(Varendra), Tameralipta and
Jaggadala.
• The Palas were astute diplomats and military
conquerors.
• Their army was noted for its vast war elephant
corps.
• Their Navy performed both Mercantile
and defensive roles in Bay of Bengal
• They built grand temples and
monasteries, including the
Somapura mahavihara and patronize the great
universities of Nalanda and Vikramsheila
• Dharamala( 770-810 CE):
• Dharampala initially got defeated at the hands of
Rashtrakutas and Pratiharas, but finally conquered
a large part of northern India.
• Bengal and Bihar were the centers of power during
his reign, which were under his direct rule.
• The Tibetan tradition believes that the
Dharampala was a patron of Buddhism.
• He is accredited to the establishment of the
Buddhist monastery at Vikramshila.
• Devapala(810-850 CE) and other rulers:
• He was the successor of the Dharampala.
• He was also a patron of Buddhism.
• He made military campaigns to Kamboja(west) and
Vindhyas(South) and also exterminated the Utkals
and conquered Praygjyotish(Assam).
• In the late 9th century, power of Palas declined.
• The Palas during this time suffered defeat at the
hands of Rashtrakutas and Pratiharas.
• The subordinate rulers of Assam and Odisha
assumed independence.
• The revival of Pala power happened during the
age of Mahipala I.
• However, again the Pala power
weakend(Rashtrakuta ruler Indra III defeated
Mahipala) and there arose smaller kingdoms in
Assam( ruled by Harjarvarman) and Odisha( ruled
by the Ganga dynasty).
• Decline:
• At its height in the 9th century, the Pala empire
was the dominant power in the northern Indian
subcontinent, with its territory stretching across
parts of modern day eastern Pakistan, northern
and northeastern India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
• Empire reached its peak under emperors
Dharampal and Devapala.
• The Palas also exerted a strong cultural influence
under Atisha in Tibet, as well as in Southeast Asia.
• Pala control of North India was ultimately
ephemeral, as they struggled with the Gurjara-
Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas for the control of
Kannauj and were defeated.
• After a short lived decline, Emperor Mahipal I
defended Imperial bastions in Bengal and Bihar
against South Indian Chola invasions.
• Emperor Ramapala was the last strong ruler, who
gained control of Kamarupa and Kalingga.
• The empire was considerably weakened by the
11th century, with many areas engulfed in
rebellion.
• The resurgent Hindu Sena dynasty dethroned the
Pala empire in 12th century, ending the reign of
the last major Buddhist Imperial power in the
Indian subcontinent.
• Significance:
• The Palas brought stability and prosperity to
Bengal after centuries of civil war between warring
divisions.
• They advanced the achievements of previous
Bengali civilizations and created outstanding
works of arts, most notably in the sculpture and
architectural sphere.
• They laid the basis of the Bengali language,
including its first literary work, the Charyapada.
• Administration:
• The Pala rule was monarchial.
• The King was the center of all power.
• Pala King would adopt Imperial titles like
Parameshwara, Paramvattaraka, Maharadjadiraj.
• Pala Empire was divided into separate Bhuktis(
provinces).
• Bhuktis were divided into Vishayas( divisions) and
Mandalas( districts).
• Smaller units were Khandala, Bhaga, Avriti,
Chaturaka, and Pattaka.
• Administration covered widespread area from the
grassroot level to Imperial court.
• Architecture:
• Influenced by Gupta art, the Palas school of
sculptural art is recognized as a distinct face of the
Indian art, and is noted for the artistic genius of
the Bengals Sculptors.
• The Palas built a number of monasteries and
other sacred structures, including the Somapura
Mahavihara in present day Bangladesh a World
Heritage site.
• It is a monastery with 21 acres(85000 meters
square) complex has 177 cells, numerous stupas,
temples and a number of ancillary buildings.
• The gigantic structures of other Viharas, including
Vikramshila, Odantpuri, and Jagaddala are the
other masterpieces of the Palas.
Tripartite struggle:
• For centuries, rulers belonging to Gurjara-
Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties fought
for control over Kannauj.
• Owing to the three parties involved, historians
refer to it as a "tripartite struggle".
• The tripartite struggle for control over Kannauj
was fought almost 200 years among the Palas, the
Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas.
• In this tripartite struggle, the Pratihara defeated
the Palas and Rashtrakutas.
• In 1018, Kannauj then ruled by Rajayapal Pratihara
was sacked by Mahmood of ghazni.
• The Empire broke into independent Rajput states.
• According to contemporary accounts, the
Rashtrakutas had the best infantry, the Gurjara-
Pratihara had the finest cavalry and the Palas had
the largest elephant force.

Medieval India Pal A Dynasty

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