Class 8 - Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala: Dynasty Along With Their Contributions

Class 8 – Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala
Dynasty along with their contributions
COURSE: HIS 101: BANGLADESH HISTORY AND CULTURE

FEBRUARY 28, SPRING 2023
The Rise of the Palas
The rule of Pala dynasty started in the middle of eighth

century which introduced a new era in Bengal history.
For the first time, we observed a long-lasted single
ruling dynasty in Bengal.
Pala Dynasty
Pala, they ruled Bangal and Bihar from 760 – 1142 A.D.
About 4 kings. They are;
1. Gopala
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.
• The Palas were responsible for the spread of Mahayana Buddhism

to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and the Malay archipelago.
Bengal became famous in the Buddhist world for the cultivation of
Buddhist religion, culture and other knowledge in the various
centres that grew under the patronage of the Pala rulers.
Organized administrative system
• The Pala copper plates bear ample testimony to their well-
organized system of administration. An organized system of
administration prevailed from the village level to the central
government level.
• They inherited an administrative structure from the Guptas
and added many new characteristics. They built up an efficient
structure for revenue collection.
• The long list of state officials found in Pala copper plates;
clearly indicate that the administration was taking care of
every aspects of public life from the ferry ghats to the river
ways, land routes, trade and commerce, towns and ports, law
and order in the country. Even forest or market management
was included.
• The basis of their long rules was the efficient administrative
system.
Ruling Policy of public welfare and Religious Tolerance
❖ The most glorious aspect of Pala rule was their policy of public-welfare.
The Pala rulers were Buddhists, but majority of their subjects were
Hindus. Dharmapala had adopted the policy of religious toleration as
the state policy. This policy was followed by his successors.
❖ There is no doubt that the Hindu gods and goddesses and the
Brahmins received liberal patronage from the Pala rulers, though they
themselves were devout Buddhists. Brahmins occupied high official
posts. Except one or two, all the Pala copperplates record grant of land
to temples of Hindu gods and goddesses or to Brahmins.
❖ There is no evidence of any religious discord between the Buddhists
and the Hindus in the society. Religious toleration and mutual
coexistence can be identified as the characteristic of the social life of
the people in the Pala period.
Contribution in the field of arts, knowledge, literature,
architecture
➢ The Pala period is also significant for various achievements in the

fields of different arts. Distinctive achievements are seen in the arts of
architecture, terracotta, sculpture and painting. The Somapura
Mahavihara at paharpur, a creation of Dhamapala, proudly announces
the excellence of the architectural art achieved in the Pala period. It is
the largest Buddhist Vihara in the Indian subcontinent and the plan of
its central shrine was evolved in Bengal.
➢ In the Nalanda inscription it has been described as jagatam
netraikavishrama bhu (pleasing to the eyes of the world). Experts
believe that its architectural plan, especially the gradually receding
crucified plan of its central shrine, had influenced the architecture of
the neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Indonesia.
➢The Pala School of Sculptural Art came to be recognized as a
distinct phase of Eastern Indian Art.
➢The artistic genius of the Bengal sculptors found full expression
in the Pala period.
➢Though literary works of the period have not survived in large

numbers. Sandhyakar Nandi, a poet from Varendre, composed
his Ramcharitam. It was acclaimed as a marvelous poetic work
for its unique poetic style and use of words that carry double
meaning.
➢A few illustrated palm leaf manuscripts of Buddhist texts of the
period depict the excellence in the art of painting.
Economy
• The land based empire was basically agrarian in nature. Trade

and commerce was not very important factor in Pala economy.
Trading activities were most probably limited within the region
or at best beyond the borders to the adjacent territories.
• The decline of Tamralipti (Tamluk, Medinipur) port after 8th
century CE deprived them of the outlet to a share of the sea-
borne trade of Bengal.
• Also the presence of Arab sailors in the sea routes ( Indian
Ocean and Bay of Bengal) decreased and discouraged trades of
local people.
• A large amount of salt was produced in Medinipur, in the
forests of Birbhum, Bankura and Rarh large quantity of iron
were available the people know the technique smelting iron
and used to make twofaced swords.
• From Kautilya’s Arthashastra it is known that there was gold
mine in Pundravardhana and Tripura.
• Cotton industry became very famous during this period.

Arab and Chinese tourist highly praised about the fine cotton
of Bengal. Also coarse cotton cloth was produced in large
amount by local weavers.
• We can know about weaving industry from Charjapada.
Sugar industry was another principal industry , vast amount
of sugar and molasses were produced. Ship manufacturing
industry was formed in Bengal
 The empire enjoyed relations with the Srivijaya Empire (
Sumatra Indonesia, South East Asia, the Tibetan
Empire and the Arab Abbasid Caliphate).
 Islam first appeared in Bengal during Pala rule, as a result
of increased trade between Bengal and the Middle East.
 Abbasid coinage found in Pala archaeological sites, as
well as records of Arab historians, point to flourishing
mercantile and intellectual contacts.
 The House of Wisdom in Baghdad absorbed the
mathematical and astronomical achievements of Indian
civilization during this period.
❑ Considering all these achievements the Pala period can

rightly be considered the most glorious period in the
early history of Bengal.
Khalimpur Copperplate of
Dharmapala
Nalanda University Nalanda at present
Buddha Statue Nalanda Heritage site

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Class 8 – Lecture 6: Buddhist Pala

Dynasty along with their contributions

COURSE: HIS 101: BANGLADESH HISTORY AND CULTURE

The rule of Pala dynasty started in the middle of eighth

• The Palas were responsible for the spread of Mahayana Buddhism

➢ The Pala period is also significant for various achievements in the

➢Though literary works of the period have not survived in large

• The land based empire was basically agrarian in nature. Trade

• Cotton industry became very famous during this period.

❑ Considering all these achievements the Pala period can

Buddha Statue Nalanda Heritage site

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