Pala Empire

• 1. Election Of A Protector

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  In the year 750 CE, a group of feudal chieftains gathered in the region known as Gauda to choose a new ruler. The land had been torn apart by civil war since the fall of King Shashanka's kingdom. Historians describe this chaotic period using the phrase matsya nyaya, meaning fish justice where big fish eat small fish. No single leader held authority over the entire Bengal region at that time. The chiefs selected a man named Gopala to restore order. His ancestry remains unclear to modern scholars. Some copper plates from his era mention his father Vapyata and grandfather Dayitavishnu. Other sources suggest he came from a family of menials or Dasajivinah. Tibetan Lama Taranatha wrote nearly eight hundred years later that Gopala was born of the seed of a tree-god from the womb of a Kshatriya woman. This story appears to be legendary rather than historical fact. Modern historians like André Wink believe Gopala was not of royal blood but likely belonged to a line of Brahmans who transformed themselves into Kshatriyas. He ascended the throne without struggle because several independent chiefs recognized his political authority. This election consolidated power over the whole of Bengal including Gaur, Varendra, and Banga.

• 2. Triangular Struggle For Kannauj

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  The empire expanded significantly under the rule of Dharmapala in the early ninth century. He faced immediate opposition from the Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja. Later, the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva defeated both Dharmapala and Vatsaraja simultaneously. After Dhruva left for the Deccan region, Dharmapala built a mighty empire in northern India. He defeated Indrayudha of Kannauj and installed his own nominee Chakrayudha on the throne. Several smaller states in North India acknowledged his suzerainty as far as Jalandhara. His expansion was eventually checked by Nagabhata II, son of Vatsaraja. Nagabhata II conquered Kannauj and drove away Chakrayudha. The conflict escalated when Nagabhata II advanced up to Munger and defeated Dharmapala in a pitched battle. Dharmapala was forced to surrender and seek an alliance with the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda III. Govinda III intervened by invading northern India and defeating Nagabhata II. Records show that both Chakrayudha and Dharmapala recognized Rashtrakuta suzerainty. In practice, Dharmapala gained control over North India after Govinda III departed for the Deccan. He adopted the title Paramesvara Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja. This struggle for control of Kannauj defined the geopolitical landscape of early medieval India.

• 3. Provinces And Administrative Divisions

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  The Pala Empire stretched across the Gangetic plain from Bengal to parts of northeastern India and Nepal. Its territory fluctuated throughout its existence due to constant hostility from rival powers. No records exist about the exact boundaries of the original kingdom established by Gopala. It likely included almost all of the Bengal region initially. Under Dharmapala's rule, the empire extended substantially to include present-day Bihar directly. The kingdom of Kannauj became a Pala dependency at times ruled by his nominee Chakrayudha. The Khalimpur copper plate issued by Dharmapala lists rulers attending his imperial court. These kings came from Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Yadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kira. They accepted the installation of Chakrayudha while bowing down respectfully with their diadems trembling. The administration was divided into separate Bhuktis or provinces. These Bhuktis were further divided into Vishayas or divisions and Mandalas or districts. Smaller units included Khandala, Bhaga, Avritti, Chaturaka, and Pattaka. The Line of Garga served as Prime Ministers for one hundred years. Darvapani, Someshwar, Kedarmisra, and Bhatta Guravmisra held these high offices. The administrative system covered a widespread area from the grass root level to the imperial court.

• 4. Monasteries And Buddhist Scholarship

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  The Palas were patrons of Mahayana Buddhism throughout most of their reign. Dharmapala made the Buddhist philosopher Haribhadra his spiritual preceptor. He established the Vikramashila monastery and the Somapura Mahavihara. Taranatha credits him with establishing fifty religious institutions. Devapala restored and enlarged structures at Somapura Mahavihara which features themes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Nalanda reached its height under Pala patronage as one of the first great universities in recorded history. Notable scholars from this period include Atisha, Santaraksita, Saraha, Tilopa, and Bimalamitra. Balaputradeva, the Sailendra king of Java, sent an ambassador asking for five villages to construct a monastery at Nalanda. Devapala granted the request and appointed Viradeva as head of the Nalanda monastery. Atisha preached in Tibet and Sumatra becoming a major figure in spreading 11th-century Mahayana Buddhism. The Pala rulers acquired great reputation in the Buddhist world as rulers of Gautama Buddha's land. They developed centers of learning such as Vikramashila and Nalanda universities. These institutions attracted students from across Asia including Tibet and Southeast Asia.

• 5. Sculpture And Literary Traditions

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  The Pala school of sculptural art is recognized as a distinct phase of Indian art influenced by Gupta traditions. Deity figures became more rigid in posture often standing with straight legs close together. Figures were heavily loaded with jewelry and frequently had multiple arms displaying mudras. The typical form for temple images was a slab with a main figure over half life-size in very high relief. Smaller attendant figures surrounded the main deity with freer tribhanga poses. Critics found the style tending towards over-elaboration yet quality remained high with crisp precise detail. Facial features in east India tended to become sharp during this period. Much larger numbers of smaller bronze groups survived than from previous periods. These were mostly made for domestic shrines of the well-off and from monasteries. Gradually Hindu figures came to outnumber Buddhist ones reflecting terminal decline of Indian Buddhism. The Somapura Mahavihara in present-day Bangladesh stands as a World Heritage Site today. It contains a complex with 177 cells, numerous stupas, temples, and ancillary buildings. The Charyapada poetry written in Proto-Bengali language laid the basis for several eastern Indian languages. Sandhyakar Nandi's semi-fictional epic Ramacharitam serves as an important source of Pala history.

• 6. Elephants And Naval Power

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  The highest military officer in the empire held the title Mahasenapati or commander-in-chief. Palas recruited mercenary soldiers from kingdoms including Malava, Khasa, Huna, Kulika, Mithila, Karnata, Lata, Odra, and Manahali. Contemporary accounts state that while Rashtrakutas had the best infantry and Gurjara-Pratiharas possessed finest cavalry, Palas maintained the largest elephant force. Arab merchant Sulaiman claimed the king would lead fifty thousand war elephants during battles. Ibn Khaldun mentions the number of elephants as five thousand suggesting exaggeration in some reports. Since Bengal lacked good native horse breeds, Palas imported cavalry horses from foreigners including Kambojas. They also maintained a navy used for both mercantile and defense purposes. This naval power allowed them to perform defensive roles in the Bay of Bengal while engaging in trade. The Arab Abbasid Caliphate maintained relations with the Pala Empire through these maritime connections. Islam first arrived in Bengal during this period resulting from flourishing mercantile contacts with the Middle East. The strategic use of their navy helped secure control over coastal regions and facilitated diplomatic ties with distant empires like Srivijaya.

• 7. Rebellion And Final Decline

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  Mahipala I recovered northern and eastern Bengal within three years of ascending the throne in 978 CE. He regained his capital Gauda which had been lost to the Kambojas. During his reign Rajendra Chola I frequently invaded Bengal from 1021 to 1023 CE. Mahipala gained control of north and south Bihar aided by invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni exhausting other rulers. Nayapala defeated Kalachuri king Karna after a long struggle signing a peace treaty mediated by Atisha. Vigrahapala III faced invasions from Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI and Somavamsi king Mahasivagupta Yayati reducing Pala power considerably. Varmans occupied eastern Bengal during his reign. Mahipala II imprisoned brothers Ramapala and Surapala II on suspicion of conspiracy. A rebellion led by Kaivarta vassal Divya killed him and occupied the Varendra region. Rudak and Bhima controlled the area until Ramapala launched a major offensive against Bhima. Ramapala conclusively defeated Bhima killing him and family in a cruel manner. This Kaivarta rebellion decisively weakened Pala control over subordinate rulers paving way for their fall. The Sena dynasty rose as sovereign power in the 12th century marking final expulsion of Palas from Bengal.