Explain the rise of bengal as a regional power under dharmapala and devapala
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Dharmapala, the second ruler of the Pala dynasty, was the real founder of the power and supremacy of the Palas. He came to the throne about 770 A.D. and during his long reign of thirty-two years he made Bengal the most powerful state in northern India.
Soon after his accession Dharmapala launched upon a career of conquest of Aryavarta in order to establish an empire there. But the Vatsyaraj, king of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, had become so powerful that it did not become easy for Dharmapala to establish an unquestioned mastery over Aryavarta.
When Dharmapala proceeded towards Aryavarta, Vatsyaraja also advanced with his army towards Aryavarta. In the engagement between the two, Dharmapala was defeated. At this point of time Druba, the Rashtrakuta king of the south, also proceeded to establish his sway over Aryavarta and defeated Vatsyaraja completely. Vatsyaraja had to flee for his life.
When Dhruba and Vatsyaraja were engaged in war, Dharmapala conquered Magadha, Varanasi, and Prayag. After defeating Vatsyaraja Dhruba proceeded against Dharmapala and defeated him. This defeat, however, did not mean any loss of territory to Dharmapala. Soon after when Dhruba left for the Deccan, Dharmapala found his opportunity to conquer Aryavarta. He waged a number of wars but no details of these wars have been found.
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. Dharmapala had deposed Indrayudh from the throne of Kanauj and placed his own nominee Chakrayudh on it.
From the Khalimpur inscription of Dharmapala it is known that he had summoned a Durbar at Kanauj which was attended by kings of Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Jadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, Kira, etc. who endorsed his setting up of Chakrayudh to the throne of Kanauj. This arrangement, however, did not last long. Indrayudh with the help of the Gujara King Nagabhatta II defeated Chakrayudh and Dharmapala and recovered Kanauj.
Dharmapala took the title of Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja which was significant of his sovereign status. He set up his capital at Pataliputra and thereby revived its past glory. Dharmapala did not abide his time in warfare only; he did much for the Buddhist religion and higher education.
He caused the construction of the Vikramsila Mahavira which had 107 temples and 6 colleges within it. As many as 144 professors taught different subjects in these colleges. Although a patron of Buddhism, Dharmapala was respectful towards other religions. He donated lands for the construction of Hindu temples. Garga, a Hindu Brahmin, was his minister.
He did not allow his religious belief to overcloud his judgement. From the Khalimpur inscription we know that Dharmapala ruled for long 32 years, but Taranath the Tibetan historian puts his years of reign as 60 years. Taranath’s statement is not acceptable to modern historians.
Devapala, Cir. 810-850 A.D.:
The third king of the line, Devapala is regarded as the most powerful of all the kings of the Pala dynasty. His General Lausena or Labasena is said to have conquered Assam and Kalinga. During his reign there was recrudescence of war with the Gurjara-Pratitaras and the Dravidas. Bhoja I, the Gurjara king, defeated Devapala in a battle.
He on the other hand defeated the Rashtrakuta king, Amoghavarsha, in an engagement. The Court poet of Devapala called him the lord of whole land from the Himalayas to Kanyakumarika. But this was indeed an exaggeration of the Court panegyrist. For, from an inscription of his reign, we come to know that Devapala’s empire extended from Kamboj in the north to the Vindhyas in the south.
Like other kings of the Pala dynasty, Devapala was a Buddhist.
Devapala was a patron of art and architecture. He caused the repair of the Buddhist monasteries at Magadha. He also caused the construction of several monasteries at Nalanda and a very large temple at Bodhgaya. He was very much respectful towards education and educated persons. His court was adorned by the Buddhist pundits of various countries. Devapala built a new capital for his empire at Monghyr.
Soon after his accession Dharmapala launched upon a career of conquest of Aryavarta in order to establish an empire there. But the Vatsyaraj, king of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, had become so powerful that it did not become easy for Dharmapala to establish an unquestioned mastery over Aryavarta.
When Dharmapala proceeded towards Aryavarta, Vatsyaraja also advanced with his army towards Aryavarta. In the engagement between the two, Dharmapala was defeated. At this point of time Druba, the Rashtrakuta king of the south, also proceeded to establish his sway over Aryavarta and defeated Vatsyaraja completely. Vatsyaraja had to flee for his life.
When Dhruba and Vatsyaraja were engaged in war, Dharmapala conquered Magadha, Varanasi, and Prayag. After defeating Vatsyaraja Dhruba proceeded against Dharmapala and defeated him. This defeat, however, did not mean any loss of territory to Dharmapala. Soon after when Dhruba left for the Deccan, Dharmapala found his opportunity to conquer Aryavarta. He waged a number of wars but no details of these wars have been found.
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. Dharmapala had deposed Indrayudh from the throne of Kanauj and placed his own nominee Chakrayudh on it.
From the Khalimpur inscription of Dharmapala it is known that he had summoned a Durbar at Kanauj which was attended by kings of Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Jadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, Kira, etc. who endorsed his setting up of Chakrayudh to the throne of Kanauj. This arrangement, however, did not last long. Indrayudh with the help of the Gujara King Nagabhatta II defeated Chakrayudh and Dharmapala and recovered Kanauj.
Dharmapala took the title of Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja which was significant of his sovereign status. He set up his capital at Pataliputra and thereby revived its past glory. Dharmapala did not abide his time in warfare only; he did much for the Buddhist religion and higher education.
He caused the construction of the Vikramsila Mahavira which had 107 temples and 6 colleges within it. As many as 144 professors taught different subjects in these colleges. Although a patron of Buddhism, Dharmapala was respectful towards other religions. He donated lands for the construction of Hindu temples. Garga, a Hindu Brahmin, was his minister.
He did not allow his religious belief to overcloud his judgement. From the Khalimpur inscription we know that Dharmapala ruled for long 32 years, but Taranath the Tibetan historian puts his years of reign as 60 years. Taranath’s statement is not acceptable to modern historians.
Devapala, Cir. 810-850 A.D.:
The third king of the line, Devapala is regarded as the most powerful of all the kings of the Pala dynasty. His General Lausena or Labasena is said to have conquered Assam and Kalinga. During his reign there was recrudescence of war with the Gurjara-Pratitaras and the Dravidas. Bhoja I, the Gurjara king, defeated Devapala in a battle.
He on the other hand defeated the Rashtrakuta king, Amoghavarsha, in an engagement. The Court poet of Devapala called him the lord of whole land from the Himalayas to Kanyakumarika. But this was indeed an exaggeration of the Court panegyrist. For, from an inscription of his reign, we come to know that Devapala’s empire extended from Kamboj in the north to the Vindhyas in the south.
Like other kings of the Pala dynasty, Devapala was a Buddhist.
Devapala was a patron of art and architecture. He caused the repair of the Buddhist monasteries at Magadha. He also caused the construction of several monasteries at Nalanda and a very large temple at Bodhgaya. He was very much respectful towards education and educated persons. His court was adorned by the Buddhist pundits of various countries. Devapala built a new capital for his empire at Monghyr.
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