Pala Dynasty
- The Pala Dynasty was an influential Indian dynasty that ruled over regions of Bengal and Bihar.
- Their capital was initially at Gaur (near modern-day Malda in West Bengal) and later at Nalanda, which was a prominent centre of learning from the 8th century CE to the 12th century CE.
Prominent Rulers
- Gopala (750–770 CE)- Founder of Pala Dynasty
- He unified Bengal and took control of Magadha (Bihar).
- Gopala founded the monastery in Odantapuri, Bihar.
- Following his conversion to Buddhism, he was recognized as Bengal’s first Buddhist ruler.
- During his reign, the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas fought for control of Kannauj and North India.
- Dharmapala (770-810 CE)- He fought several wars against the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas.
- Dharmapala seized Kannauj and held a great darbar.
- Established the Vikramashila monastery (located near Bhagalpur, Bihar) and the Somapura Mahavihara, Bangladesh.
- He assumed the titles ‘Paramabhattaraka’, ‘Paramesvara’, and ‘Maharajadhiraja’.
- Devapala (810–850 CE)- Devapala expanded the empire to eastern India, encompassing the kingdoms of Assam, Odisha, and Kamarupa.
- He had built several monasteries and temples in Magadha.
- Somapura Mahavihara’s architecture was rebuilt and expanded, and it included motifs from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.
- Devapala conducted raids throughout the north, the Deccan, and the peninsula.
- Mahipala I – Mahipala I took over the throne in 988 CE.
- When Mahipala-I returned to power, the Pala kingdom began to prosper once more, reclaiming the northern and eastern parts of Bengal and Bihar.
- Mahipala-I, together with his brothers Stirapala and Vasantapala, is believed to have captured Varanasi.
Art, Architecture, and Literature
- The Gauda riti compositional style emerged during the Palas’ rule. During their control, several Buddhist Tantric texts were written and translated. They continue to have a strong influence in Tibet.
- Jimutavahana, Sandhyakar Nandi, Madhavakara, Suresvara, and Chakrapani Datta are some of the most notable scholars of the Pala period.
- The first hints of the proto-Bengali language may also be found in the Charyapadas, which were written during the Pala era.
- Palas also built temples that are notable for their Vanga-style architecture.
- At Kashi, Mahipala created hundreds of temples and buildings.
- At Gaya, there is a Vishnupada temple with a hemispherical mandap that appears like an umbrella.
- Palas erected many mahaviharas, stupas, chaityas, temples, and forts.
- The majority of the architecture was religious, with Buddhist art dominating the first two centuries and Hindu art dominating the next two centuries.
- The Pala School of Painting was one of India’s first examples of miniature painting. Pala’s style is realistic, suggesting the ideal shapes of contemporary bronze and stone sculpture while simultaneously conveying a feeling of Ajanta’s classical art.
- The best example is the manuscript of Astasahasrika-Prajnaparamita (The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Sutra).
Despite their decline, the Pala Dynasty left a lasting impact on the cultural and intellectual history of the Indian subcontinent.