Dharmapala of Bengal
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Dharamapala (rule: 770 AD - 810 AD) was the second ruler of the Pala Empire of Bengal. He was the son and succeessor of Gopala (rule: 750 AD - 770 AD), the founder of the Pala Dynasty. He greatly expanded the boundaries of the Pala Empire founded by his father and made the Palas the most dominant power in the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent. He was succeeded by his son Devapala who further expanded the empire.
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[edit] Military career
When Dharmapala ascended the throne of Bengal, the political horizon was very gloomy [1]. At the very outset, Dharmapala was locked in severe power struggle with the Pratiharas of Malwa and Rajputana and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan who were both desirous of establishing their own hegemony over northern India. So, shortly he was involved in cut-throat power struggle with them. Dharmapal defeated the Pratihara king Indraraja or Indrayudha of Kanauj and deposed him, and placed Chakrayudha on the throne of Kanauj. It is pointed out that Dharmapala had held a court in Kanauj after this victory which was attended by rulers from Bhoja (Berar), Matsya (Jaipur), Madra (Central Punjab), Kuru (Thaneswar), Yadu (Mathura & Dwaraka), Avanti (Malava), Yavana, Gandhara (Kabol valley = Kamboja) and Kira (Kangra). These chiefs not only approved of his military action but also paid respectful obeisance to him [2]. It is curious to note that in the above long list of nations, the Gandharas and Yavanas are mentioned but no reference is made to the Kambojas. This makes one believe that either the Pala dynasty itself had originated from the Kambojas so as to not refer to this people of their own stock in their references or else the Kambojas were taken to mean the same as the Gandharas. Scholars state that Dharmapala may not have annexed all the states listed above. It may only mean that they had accepted Dharmapala‘s suzerainty over them and agreed to pay taxes and tributes to the latter but otherwise they were left independent to manage their own internal affairs. Thus, it seems that Dharmapala had made himself the supreme leader in of Northern India since he calls himself as Uttarapathasvamin or Lord of Northern India [3].
Later, however, Dharmapala was defeated by Vatsaraja of the Pratihara dynasty who deprived him of the Gauda. But Vatsaraja himself was soon defeated by King Dhruva of the Rashtrakutas who later also clashed with Dharmapala and defeated him but Dhruva soon left for Deccan and thus Dharmapal did not lost much in this quick chain of events, but these events had left the Pratiharas badly mauled which indirectly helped Dharmapala. He fully availed this golden opportunity and truly made himself the Lord of Northern India (Uttarapathasvamin).
Later, Nagabhatta II of Pratihara had deposed Chakrayudha of Kanauj, a protégé of Dharmapala, which event brought Dhrampala into military conflict with Nagabhata at Monghyr. Dharmapala suffered a defeat but curiously enough, history repeated itself and Pratihara invader Nagabhata was himself soon knocked out by Govinda III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
The invasion by Nagabhata was of transitory nature and did not leave any permanent mark so Dharamapala practically retained the supreme power in North till the end of his life.
[edit] Sphere of Influence
Dharamapala had full control of Bengal and Bihar. Kingdom of Kanauj was his feudatory. The kingdoms of Madra, Kamboja/Gandhara, Rajputana, Malava and Berar were vassal states which paid him tributes and acknowdged his mastry over them. Even Nepal is said to have been his vassal state[4].
[edit] Religious leanings
Dharmapala was a great patron of Buddhism and had founded the Vikramshila univeristy which later evolved into a great learning center of Buddhism. He bulit the great Vihara at Somapuri in Verendri, Vihara in Paharpur and a splendid monastry at Odantapuri in Bihar. He is said to have founded fifty religious schools for the teachings of Buddhism [5].
[edit] Successor of Dharmapala
Dharmapala had ruled for about 40 years and was succeeded by his son Devapala (rule: 810 AD - 850 AD) who further expanded the frontiers of Pala empire.
[edit] References
- ^ The Age of Imperail Kanauja, History and Culture of Indian People, 1964, p 45, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar.
- ^ Ancient India, 2003, p 648, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
- ^ Ancient India, 2003, p 648-49, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
- ^ Syayambhu Purana; Ancient India, 2003, p 649, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
- ^ Ancient India, 2003, p650, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
[edit] Book references
- History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 44, Dr Majumdar, Dr Pusalkar
- Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan
