Gopala (ruled 750 – 770 CE) was the founder of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal. The last morpheme of his name pala means "protector" and was used as an ending for the names of all the Pala monarchs. Pala does not suggest or indicate any ethnic or caste considerations of the Pala dynasty.
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Gopala was the first independent Buddhist king of Bengal and came to power in 750 CE in Gaur by democratic election as per evidence furnished by Taranatha.[1] After the death of famous Gauda ruler Sasanka, there ensued a century of anarchy and confusion in Bengal. Tired of ceaseless political chaos and anarchy (known as matsyanyaya), the various independent chieftains of Bengal, in 750 CE, selected a person named Gopala to put an end to this sorry state of affairs.[2] Gopala was already a leading military general and had made a mark as a great ruler. In the Khalimpur copper plate inscription (dated 32nd regnal year of Dharmapala) Gopala's father Vapyata is described as a noted military chief of his time and his grandfather Dayita Vishnu is described as a learned man of no military distinctions.
Not much is known about the life or military career of king Gopla but at the time of his death, Gopala had bequeathed a legacy which facilitated the creation of a great dynasty of the future by his son Dharmapala. He is believed to have consolidated his hold on the whole of Bengal. His reign-period is not precisely known but is believed to have spanned 750 CE through 770 CE. It was his son and successor Dharmapala (770-810 CE) who really made the Palas a pre-dominant power of Northern India.
Taranatha, a Tibetan historian, attests that Gopala was a staunch Buddhist and had built famous Buddhist monastery at Odantapuri.[3]
The ethnicity of Gopala or his caste is not clearly stated in any of the numerous Pala records. The name of his father was Vapyata (meaning "destroyer of adversaries"), and his grandfather Dayitavishnu (meaning "bright with all learning")[4] The Khalimpur Plate of Dharmapala, son of Gopala I, confirms that Gopala was a son of a warrior (Khanditarat) Vapyata and grandson of a highly educated (Saryavidyavadat) Dayitavishnu[5][6]
The Ramacharita by Sandhyakar Nandi, a court poet of later Palas, states that the Pala dynasty belonged to Samudrakula or Ocean lineage. Ramacharita further states that Varendra or North Bengal was the fatherland (Janakabhu) of the Palas.[7]
Gopala had ruled for roughly 20 years and was succeeded by his son Dharmapala who successfully subjugated the kingdoms of Northern India.
| Preceded by Gupta Empire |
Pala Emperor 750–770 CE |
Succeeded by Dharmapala |