Ratna Pala

History of Kamarupa
Part of a series on the

Rulers and Events

Rulers of Varman Dynasty (350 to 650 CE)

– Pushya Varman (350-374 CE)
– Samudra Varman (374-398 CE)
– Bala Varman (398-422 CE)
– Kalyana Varman (422-446 CE)
– Ganapati Varman (446-470 CE)
– Mahendra Varman (470-494 CE)
– Narayana Varman (494-518 CE)
– Bhuti Varman (518-542 CE)
– Chandramukha Varman (542-566 CE)
– Sthita Varman (566-590 CE)
– Susthita Varman (590-595 CE)
– Supratisthita Varman (595-600 CE)
– Bhaskar Varman (600-650 CE)

Rulers of Mlechchha Dynasty (650 to 900 CE)

– Salasthamba (650-670 CE)
– Vigrahastambha (670-680 CE)
– Palaka (680-695 CE)
– Kumara (695-710 CE)
– Vajra (710-725 CE)
– Harsha Varman (725-745 CE)
– Bala Varman II (745-760 CE)
– Salambha (795-815 CE)
– Harjjara Varman (815-832 CE)
– Vanamala Varman (832-855 CE)
– Jayamala (855-860 CE)
– Bala Varman III (860-880 CE)
– Tyagasimha (890-900 CE)

Rulers of Pala Dynasty (900 to 1100 CE)

– Brahma Pala (900-920 CE)
– Ratna Pala (920-960 CE)
– Indra Pala (960-990 CE)
– Go Pala (990-1015 CE)
– Harsha Pala (1015-1035 CE)
– Dharma Pala (1035-1060 CE)
– Jaya Pala (1075-1100 CE)

Major Events

– Establishment of first dynasty by Pushya Varman in 350 CE.
– End of Varman Dynasty in 655 CE.
– Establishment of aboriginal second dynasty by Salasthamba in 655 CE.
– End of Mlechchha Dynasty in 900 CE.
– Establishment of third dynasty by Brahma Pala in 900 CE.
– End of Pala Dynasty in 1100 CE.

Ratna Pala (920-960) was the son of Brahma Pala in Pala Dynasty (900–1100) of Kamarupa Kingdom.^[1] His queen's name was Durlabha. He was succeeded by Indra Pala.

The Gachtal plates of Go Pala have thrown fresh light on the achievements and date of Ratna Pala. An inscription states that Ratna Pala of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa defeated King Rajyapala (908-40 AD) of Gauda and advanced as far as the Ganges in the heart of Gauda empire. This achievement is not mentioned in any earlier record of the family. The inscription mentioned Rajyapala of Bengal, advancing the dates of Pala's reign to the 1st half of the 10th century from the 1st half of the 11th century.

The Baragaon plates, issued in the 25th regnal year of Ratnapala suggests that Brahma Pala abdicated in favour of his son. The author of the inscription extravagantly praised Ratna Pala, describing him as a terror to the Saka king [since there was no Saka king at Ratnapala's time, the reference may be to the Shahis of Afghanistan (and Pakistan) who were sometimes represented as the descendants of the Kushans]; to the Lord of Gurjaras (apparently the Gurjara-Pratiharas of Kanauj); to the Gauda monarch (Rajyapala, 908-40 AD, of Bengal and Bihar); to the ruler of Kerala; to the Vahikas (often spelt Bahikas; of Punjab, particularly in the Sialkot region); to the Tayikas (also spelt Tajika; they were Arabs, no doubt meaning the Arabs of Sind in the present case) as well as the Dakshinatya kings. These claims, barring the case of the Gauda king, we poetical exaggerations by the scribe. The basis of such claims was nothing more than the receipt of a present from a source such as a visiting trader.

The Baragaon and Sualkuchi plate grants of Ratna Pala were issued in his 25th and 36th regnal years when the king was residing at Durjaya (capital). The Carabari plates, last to be discovered, were issued during the 12th regnal year when the king was at Hadappaka, identified with Hadappesvara (named after the Isvara ie, Siva or Sivalinga worshipped at Hadappa or Hadappaka) and was the capital of the kings of Salastambha line.

He was the builder of many Siva temples, the donor of much wealth to the Brahmins, the performer of some sacrifices and the like (Indra Pala grant).^[2]

References

↑ Choudhury, P. C, The History of Civilisation of the People of Assam to the Twelfth Century A.D
↑ Prakash, Col Ved, Encyclopedia of North-East India

Ratna Pala

References

Further reading