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Pala emperor from late 8th century From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dharmapala (Siddhamātṛikā script: 
, Dha-rmma-pā-la;[4] Bengali: ধর্মপাল) (ruled between 770s–810s AD) was the second ruler of the Pala Empire of Bengal region in the Indian subcontinent. He was the son and successor of Gopala, the founder of the Pala Dynasty. Dharmapala was mentioned as the king of Vangala in the Nesari plates (dated 805 AD) of Rashtrakuta dynasty.[5] He greatly expanded the boundaries of the empire, and made the Palas a dominant power in the northern and eastern India.
| Dharmapala | |
|---|---|
| Maharajadhiraja Vangapati | |
Pala Empire with its neighbours | |
| Pala Emperor | |
| Reign | 770s - 810s A.D |
| Predecessor | Gopala |
| Successor | Devapala |
| Spouse | Rannadevi (Rashtrakuta princess) |
| Issue | Tribhuvanpala[1] Devapala |
| Military career | |
| Battles / wars |
|
| Dynasty | Pala |
| Father | Gopala |
| Mother | Deddadevi of the Bhadra dynasty[2] |
| Religion | Buddhism[3] |
Dharmapala directly ruled over the present-day Bengal and Bihar, and installed a nominee at Kannauj. The Pala chronicles also claim that several other rulers of North India acknowledged his suzerainty, but these claims seem to be exaggerated. Dharmapala was defeated twice by the Gurjara-Pratiharas, but each time the Rashtrakutas subsequently defeated the Pratiharas, leaving Palas as the dominant power in North India. Dharmapala was succeeded by his son Devapala who further expanded the empire.
Dharamapala directly ruled over the present-day Bengal and Bihar regions.[6] Since the extent of Gopala's kingdom is not known, it is uncertain if Dharmapala inherited these territories or acquired them through conquests.[7]
He also became dominant in other areas of North India, but the exact details of his victories are not available. It is known that he defeated Indraraja (or Indrayudha), the ruler of Kanauj, who was a vassal of the Pratiharas. He then handed over the throne to his own nominee Charkayudha, and held an imperial court at Kannauj. According to the Khalimpur copper plate issued by Dharmapala, this court was attended by the rulers of Bhoja (possibly Vidarbha), Matsya (Jaipur and north-east Rajasthan), Madra (East Punjab), Kuru (Haryana-Delhi-Western UP region), Yadu (possibly Mathura, Dwarka or Siṁhapura in the Punjab (Katas Raj Temples)), Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara and Kira (Kangra Valley).[8][9] These kings accepted the installation of Chakrayudha on the Kannauj throne, while "bowing down respectfully with their diadems trembling".[10] Some historians have speculated that all these kingdoms might have been the vassal states of the Pala empire. Although the rulers of these regions may have paid obeisance to Dharmapala, but maintained their autonomy.[11]: 39 He was possibly the most powerful ruler in North India, was thus called Uttarapathasvamin (lit. 'Lord of the North').[12]
The Kannauj dispute resulted in a struggle between Dharmapala and the Pratihara king Vatsaraja. Vatsaraja defeated Dharmapala in a battle fought near Prayag.[7] Shortly after this, Vatsaraja himself was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva of southern India. After Vatsaraja's defeat, Dharmapala regained the control of Kannauj, but was defeated by Dhruva.[13] However, soon after this, Dhruva returned to his southern kingdom, and thus, Dharmapala gained more than he had lost.[7] He quickly regained his power in northern India.
According to the Monghyr (Munger) copper plate, Dharmapala offered prayers at Kedar (possibly Kedarnath) and Gokarna (variously identified with Gokarna in Nepal, Gokarna in Karnataka or a place in Orissa).[10] This indicates that his position as a sovereign was accepted by most rulers, although this was a loose arrangement unlike the empire of the Mauryas or the Guptas. The other rulers acknowledged the military and political supremacy of Dharmapala, but maintained their own territories.[8] One tradition also claims that Nepal was a vassal state of the Pala Empire during his reign.[14]
Sometime later, Dharmapala faced another attack by the Pratiharas. Vatsaraja's son Nagabhata II conquered Kannauj, making Chakrayudha his vassal. This brought Dharmapala and Nagabhata II into a military conflict near Munger. Dharmapala suffered a defeat, but in a repeat of history, the Rashtrakutas invaded the Pratihara kingdom. Nagabhata II was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king and Dhruva's son Govinda III. Govinda III then proceeded to Kannauj, and subdued both Chakrayudha and Dharmapala.[7] Like his father, Govinda III then returned to his kingdom in the south.
Dharmapala ruled for about 40 years, and was succeeded by his son Devapala.
Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Dharmapala's reign as follows:[11]: 32–37
| Historian | Estimate of reign |
|---|---|
| RC Majumdar (1971) | 770–810 |
| AM Chowdhury (1967) | 781–821 |
| BP Sinha (1977) | 783–820 |
| DC Sircar (1975–76) | 775–812 |
Dharmapala was a great patron of Buddhism. He granted 200 villages to Nalanda university and revived it. He founded the Vikramashila monastery which later evolved into a great learning centre of Buddhism. Vikramashila had about 100 professors, and was managed by a governing body of six member.[15] The most celebrated name associated with the Vikramshila University was that of Buddhist scholar Atiśa, who was greatly respected in Tibet.[16] One of its rectors, Ratnakirshanti, a logician, was invited to Ceylon. During Dharmapala's reign Buddhagupta was rector or the university.[15] Dharmapala built the great Somapura Mahavihara in Paharpur, Naogaon District, Bangladesh. Taranath also credits him with establishing 50 religious institutions and patronising the Buddhist author Haribhadra.[6] Buton Rinchen Drub credits Dharmapala with building the monastery at Uddandapura (Odantapuri), although other Tibetan accounts such as that of Taranatha, state that it was magically built and then entrusted to Devapala.[11]: 45
The epigraphs from Dharmapala's reign include:[17]
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