• North India, the Deccan, and south India saw the rise of several large nations following the collapse of Harsha’s empire in the seventh century. None of the other kingdoms in north India were able to take control of the entire Ganga valley, unlike the Gupta and Harsha’s empire.
• These large states arose in north India and the Deccan between AD 750 and 1000. These were
• The Pala empire, which dominated eastern India till the middle of the ninth century;
• In western India and the upper Ganges valley, the Pratihara Empire flourished until the mid-10th century, and
• The Rashtrakuta empire, which dominated the Deccan and also controlled territories in north and south India .
• Other important kingdoms in north India included Kashmir, Gandhara, Sind, Gujarat, Kanauj, Ajmir, Malwa, Bengal and Assam.

The Palas

• The Pala Empire was established by Gopala (750–770 AD), who unified Bengal and extended his control to Magadha (Bihar). He founded the monastery at Odantapuri in Bihar. His reign was characterized by a tripartite struggle for control over Kanauj and northern India, involving the Palas, the Pratiharas, and the Rashtrakutas. Gopala was succeeded by his son Dharmapala (770–810 AD), who occupied Kanauj and held a grand darbar attended by vassal rulers from Punjab and eastern Rajasthan. Dharmapala adopted the highest imperial titles of the period, such as Paramabhattaraka, Paramesvara, and Maharajadhiraja.
• Dharmapala’s successful period spanned from AD 790 to 800. However, he struggled to maintain dominance in northern India. Under Nagabhatta II, Pratihara power resurged, forcing Dharmapala to retreat and ultimately suffer defeat near Mongyr.

Dhramapala’s Contribution to Architecture:

• Vikramashila Monastery:
  • Founded in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
  • Developed into a significant center of Buddhist learning and culture.
• Somapura Vihara:
  • Built a grand vihara at Somapura in modern Paharpur (present-day Bangladesh).
  • Known as Somapura Mahavihara, it is one of the most famous Buddhist viharas in the Indian subcontinent.
  • Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
  • A prime example of pre-Islamic Bangladeshi architecture.
• Devapala (810–850 AD), Dharmapala’s son, expanded the empire further into eastern India, including Assam, Odisha, and Kamarupa. He also conducted raids in the north, the Deccan, and the peninsula.

Mahipala I (988-1038 CE)

• Political Achievements:
  • Revived the fortunes of the Pala dynasty.
  • Notably checked the invasion of northern India by Rajendra Chola between 1020 and 1025 CE, halting the Cholas’ advance beyond the Ganges.
• Contribution to Architecture:
  • Constructed and repaired several sacred structures at Sarnath, Nalanda, and Bodh Gaya.

Literature during Pala’s Reign

• The Palas made significant contributions to Buddhist literature and also patronized Sanskrit scholars, fostering a rich literary tradition in their empire. Here are some notable contributions:

Buddhist Literature

• Prominent Scholars:
  • Atisha, Saraha, Tilopa, Dansheel, Dansree, Jinamitra, Muktimitra, Padmanava, Virachan, and Silabhadra were prominent Buddhist scholars associated with Vikramashila and Nalanda universities.
• Works Authored and Translated:
  • Many Buddhist tantric works were authored and translated into Sanskrit under Pala patronage.
  • The original tantric texts include a diverse range of Indian and Tibetan works.

Sanskrit Literature

• Sandhyakar Nandi:
  • Wrote the epic “Ramacharitam,” a biography of the later Pala ruler Ramapala. It describes how forest chiefs were brought into alliance with the Palas through lavish gifts.

Notable Authors and Works

• Jimutavahana:
  • Authored “Dayabhaga,” “Vyavohara Matrika,” and “Kalaviveka.”
• Bhatta Bhavadeva:
  • Wrote “Karmanushthan Paddhati,” a philosophical work.
• Sridhar Bhatta:
  • Authored “Nyaya Kundali,” a philosophical text.
• Gaudapada:
  • Wrote “Agama Shastra,” a philosophical work.
• Chakrapani Datta:
  • Authored works on medicine including “Chikitsa Samgraha,” “Ayurveda Dipika,” “Bhanumati,” “Shabda Chandrika,” and “Dravya Gunasangraha.”
• Sureshwara:
  • Wrote medical texts such as “Shabda-Pradipa,” “Vrikkhayurveda,” and “Lohpaddhati.”
• Vangasena:
  • Authored “Chikitsa Sarsamgraha,” a medical treatise.
• Gadadhara Vaidya:
  • Wrote “Sushrata,” a significant work on medicine.
  • Additionally, the “Mahipalageet,” a collection of folk songs on Mahipala, remains popular in rural Bengal, reflecting the enduring influence of the Palas on literature and culture in the region.
• For about a century, from the mid-eighth to the mid-ninth century, the Pala rulers were the dominant power in eastern India. Their influence at times extended to Varanasi. An Arab merchant named Sulaiman, who visited India in the mid-ninth century, documented their power in his writings.

Religion

According to Tibetan chronicles, the Pala rulers were significant patrons of Buddhist learning and religion. Dharmapala revived the renowned Nalanda University, allocating 200 villages to support its expenses. He also established Vikramashila University, which became almost as famous as Nalanda, situated on a hilltop along the Ganga River in Magadha. The Palas constructed numerous viharas, housing many Buddhist monks.

The Pala rulers maintained close cultural ties with Tibet. Notable Buddhist scholars, Santarakshita and Dipankara (also known as Atisa), were invited to Tibet, where they introduced a new form of Buddhism. Consequently, many Tibetan Buddhists traveled to Nalanda and Vikramashila universities for their studies.

Despite their strong support for Buddhism, the Palas also patronized Saivism and Vaishnavism. They provided grants to numerous Brahmans from northern India who migrated to Bengal. These settlements facilitated the expansion of agriculture in the region, transforming many pastoralists and food-gatherers into settled cultivators. Bengal’s growing prosperity fostered extended trade and cultural connections with Southeast Asian countries, including Burma, Malaya, Java, and Sumatra.

Decline of the Pala Dynasty

After Mahipala’s 15-year rule, the dynasty was weakened by the succession of four insignificant rulers, leading to its eventual decline.

• Ramapala:
  • As the last significant ruler of the Pala dynasty, Ramapala endeavored to restore the dynasty’s former glory.
  • He ruled for approximately 53 years.
  • After his death, the Pala dynasty’s influence was reduced to a small portion of Magadha (Bihar) and continued to exist only for a brief period.

Rise of Powerful Rivals

• Vijayasena of the Sena Dynasty:
  • Vijayasena, who had risen to power in northern Bengal, expelled the last Pala ruler, Madanapala, from Bengal.
  • He established the rule of the Sena dynasty, marking the end of Pala dominance in the region.