Devapala

Pala Empire পাল সাম্রাজ্য
810–850
Deva Pala's empire at its greatest extent.
Capital	Pataliputra
Religion	Buddhism
Government	Monarchy
History
- Established	810
- Disestablished	850

Deva Pala (Deva Pala the Great), (ruled 810–850 CE) was a powerful emperor from the Pala Empire of Bengal region in the Indian Subcontinent. He was the third king in the line and had succeeded his father, emperor Dharamapala (ruled 770–810 CE). He inherited a great empire built by his father but he also made his own significant contributions to it to expand its frontiers^[1].

Military career of Devapala

Though not much is known about the details of his military campaigns, he is said to have exacted tributes from whole of northern India from Himalayas to Vindhyas and from east to west ocean ^[2]. More specifically, the inscriptions reveal that his victorious military compaigns led him as far as to Kamboja of northwest and Deccan in the south ^[3][4] and that he exterminated the Utkalas, conquered the Pragjyotisha (Assam), shattered the pride of the Hunas, and humbled the lords of Gurjara Pratiharas and the Dravidas.^[5]

Information provided by these inscriptions bears witness to Devapala's encounter with the Kambojas of Kabol valley, which nation, since remote antiquity, had been known for its quality war horses^{[citation needed]}. The Monghyr Charter also bears witness to the fact that the Palas recruited their war horses from this Kamboja of the northwest.^[6][7] King Devapala definitely had some sort of relations with the north-west borderland of India (i.e. Kamboja) which fact also appears probable from his connections with Viradeva, a scholar from Nagarahara, Jalalabad near Kabul whom he had appointed to the post of Abbot of Nalanda in south Bihar ^[8]. Probably, Devapala had brought Viradeva during his military expedition to Kamboja in north-west ^[9].

Imperialistic and expanionistic policies

According to "Age of Imperial Kanauj" (History and Culture of Indian People), the above inscriptional statements attest that Devapala had followed imperialistic and expansionistic policy and in his military compaigns under his real cousin General Jayapala,^[10] the Pala army invaded Pragjyotisha (Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and the Utkalas whose king fled from his capital city ^[11]. On the opposite frontiers of the empire, were the Hunas located in south-east Punjab in Uttarapatha who became the next target of Devapala's fury. From there, the Pala forces had proceeded further to subjugate the Kambojas of North-West Frontiers (Trans-Indus territory). Thereafter, Devapala reduced king Ramabhadra of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire and later he defeated Gurjar Emperor Mihir Bhoja. It also pointed out that Devapala had vanquished the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha.^[12] He is further claimed that he humbled the rulers of Dravida ^[13].

Religious leanings

Devapala was a staunch Buddhist and is stated to have granted five villages to Buddhist monasteries for the promotion of Buddhism and the welfare & comforts of the Bhikshus. He is said to have got constructed many temples and monasteries in Magadha.^[14] Balaputradeva, the Sailendra king of Java requested Devapala to endow land for the monastery at Nalanda.

Successor of Devapala

Devapala had ruled for about 40 years and was succeeded by his son Mahendrapala, who was succeeded by Vigrahapala, his nephew according to one view and his son according the other.

Estimate of Devapala

It is stated that the reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala constituted the most brilliant period of Bengal. Under the Palas, Bengal played a very important role in the history of India.

See also

• List of rulers of Bengal
• Gopala
• Dharmapala
• Mahipala
• Pala Empire

References

1. ^ History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 50, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar
2. ^ Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 5, Epigraphia Indica, II p 160.
3. ^ Monghyr Charter of Devapala, year 33, verse 13, Epigraphia Indica, XVIII, p 304.
4. ^ History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 50, 55, 56, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar.
5. ^ op cit., p 50, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar.
6. ^ Kambojesu cha ysya vajiyuvvbhi dharvastanayaraji jaso heshayiati-hari heshtarvah kaantishchran vikashvah || 13||. This verse attests that the horses in the cavalry of Devapala were over-pleased to reunite with their beloveds, the Kamboja mares. This inscriptions, according to scholars, indisputably attests that not only there were Kamboja horses but also there was a Kamboja cavalry in the armed forces of the Palas (See refs: Dynastic History of Northern India, I. p 311; Indian Historical Quarterly, XV, p 511; History of Ancient Bengal, 1971, pp 127, 182-83).
   • cf: "The Palas employed mercenary forces and certainly recruited horses from Kamboja (Ins B.8 V 13). Mr N. G. Majumdar has rightly observed that if the horses could be brought into Bengal from North-Western Frontiers of India during the Pala period, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the traders and the adventurers could also have found their way into that province" (Epigraphia Indica XXII.153). Mercenary soldiers (specially the cavalry) might have also been recruited from Kamboja and some of them might have been influential chiefs…(Dr R. C. Majumdar).
7. ^ cf: "In the ninth century, A.D, the Kambojas are said to have been defeated by Devapala, the great king of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal (R. D. Banerjee, Vangalar Itihaasa, p 182). But during the latter part of the tenth century, the tables were turned and the rule of the Pala kings of Bengal was interrupted by the Kambojas who set up one of their chiefs as the king (Dr. V. A. Smith, The Early History of India, p 399)."
8. ^ Advanced History of India, 1973, p 166, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr. K. Datta; History and Culture of Benga1963, p 54,Atul Kumar Sur - Bengal (India); Brief History of Sanskrit Literature, Vedic and Classical, 1933, p 173, K. Bhattachariya; History of Bihar‎, 1958, p 88, Radhakrishna Choudhary.
9. ^ Military History of India, 1980, p 88, H. C. Kar.
10. ^ Jayapala was son of Dharamapala's younger brother Vakpala, See: Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 13, Epigraphia Indica II, p 160; Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.
11. ^ Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.
12. ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/159950/Devapala
13. ^ op cit., p 50-51, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar; Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
14. ^ Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan.

Further reading

• History of Bengal, Vol I, Dr R. C. Majumdar
• Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan
• History and Culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, (Ed) Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar
• Vangalar Itihaasa (Bangla), R. D. Banerjee
• The Early History of India, 1957, Dr. V. A. Smith
• Bihar Through the Ages, 1958, (Gen Editor) R. R. Diwarkar
• Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, 1962, Calcutta University, Dr B. C. Sen
• Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XV-4, 1939, Dr H. C. Ray
• Epigraphia Indica, Vol XVII
• Epigraphia Indica, Vol XXII, Dr N. G. Majumdar
• Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol I, Dr H. C. Ray

Preceded by Dharmapala

Pala Emperor 810–850 CE

Succeeded by Mahendrapala