Palas of bengal (jan 1, 750 – jan 1, 1000)

Description:

Palas (750CE – 12th
century CE)


 Gopala was elected as ruler by chieftains
 They were Mahayana Buddhists and also followed a tantric tradition called Vajrayana Buddhism



 Dharmapala made the kingdom powerful and conquered Kannauj. He built the

Vikramshila, Sompura, Odantapuri Mahaviharas




 Uttarapathasvamin - fight for Kannauj
 Dharmpala had to face defeats in fight for Kannauj twice.

 Devapala extended the empire to parts of Assam and Odisha. He won the Kannauj fight after Rashtrakutas.


 "Mahipala" was able to stop Raja Rajendra Chola from invading beyond Ganga
 Weak rulers, defeat under Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas led to their decline

Culture
 Revived Buddhism using Mahaviharas
 Indian miniature art begins
 Famous painters – Dhiman and Vitapala



 Pala sculptures – sharper, heavily decorated
 Famous Buddhist saints
-
Santarakshita and Dipankara / Atisa were sent to Tibet and South East Asia.


Powerful Sailendra (Java) dynasty, which too patronized Buddhism, had cordial relation with Palas.
 Arab merchant Sulaiman called the Pala kingdom Ruhma (or Dharma)

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