11.8 Palas

Palas

2020-04-27 12:04:19

Gopala

  • Gopala was elected by people rescuing them from chaos/matsya nyaya

Dharmapala (770-810) Succeeded Him

  • Initial defeats from Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas
  • Installed puppet ruler at Kannauj
  • Rajputana, Malwa and Berar acknowledged his sovereignty
  • Svyambhu Purana mentions Nepal as vassals
  • Tibetan traditions credits him with founding Buddhist monastery at Vikramshila. Also founded monasteries at Somapuri, Odantapuri.
    • Buddhist scholar Santarakshita was in his court and was invited to Tibet. Dipankara Atisa later in 10 th century was also invited to Tibet.
  • Dynasty been mentioned by Suleiman as Ruhma, also gives description about his army.
  • Revived Nalanada dynasty. Palas were great patron of Buddhism.

Devapala (810-850) Succeeded Him

  • Claimed to have defeated Huna, Utkalas, Dravidas and Gurjaras.

  • Patron of Buddhism

  • Occupied Assam

  • Kingdom divided into Bhukti headed by Uparikara> Mandala > Pattala (Group of villages) headed by

1. Pala School of Art

  • are found as part of manuscripts executed on palm leaf or vellum paper
  • are characterised by sinuous lines and subdued tones of the background imagery
  • lonely single figures are present more often group figures are almost absent.
  • Its proponents were Vajrayana school of Buddhism.
  • Imp painters were Dhimman and Vitapala.