View source for Mahendrapala

{{Short description|Pala Emperor from 839 to 854}}
{{about|King Mahendrapala of the Pala dynasty|the Gurjara-Pratihara king|Mahendrapala I}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Mahendrapala
| image        = 
| succession   = [[Pala Empire|Pala Emperor]]
| predecessor  = [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]
| successor    = [[Shurapala I]]
| dynasty      = [[Pala Empire|Pala]]
| father       = [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]
| mother       = [[Mahata Devi]]
| religion     = [[Buddhism]]
| reign        = 839–854 CE
}}
'''Mahendrapala''' (r. c. 839–854)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Laha |first=Gopal |date=2017 |title=Revised Genealogy, Chronology & Regnal Years of the Kings of the Pala Dynasty in the Light of the Latest Discoveries, Decipherment and Presentation (750-1200 A.d) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26906092 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=78 |pages=257 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref> was the fourth king of the [[Pala empire|Pala dynasty]] of the [[Bengal]] region of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. He was the son of [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]] and his queen [[Mahata Devi|Mahata]].<ref name="SKTiwari2001">{{cite book | title=Dimensions of Human Cultures in Central India: Professor S.K. Tiwari Felicitation Volume | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUwFL3IipK0C&pg=PA239 | year= 2001 | publisher=Sarup & Sons | isbn=978-81-7625-186-0 | page=239 }}</ref>
{{Pala Empire}}

==Reign==
[[File:Copper plate inscription of Mahendra Pala (2)- State Archaeological Museum in West Bengal- 1, Satyen Roy Rd, Auddy Bagan Basti, Behala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700034- First Floor- Nandadirghi Vihara, Jagjivanpur Gallery.jpg|thumb|Copper plate inscription of Mahendrapala, at the [[State Archaeological Museum]] in Kolkata.]]
Mahendrapala has been mentioned in some Pala records, but earlier, the historians used to believe that these mentions referred to the [[Gurjara-Pratihara]] king [[Mahendrapala I]]. However, the discovery of the [[Jagjivanpur#Artifacts|Jagjivanpur]] copper plate charter issued by Mahendrapala made it clear that he was a distinct Pala emperor, who succeeded Devapala.<ref name="Debala1991">{{cite book | author1=Debala Mitra | author2=Gouriswar Bhattacharya | title=Akṣayanīvī: Essays Presented to Dr. Debala Mitra in Admiration of Her Scholarly Contributions | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hu1tAAAAMAAJ | year=1991 | publisher=Sri Satguru Publications | isbn=978-81-7030-275-9}}</ref> The charter, issued in the 7th year of Mahendrapala's reign (believed to be 854 CE), mentions the construction of a monastery at Nandadirghika Udranga by Mahendrapala's ''[[senapati|mahasenapati]]'' ("great general") Vajradeva.<ref>[http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=4,1674,0,0,1,0#.Ux-qxfldW5I Bengal museum to reconstruct excavated Buddhist site]</ref> The grant is dated in his 7th regnal year and issued from the Kuddalakhataka ''jayaskandhavara'' (the camp of victory).<ref name="ica">{{cite web|url=http://www.tathyabangla.org.in/public/i_cadeprt/archeology/arch3.asp |title=Jagjivanpur, A newly discovered Buddhist site in west Bengal |publisher=Information & Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal website |accessdate=2009-10-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809033739/http://www.tathyabangla.org.in/public/i_cadeprt/archeology/arch3.asp |archivedate=August 9, 2009 }}</ref>

Mahendrapala was succeeded by Shurapala I.<ref name="PareshAsok1991">{{cite book | author1=Paresh Chandra Das Gupta | author2=Asok Kumar Datta | title=Studies in Archaeology: Papers Presented in Memory of P.C. Dasgupta | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQxuAAAAMAAJ | date=1 January 1991 | publisher=Books & Books | isbn=978-81-85016-29-0}}</ref> According to the Jagjivanpur inscription, [[Shurapala I]] was Mahendrapala's younger brother and royal envoy.<ref name="NiharBraja2000">{{cite book | author1=Niharranjan Ray | author2=Brajadulal Chattopadhyaya | title=A Sourcebook of Indian Civilization | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zcyho16xzWEC&pg=PA623 | date=1 January 2000 | publisher=Orient Blackswan | isbn=978-81-250-1871-1 | pages=621–623}}</ref>

Mahendrapala appears to have retained the Pala control over North Bengal and Bihar. He possibly carried out further campaigns against the Hunas and the Utkalas, and passed his empire intact to his younger brother and successor, [[Shurapala I]].<ref>Bhattacharya, Suresh Chandra, ''Pāla Kings in the Badal Praśasti — A Stock-Taking'', Journal of Ancient Indian History, University of Calcutta, [https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/calcutta-university/departmental-journals/H00405.pdf Vol. XXIV], 2007-08, pp. 73-82.</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of rulers of Bengal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:854 deaths]]
[[Category:Pala emperors]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]]


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