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{{Short description| Pala emperor of early 9th century}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Devapala
| title = Paramasaugata Paramesvara Paramabhattaraka [[Maharajadhiraja]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pramanik |first=Sufal Chandra |date=2000 |title=Excavation at Jagjivanpur Malda, West Bengal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44144439 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=61 |pages=1268 |jstor=44144439 |issn=2249-1937 |quote=He is described as meditating on the feet of his father Devapala. Both the father and son have the same epithets. viz. Paramasaugata, Paramesvara, Paramabhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja.}}</ref>
| image =
| caption =
| succession = 3rd [[List of Pala emperors|Pala Emperor]]
| predecessor = [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharamapala]]
| successor = [[Mahendrapala]]
| dynasty = [[Pala Empire|Pala]]
| father = [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharamapala]]
| mother = Rannadevi
| consort = yes
| spouse = [[Mahata Devi]], daughter of [[Durlabharaja I]] of Chahamana dynasty
| issue = Rajyapala [[Mahendrapala]] [[Shurapala I]]
| reign = 810s–845 CE
| religion = [[Buddhism]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=R.S. Tripathi |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofancient0000rstr/page/323/mode/1up?q=%22Devapala+was+a+patron%22 |title=History of Ancient India |year=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0018-2 |pages=358 |quote=Besides a great conqueror, Devapala was a patron of Buddhism, and he constructed temples and monasteries in Magadha. Thus, art and architecture received fresh impetus, and Nalanda continued to flourish as the chief seat of Buddhist learning.}}</ref><ref name="mahajan">{{cite book |author=V. D. Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |year=1970 |orig-year=First published 1960 |title=Ancient India |page=570 |oclc=1000593117}}</ref>
}}
'''Devapala''' ({{langx|sa|देवपाल}} ''Devapāla''; c. 9th century) was the successor of [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharmapala]] and the third emperor of the [[Pala Empire]].<ref name="Dahiya2017" /> During his reign, the Pāla Empire reached the height of its territorial extent and prosperity. He was known to be the Overlord of [[Āryāvarta|Aryavarta]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahmāna |first=Mukhalesura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PuQOAQAAMAAJ |title=Sculpture in the Varendra Research Museum: A Descriptive Catalogue |date=1998 |publisher=Varendra Research Museum |pages=XXXV |language=en}}</ref>
{{Pala Empire}}

== Reign ==

Devapala was the third king in the line, and had succeeded his father [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharamapala]].<ref>History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p. 50, [[R. C. Majumdar]], A. D. Pusalkar</ref> His mother was Rannadevi, a [[Rashtrakuta]] princess.<ref name="Sinha1977">{{cite book |author=Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha |author-link=Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYO25eaDrqUC&pg=PA185 |title=Dynastic History of Magadha |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1977 |isbn=978-81-7017-059-4 |location=New Delhi |pages=185 |quote="[p. 178] Dharmapāla's wife was Raṇṇādevī daughter of Parabala, the ornament of the Rāshṭrakūṭa race. Devapāla was their son."}}</ref>{{rp|178}} Earlier historians considered Devapala as a nephew of Dharmapala, based on the Bhagalpur copper plate of [[Narayanapala]], which mentions Devapala as Jayapala's ''purvajabhrata'' (interpreted as "elder brother"). Jayapala is mentioned as the son of Dharmapala's brother Vakpala in multiple Pala inscriptions. However, the discovery of the [[Munger]] (Monghyr) copper inscription changed this view. This particular inscription clearly describes Devapala as the son of Dharmapala.<ref name="Dilip1994">{{cite book |author=Dilip Kumar Ganguly |year=1994 |title=Ancient India, History and Archaeology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2tlKzxwhY8C&pg=PA27 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=27–28 |isbn=978-81-7017-304-5}}</ref>

Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Devapala's reign as follows:<ref name="Susan1984">{{cite book |author=Susan L. Huntington |year=1984 |title=The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xLA3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA32 |publisher=Brill |isbn=90-04-06856-2}}</ref>{{rp|32–37}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Historian
! Estimate of reign
|-
| [[Ramesh Chandra Majumdar|RC Majumdar]] (1971)
| 810-c. 850
|-
| AM Chowdhury (1967)
| 821–861
|-
| BP Sinha (1977)
| 820–860
|-
| [[Dineshchandra Sircar|DC Sircar]] (1975–76)
| 812–850
|}

== Military conquests and campaigns ==
Devapala is credited by [[Taranatha]] for subjugating the whole [[Northern India]] from the [[Himalayas]] to the [[Vindhya Mountains|Vindhyan Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dutt |first=R. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yA0-AAAAIAAJ&q=taranatha+ascribes+to+him+the+subjugation+of+the+whole+of+Northern+India+from+the+Himalaya+to+the+Vindhya+mountains |title=Later Hindu Civilisation: A.D. 500 to A.D. 1200, Based on Sanskrit Literature |date=1965 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=40 |language=en}}</ref>

The Badal Pillar Inscription of [[Narayanapala]] describes the campaigns led by Devapala as:

{{blockquote|Lord of Gauda (Devapala) ruled the sea-girt earth, having eradicated the race of the Utkalas, humbled the pride of the Hūņas and scattered the conceit of the rulers of the Dravidas and the Gurjaras.|Badal Inscription<ref>Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 5, Epigraphia Indica, II p 160.</ref>}}

According to [[Nitish Sengupta|Nitish K. Sengupta]], the Badal Pillar inscription is highly exaggerated.<ref name="Nitish2011">{{cite book |author=Nitish K. Sengupta |year=2011 |title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVSh_TyJ0YoC&pg=PA40 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341678-4 |pages=43–45}}</ref> [[Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha]], an Indian archaeologist and historian states that some exaggerations are naturally present in praises like those found in the Badal Pillar inscription of Narayanapala, but it is equally unreasonable to dismiss the entire description of Devapāla's conquests as mere bombast.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYO25eaDrqUC&pg=PA185 |title=Dynastic History Of Magadha |date=1977 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-059-4 |pages=185 |language=en}}</ref> Both Pramode Lal Paul and Ratikanta Tripathi state that the statement in the Badal Pillar inscription that by the wise counsel and policy of his minister the whole tract between the Vindhya and Himalayan ranges, and the east and west seas paid tribute to Devapāla was not merely a political exaggeration in the Badal inscription, but a fact.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parmode Lal Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.194631 |title=The Early History Of Bengal Vol-1 |date=1939 |pages=43}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tripathi |first=Ratikanta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2AeAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Devap%C4%81la+was+not+a+mere+political+exaggeration%22 |title=Social and Religious Aspects in Bengal Inscriptions |date=1987 |publisher=Firma KLM |pages=XXIX |language=en}}</ref>

The Monghyr Plates praises him for [[Digvijaya (conquest)|Digvijaya]] of the entire [[Bharata varsa|Bharatavarṣa]] while the Badal Pillar only mentions his Digvijaya of [[Aryavarta]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Dasharatha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gJudrgIcs1UC&q=%22devapala%22+%22exaggerated%22 |title=Rajasthan Through the Ages: From the earliest times to 1316 A.D |date=1966 |publisher=Rajasthan State Archives |pages=146 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VtkBAAAAMAAJ |title=The Indian Historical Quarterly |date=1958 |publisher=Calcutta Oriental Press |volume=34-35 |pages=139 |language=en}}</ref> Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas and Pargiyotisas were subjugated according to his inscriptions.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/ancientbanglades0000chak |title=Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeological sources |last=Chakrabarti |first=Dilip K. |date=1992 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-562879-1 |pages=74–75}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQBuAAAAMAAJ |title=Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period |last=Rahman |first=Shah Sufi Mostafizur |date=2000 |publisher=International Centre for Study of Bengal Art |isbn=978-984-8140-01-7 |pages=50–52 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Conquest of Pragjyotisha and Utkala ===
Devapala launched military campaigns under his cousin and general Jayapala, who was the son of Dharmapala's younger brother Vakpala.<ref>Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 13, [[Epigraphia Indica]] II, p 160; Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, ''[[The Indian Antiquary]]'', XV p 304.</ref> According to Bhagalpur copper-plate, the expedition resulted in the invasion of Pragjyotisha (present-day [[Assam]]) where the king of [[Mlechchha dynasty]] submitted without a fight and accepted the suzerainty of Devapala.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R. C. |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69821 |title=History of Bengal Vol.1 |publisher=The University of Dacca |year=2015 |pages=117 |language=en}}</ref> According to the Bādal Pillar inscription, Utkala (present-day [[Odisha]]) was exerminated and its ruler fled from his capital.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304.</ref>

=== Conquests in South India ===
"Dravida" is generally believed to be a reference to the [[Rashtrakuta]]s (led by [[Amoghavarsha]]), but RC Majumdar believes that it may refer to the [[Pandyan Dynasty|Pandyan]] king Sri Mara Sri Vallabha. However, there is no definitive record of any expedition of Devapala to the extreme south. In any case, his victory in the south could only have been a temporary one, and his dominion lay mainly in the north.<ref name="Sailendra1999">{{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA280 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |publisher=New Age International |year=1999 |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0 |edition=2nd |pages=280– |orig-year=First published 1988}}</ref>

=== Conflict with the Tibetans ===
Devapāla is said to have reached and subjected the Kambhoja country ([[Tibet]]) in his military campaign. As a result, Devapāla came into conflict with the [[Tibetan Empire]]. This is very much possible as the Tibetan sources claim that their kings [[Trisong Detsen|Khri-srong-lda-btsan]] and his son [[Muné Tsenpo|Mu-teg-btsan-po]] lost against [[Dharmapala (emperor)|Dharmapāla]] and they were forced to submit. Therefore, Devapāla must have clashed with and defeated the Tibetan kings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.534083 |title=Comprehensive History Of Bihar Vol.1; Pt.2 |date=1974 |pages=252–253}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Diwakar |first=R. R. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.17468 |title=Bihar through the ages |date=1958 |pages=312 |language=English}}</ref>

==== Invasion of the Himalayas ====
The inscription of Devapāla states that he liberated the entire Himalayas from the Tibetans. The Tibetan control of the Himalayas was lost during the period of 839-848 A.D. (During Devapāla's reign), as per the Chinese historical records.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=683CnH-JP3UC |title=Ancient Nepal |date=2005 |publisher=The Department of Archaeology Number |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Conquests in North India ===
==== Devapala's conflict with the Pratihara Empire under Nagabhata II ====
After the death of Dharmapala, [[Nagabhata II]] tried to assert his power and he may have obtained some success. However, Devapāla soon re-established Pala supremacy after his victory against the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Pratiharas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R.C. |url=https://archive.org/details/ageofimperialkan04bhar |title=History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 04, The Age Of Imperial Kanauj |date=2009 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |pages=50–51}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Syed |first1=Muzaffar H. |last2=Kumar |first2=Anil |last3=Usmani |first3=B. D. |last4=Gupta |first4=Pramod |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sy5gEAAAQBAJ |title=History of Indian Nation : Ancient India |year=2022 |publisher=K.K. Publications |pages=287 |language=en}}</ref>

==== Devapala's conflict with Ramabhadra ====

[[Ramabhadra]] is credited with no victory in the Pratihara inscription, which states that he <nowiki>''had no desire for the world.''</nowiki> [[R. C. Majumdar|Majumdar]] has interpreted the Gwalior Praśasti to indicate that [[Ramabhadra]]'s dominion was invaded by the [[Pala Empire|Pala king]] Devapāla. This invasion have led to serious disturbances in the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Pratihara]] dominion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V3KDaZY85wYC&q=devapala+campaign+gurjara |title=Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450-1200 A.D. |date=1977 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=186 |language=en}}</ref> Ramabhadra suffered heavy setbacks at the hands of Devapāla, who even temporarily ravaged his dominion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R. C. |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13287 |title=History of Ancient Bengal |date=1971 |location=Calcutta |publisher=G. Bharadwaj |pages=113–114}}</ref>

==== Devapala's conflict with Mihira Bhoja ====
Devapāla's own inscriptions, as well as the inscription referring to his reign, state that he subjugated Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas, and Pragjyotisas. His victory over the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty|Gurjaras]] specifically refers to the Pratiharas, with the Pratihara king in this case being [[Mihira Bhoja|Bhoja I]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakrabarti |first=Dilip K. |url=http://archive.org/details/ancientbanglades0000chak |title=Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeological sources |date=1992 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-562879-1 |pages=74}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=Shah Sufi Mostafizur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQBuAAAAMAAJ&q=devapala+is+credited+with+the+subjugation+of+the+gurjaras |title=Archaeological Investigation in Bogra District: From Early Historic to Early Mediaeval Period |date=2000 |publisher=International Centre for Study of Bengal Art |isbn=978-984-8140-01-7 |pages=50 |language=en}}</ref>

== Religious leanings ==

Like his father Devapala was a staunch sponsor of [[Mahayana|Buddhism]], and approved the construction of many Buddhist temples and monasteries in [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]].<ref name="mahajan" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=S N Sen |url=https://archive.org/details/ancientindianhistoryandcivilization |title=Ancient Indian history and civilization |date=1987 |quote=Like his father, Devapala was a great patron of Buddhism and his fame spread to many Buddhist countries outside India.}}</ref> He maintained the famous Buddhist monastery at Uddandapura ([[Odantapuri]]). [[Buton Rinchen Drub]] credits his father Dharmapala for building the monastery, although other Tibetan accounts such as that of [[Taranatha]], state that it was magically built and then entrusted to Devapala.<ref name="Susan1984"/>{{rp|45}}

Balaputradeva, the Sailendra king of Java, sent an ambassador to him, asking for a grant of five villages for the construction of a monastery at Nalanda. The request was granted by Devapala.<ref name="Sailendra1999"/> King Devapala granted five villages were Nandivanāka, Maņivāțaka, Națikā, Hasti and Pālāmaka to Nalanda University.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sankalia |first=Hasmukh D. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107869 |title=University Of Nalanda |date=1934 |pages=54 |quote=King Devapala-deva through an ambassador of his, Balavarmman, to grant five villages, Nandivanāka, Maņivāțaka, Națikā, Hasti and Pālāmaka towards the income for the blessed Lord Buddha, the abode of all the virtues like [[Prajñāpāramitā]], for the offerings, oblations, shelter, garments, etc., of the assembly of the venerable bhikkhus and for the upkeep and repair of the monastery when damaged.}}</ref> He also patronized the Vikramashila University and the Nalanda University.<ref>{{Cite book |last=H. Heras |first=Hasmukh D. Sankalia |url=http://archive.org/details/indianarcheologytoday |title=Indian Archeology Today |publisher=Central Archeological Library |pages=118 |language=en}}</ref> Devapāla patron of Buddhism, supporting esoteric practices and scholars like [[Haribhadra (Buddhist philosopher)|Haribhadra]] and [[Buddhajñānapāda]]. His contributions include founding major monastic centers such as Somapura, Vikramaśīla, and Odantāpura, along with numerous Buddhist monuments in eastern India.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/medievalsculptur0000unse |title=Medieval sculpture from eastern India : selections from the Nalin collection |date=1985 |location=Livingston, N.J. |publisher=Nalini International Publications |isbn=978-0-9614416-0-9 |pages=16 |quote=Buddhist Esoterism in particular, having accepted as preceptors the monks Haribhadra and Buddhajñānapāda, well-known for their mastery of the Guhyasamāja and Prajñāpāramitā texts." Monastic centers such as Somapura, Vikramaśīla, and Odantāpura are said to owe their foundation to him, as do some fifty major Buddhist monuments in eastern India. Devapāla ( A.D. 812-850) equalled and possibly surpassed his father in military achievements and continued active patronage of the Buddhist community.}}</ref>

Buddhist scholar Vajradatta (the author of Lokesvarashataka), was the court poet of Devapala.<ref name="Sailendra1999"/><ref name="Dahiya2017">{{Cite book |last=Dahiya |first=Poonam Dalal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbU6DwAAQBAJ |title=Ancient and Medieval India |year=2017 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-93-5260-673-3 |pages=413 |language=en}}</ref>

== Successor ==

Devapala ruled for about 40 years. His oldest son probably was the Crown Prince (Yuvaraja) Rajyapala. However, he probably died before his father. Earlier, the historians believed his successor to be [[Shurapala I]] and/or [[Vigrahapala I]].<ref name="Susan1984"/>{{rp|32–37}} In the 2000s, a copper-plate grant was discovered at [[Jagjivanpur]]: this plate mentions that a hitherto unknown Pala king, [[Mahendrapala]], had issued the grant in 854 CE.<ref>[https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=4,1674,0,0,1,0#.Ux-qxfldW5I Bengal museum to reconstruct excavated Buddhist site]</ref> Mahendrapala was the son of Devapala and brother of Shurapala I. Both Mahendrapala and Shurapala I were born to Queen 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>

== In popular culture ==

Devapala's exploits—both verified and legendary—inspired the [[Bengalis|Bengali]] campaign in ''Dynasties of India'', the 2022 expansion pack for ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition]]''.

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

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

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

Devapala of Bengal - Revision history

RamonTietjen8 at 14:15, 6 April 2026