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{{Short description|Pala emperor from late 8th century}}
{{about|Pala King|other uses|Dharmapala (disambiguation)}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Dharmapala
| title = Parameshvara Paramabhattaraka<ref>History of Bengal, Volume I (1943), R. C. Majumder, page 113</ref> Maharajadhiraja<br />Vangapati
| image =
| caption =
| succession = [[Pala Empire|Pala Emperor]]
| predecessor = [[Gopala]]
| successor = [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]
| dynasty = [[Pala Empire|Pala]]
| father = [[Gopala]]
| mother = Deddadevi of the [[Bhadra dynasty]]<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sharma |first=Ranjit Kumar |title=Matsyanyaya and the Rise of the Palas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bA88AQAAIAAJ |journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh: Humanities |year=1988 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |page=2}}</ref>
| reign = 770s – 810s A.D
| religion = [[Buddhism]]<ref>Hasan, Sahidul. "The Pala dynasty and Religious Pluralism in Bengal." Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology 8.1 (2011): 26–33.</ref>
| spouse = Rannadevi ([[Rashtrakuta]] princess)
| issue = Tribhuvanpala<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2tlKzxwhY8C&pg=PA62 |title=Ancient India, History and Archaeology |isbn=9788170173045 |last1=Ganguly |first1=Dilip Kumar |year=1994}}</ref> <br /> [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]
{{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance =
| branch =
| rank =
| battles = *Pala Tibetan War
* [[Tripartite Struggle]]}}
}}
'''Dharmapala'''{{efn|[[Siddhaṃ script|Siddhamātṛikā script]]: [[File:DharmapalKeshavaPrasati2.svg|50px]], Dha-rmma-pā-la;<ref>Extracted from the Bodhgaya stone inscription, ''Mahâbodhi, or the Great Buddhist Temple under the Bodhi Tree at Buddha-Gaya'', Alexander Cunningham, [https://archive.org/details/cu31924008747788/page/n157 Plate XXVIII, 3], 1892.</ref> [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: ধর্মপাল}} was the second [[Pala Empire|Pala emperor]] of [[Bengal]] ([[Vangala]]) in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. He was the son and successor of [[Gopala (Pala king)|Gopala]], the founder of the Pala dynasty. Dharmapala was mentioned as the King of Vangala (''Vangala-bhūmipat''<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.calcutta.06117 |title=Epigraphia Indica, Vol-34, Issue no.-1-40}}</ref>) in the Nesari plates (dated 805 AD) of [[Rashtrakuta dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Vangala |title=Vangala |publisher=[[Banglapedia]] |last=Chowdhury |first=A.M |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> He greatly expanded the boundaries of the empire and made the Palas a dominant power in the northern and eastern India.

Dharmapala directly ruled over the present-day Bengal and [[Bihar]], and installed a nominee at [[Kannauj]]. The Pala chronicles also claim that several other rulers of North India acknowledged his suzerainty, but these claims seem to be exaggerated. Dharmapala was defeated twice by the [[Gurjara-Pratiharas]], but each time the [[Rashtrakuta]]s subsequently defeated the Pratiharas, leaving Palas as the dominant power in North India. Dharmapala was succeeded by his son [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]] who further expanded the empire.
{{Pala Empire}}

== Reign ==
Dharamapala directly ruled over the present-day [[Bengal]] and [[Bihar]] regions.<ref name="Sailendra1999">{{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |year=1999 |orig-year=First published 1988 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA278 |edition=2nd |publisher=New Age International |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0 |pages=278–279}}</ref> Since the extent of Gopala's kingdom is not known, it is uncertain if Dharmapala inherited these territories or acquired them through conquests.<ref name="Ronald2004">{{cite book |author=Ronald M. Davidson |year=2004 |orig-year=First published 2002 |title=Indian Esoteric Buddhism: Social History of the Tantric Movement |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_VquVQvnBwC&pg=PA53 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |pages=53–55 |isbn=978-81-208-1991-7}}</ref>

He also became dominant in other areas of North India, but the exact details of his victories are not available. It is known that he defeated Indraraja (or Indrayudha), the ruler of [[Kanauj]], who was a vassal of the Pratiharas. He then handed over the throne to his own nominee, Charkayudha, and held an imperial court at Kannauj. According to the Khalimpur copper plate issued by Dharmapala, this court was attended by the rulers of Bhoja (possibly [[Vidarbha]]), [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]] (Jaipur and north-east Rajasthan), [[Madra]] (East Punjab), [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] (Haryana-Delhi-Western UP region), [[Yadu]] (possibly [[Mathura]], [[Dwarka]] or [[Katas Raj Temples#Founding|Siṁhapura in the Punjab]]), [[Yavana]], [[Avanti (India)|Avanti]], [[Gandhara]] and Kira ([[Kangra Valley]]).<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 |pages=41–42 |isbn=978-0-14-341678-4}}</ref><ref name="Sinha1977">{{cite book |author=Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha |year=1977 |title=Dynastic History of Magadha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYO25eaDrqUC&pg=PA177 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |page=177 |isbn=978-81-7017-059-4 |quote=Dharmapāla after defeating Indrāyudha and capturing Kanuaj made it over to Cakrāyudha, who was a vassal king of Kanuaj subordinate to Dharmapāla ... Dharmapāla was thus acknowledged paramount ruler of almost whole of North India as the Bhojas of Berar, Kīra (Kangra district), Gandhāra (West Punjab), Pañcāla (Ramnagar area of U.P.), Kuru (eastern Punjab), Madra (Central Punjab), Avanti (Malwa), Yadus (Mathura or Dwarka or Siṁhapura in the Punjab), Matsya (a part of northeast Rajputana) were his vassals.}}</ref> These kings accepted the installation of Chakrayudha on the Kannauj throne, while "bowing down respectfully with their diadems trembling".<ref name="Pramode_Vol1"/> Some historians have speculated that all these kingdoms might have been the vassal states of the Pala empire. Although the rulers of these regions may have paid obeisance to Dharmapala, but maintained their autonomy.<ref name="Susan1984"/>{{rp|39}} He was possibly the most powerful ruler in North India and was thus called ''Uttarapathasvamin'' ({{lit|Lord of the North}}).<ref>{{cite book |author=V. D. Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |year=1970 |orig-year=First published 1960 |title=Ancient India |edition=5th |page=568 |oclc=1000593117}}</ref>

The Kannauj dispute resulted in a struggle between Dharmapala and the Pratihara king [[Vatsraja|Vatsaraja]]. Vatsaraja defeated Dharmapala in a battle fought near [[Allahabad|Prayag]].<ref name="Ronald2004"/> Shortly after this, Vatsaraja himself was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king [[Dhruva Dharavarsha|Dhruva]] of southern India. After Vatsaraja's defeat, Dharmapala regained control of Kannauj, but was defeated by Dhruva.<ref name=Sen>{{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |year=2013 |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |page=20 |isbn=978-93-80607-34-4}}</ref> However, soon after this, Dhruva returned to his southern kingdom, and thus, Dharmapala gained more than he had lost.<ref name="Ronald2004"/> He quickly regained his power in northern India.

According to the Monghyr (Munger) copper plate, Dharmapala offered prayers at Kedar (possibly [[Kedarnath]]) and Gokarna (variously identified with [[Gokarna, Nepal|Gokarna in Nepal]], [[Gokarna, India|Gokarna in Karnataka]], or a place in Orissa).<ref name="Pramode_Vol1">{{cite book |title=The Early History of Bengal |author=Pramode Lal Paul |publisher=Indian Research Institute |series=Indian History |url=http://oudl.osmania.ac.in/bitstream/handle/OUDL/14288/218329_The_Early_History_Of_Bengal_Vol_I.pdf?sequence=2 |access-date=2014-03-28 |year=1939 |page=38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329011504/http://oudl.osmania.ac.in/bitstream/handle/OUDL/14288/218329_The_Early_History_Of_Bengal_Vol_I.pdf?sequence=2 |archive-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This indicates that his position as a sovereign was accepted by most rulers, although this was a loose arrangement, unlike the empire of the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryas]] or the [[Gupta Empire|Guptas]]. The other rulers acknowledged the military and political supremacy of Dharmapala, but maintained their own territories.<ref name="Nitish2011"/> One tradition also claims that [[Nepal]] was a vassal state of the Pala Empire during his reign.<ref>{{cite book |author=V. D. Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |year=1970 |orig-year=First published 1960 |title=Ancient India |edition=5th |pages=568-569 |oclc=1000593117 |quote=It is also stated in the Svayambhu Purana that Nepal also was a vassal state of Dharampala.}}</ref>

Sometime later, Dharmapala faced another attack by the Pratiharas. Vatsaraja's son [[Nagabhata II]] conquered Kannauj, making Chakrayudha his vassal. This brought Dharmapala and Nagabhata II into a military conflict near Munger. Dharmapala suffered a defeat, but in a repeat of history, the Rashtrakutas invaded the Pratihara kingdom. Nagabhata II was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king and Dhruva's son [[Govinda III]]. Govinda III then proceeded to Kannauj, and subdued both Chakrayudha and Dharmapala.<ref name="Ronald2004"/> Like his father, Govinda III then returned to his kingdom in the south.

Dharmapala ruled for about 40 years and was succeeded by his son [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]].

===Period===
Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Dharmapala'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)
| 770–810
|-
| AM Chowdhury (1967)
| 781–821
|-
| BP Sinha (1977)
| 783–820
|-
| [[Dineshchandra Sircar|DC Sircar]] (1975–76)
| 775–812
|-
| [[Satish Chandra (historian)|Satish Chandra]] (1997)
| 770–810<ref>[[Satish Chandra (historian)|Chandra, Satish]]. ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals. Vol. 2''. Har-Anand Publications, 1997. ISBN 978-8124105221.</ref>

|}

== Patronage to Buddhism ==
[[Image:Paharpur 03.JPG|thumb|[[Somapura Mahavihara]] is the largest Buddhist [[vihara]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]] built by Dharmapala in [[Naogaon District]], [[Bangladesh]]; it became a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1985.]]

Dharmapala was a great patron of [[Buddhism]]. He granted 200 villages to [[Nalanda]] university and revived it. He founded the [[Vikramashila]] monastery, which later evolved into a great learning centre of Buddhism. Vikramashila had about 100 professors and was managed by a governing body of six members.<ref name="Bihar, Prof 1958, p.117">History of Bihar, Prof.R.Choudhary,1958, p.117</ref> The most celebrated name associated with the Vikramshila University was that of Buddhist scholar [[Atiśa]], who was greatly respected in [[Tibet]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dahiya |first=Poonam Dalal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbU6DwAAQBAJ |title=ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA EBOOK |date=2017-09-15 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-93-5260-673-3 |pages=412 |language=en}}</ref> One of its rectors, Ratnakirshanti, a logician, was invited to Ceylon. During Dharmapala's reign, Buddhagupta was rector of the university.<ref name="Bihar, Prof 1958, p.117"/> Dharmapala built the great [[Somapura Mahavihara]] in Paharpur, [[Naogaon District]], Bangladesh. Taranath also credits him with establishing 50 religious institutions and patronising the Buddhist author Haribhadra.<ref name="Sailendra1999"/> [[Buton Rinchen Drub]] credits Dharmapala with building the monastery at Uddandapura ([[Odantapuri]]), 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}}

== Epigraphs ==

The epigraphs from Dharmapala's reign include:<ref name="Jhunu1993">{{cite book |author=Jhunu Bagchi |year=1993 |title=The History and Culture of the Pālas of Bengal and Bihar, Cir. 750 A.D.-cir. 1200 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J7RKoMeAtpUC&pg=PA2 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=8–9 |isbn=978-81-7017-301-4}}</ref>

[[File:Keshava Prashasti.jpg|right|thumb|Keśava Praśasti]]
; [[Bodhgaya]] Stone Inscription (Kesava Prasasti)
: Dated in the 26th regnal year, this inscription is a work of Kesava, who was the son of sculptor Ujjala. It records the establishment of an image of Chaturmukha (four-faced) Mahadeva and the excavation of a lake at the cost of 3000 ''dramma''s (coins) at [[Mahabodhi]].

[[File:Khalimpur Inscription of Dharmapala Part 1.png|right|thumb|Khalimpur Copper Plate]]
; Khalimpur Copper Plate
: Dated in the 32nd regnal year, this copper plate is inscribed by Tatata, who was the son of Subhata and grandson of Bhojata. It records Dharmapala's defeat of Indrayudha and the installation of his tributary Chakrayudha at Kannauj. It states that the kings of Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Yadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kira (possibly [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]]) attended the imperial assembly and approved it. It further states that Dharmapala granted four villages to a feudal lord called Naryanavarman for the construction and maintenance of a temple dedicated to the Lord Nanna-Narayana,<ref>{{cite book |author=Sikha Sarkar |title=Mother-goddess in Pre-mediaeval Bengal: A Study of the Evolution of Concept & Forms of Female Divinities |publisher=Niharendu Aditya |year=2001 |page=37 |quote=The Khalimpur Copper-plate, issued in the 32 regnal year of the great Pala king Dharmapala gives us the information regarding the erection of a temple of the Bhagavana (Lord) Nanna-Narayana by a feudal lord (Mahasamantadhipati) Narayanavarma. Scholars are unanimous regarding the fact that Nanna-Narayana is the name of Lord [[Vishnu|Visnu]].}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Ramesh Chandra Majumdar |title=History of Ancient Bengal |publisher=G. Bharadwaj |year=1971 |page=511 |quote=A temple (deva-kula) of the god Nanna-Narayana is referred to in a record of Dharmapala (B.2), while the Garuda Pillar Inscription at Badal (B. 20) shows its continued importance, during the reign of Narayanapala. |url=http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/13287/16/Chapter%20XIII_506-580p.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919091249/http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/13287/16/Chapter%20XIII_506-580p.pdf |archive-date=19 September 2016}}</ref> with the boundaries of the donated villages including a shrine constructed for the Goddess Kadamvari.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sikha Sarkar |title=Mother-goddess in Pre-mediaeval Bengal: A Study of the Evolution of Concept & Forms of Female Divinities |publisher=Niharendu Aditya |year=2001 |page=37 |quote=While describing the boundaries of the donated villages, the copper-plate grant refers to a small shrine constructed for the goddess Kādamvarī: "uttareṇa kādamvarī devikulikā khariuravrksaśca" (line 32). It is said that there is a small temple of the goddess Kādamvarī on the northern boundary of the village mentioned above. The name of this goddess is rarely found in the Epics and the Puranas.}}</ref> The ''dyutaka'' or emissary of this plate is ''Yuvaraja'' (Crown Prince) Tribhuvanpala.

; [[Nalanda]] Copper Plate
: This plate is partially damaged due to burning. The name of the donor is not clear, but his father's name is Dharmadatta. It records the gift of a village, Uttarama, situated in the [[Gaya district|Gaya]] ''visaya'' (district) of the Nagar ''bhukti'' (division).

; Nalanda Stone Inscription
: This inscription is a work of the artisans Kese, Savvo, Vokkaka, and Viggata. It is inscribed on a stupa sculpture with carvings that depict seated Buddha figures. It records Vairochana as the person who commissioned this deed, describing him as a brilliant and valiant man who lived during the rule of Dharmapala.

; Valgudar Image Inscription
: It records the dedication of an image of god Madhusrenika by Ajhuka, the wife of Sato, in the city of Krimila.

; Paharpur Seals
: These two seals were discovered from the [[Somapura Mahavihara]]. Both depict a [[dharma chakra]] flanked by [[antelope]]s, and state that they were issued by the monks belonging to a [[vihara]] at Somapura, which was established by Dharmapala.

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

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Pankaj Tandon: "A Gold Coin of the Pala king Dharmapala," ''Numismatic Chronicle'', No. 166, 2006, pp. 327–333.
*History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 44, Dr Majumdar, Dr Pusalkar

==External links==
*[http://people.bu.edu/ptandon/Dharmapala.pdf Coin of Dharmapala]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmapala}}
[[Category:Pala emperors]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]]
[[Category:8th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:9th-century Indian monarchs]]

Dharmapala of Bengal - Revision history

Promotiondon at 15:16, 30 December 2025