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{{Short description|Historical dynasty ruling parts of Bengal in the 10th-11th centuries}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=October 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{History of Bengal}}
The '''Kamboja-Pala dynasty''' ruled parts of [[Bengal]] in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, after invading the [[Pala Empire|Palas]] during the reign of [[Gopala III]]. The last Kamboja ruler of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty Dharmapala was defeated by the south Indian Emperor [[Rajendra Chola I]] of the [[Chola dynasty]] in the 11th century.<ref>Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p.281</ref><ref>The Cambridge Shorter History of India p.145</ref><ref>West Bengal District Gazetteers: Nadīa p.63</ref>

==Origins==

During the last centuries BCE, many clans of the [[Kambojas]] entered India in alliance with the [[Saka]]s, [[Pahlava]]s, [[Yavana]]s and spread into [[Sindhu]], [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], [[Malwa]], Rajasthan, [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and Surasena.<ref name="Ancient Kamboja 1981, pp 296-309">Ancient Kamboja, people and the Country, 1981, pp 296–309, 310, Dr J. L. Kamboj;</ref><ref>cf: "Along with Sakas, numerous tribes of Kambojas had crossed Hindukush and spread into whole of north India especially into Punjab and [[Uttar Pradesh]] etc. [[Mahabharata]] (12.102.5) specifically attests that Kambojas and Yavanas conquered [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]] country. The Kambojas also find mention in the Mathura Lion Capitol Inscriptions issued by Saka Mahakshatrapa Rajuvala" (India and the world 1964 p 154 by Dr Buddha Parkash).</ref> An offshoot of the Meerut Kambojas moved eastwards and entered the [[Pala Empire|Pala domains]] and in the 10th century, conquering north-west Bengal.<ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 311, Dr J. L. Kamboj</ref> Kamboja tribes were employed by the Palas following [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]'s conquests due to the lack of native cavalry in [[Bengal]].<ref>RC Majumdar, ''History of Bengal'', Dacca, 1943, pp 133–134</ref> The Kambojas might have declared their independence from the Pala rule, due to it being weakenend by the invasions of the [[Kamarupa]] king [[Ratna Pala]] & the [[Chandela]] ruler [[Yashovarman (Chandela dynasty)|Yashovarman]].<ref>History and Culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 85, Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr R. C. Majumdar</ref>

==Ancient sources on Kamboja Rule in Bengal==
There are several ancient inscriptions which attest Kamboja rule in [[Bengal]]. The most important sources are:

===Dinajpore Pillar Inscription===
The ''Dinajpur Pillar Inscription'' records to a Kamboja king called the ''Kambojanvaya Gaudapati'' (i.e. lord of [[Gauḍa region|Gauda]]).. The Pillar Inscription was originally established in a [[Shiva|Siva]] temple that was built by the king but removed to Bangar, about 40 miles east of Gauda, during the period of [[Muslim]] rule. During the 18th century, the Pillar was further moved to Dinajpore by Maharaja Ram Nath and as a result, the inscription came to be known as Dinajpore Pillar Inscription.<ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 3-4, K. S. Dardi</ref> The Dinajpore Pillar Inscription dates to the second half of the 10th century.<ref>History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 54, 1964, Dr. [[R. C. Majumdar]] and Dr A. D. Pusalkar</ref>

===Irda Copper Plate (Tamrapatra)===
The Irda Copper plate (''Irda Tamarapatra'') is another source on the Kamboja-Pala dynasty and was discovered in 1931.<ref>[[Epigraphia Indica]], XXII, 1933–34, pp 150–158, Dr N. G. Majumdar</ref> It is written in [[Sanskrit]] and has 49 lines of text in ancient Bengali [[writing system|script]]. The Vamsa or the tribal identity of the rulers mentioned in the Irda Copper Plate is specifically stated to be ''Kamboja-Vamsha-Tilaka'' (i.e. Ornament of the Kamboja family or Glory of the Kamboja tribe).{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} Like the Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions, the Irda [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|Copper plate]] is also thought to belong to the second half of tenth century (Dr N. G. Majumdar, Dr R. C. Majumdar). Hence the academic community believes that the Kambojanvaya Gaudapati of Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions and the Kambojavamshatilaka Paramasaugata Maharajadhiraja parameshvara paramabhattaraka Rajyapala of Kamboja-Pala dynasty of Irda Copper Plate Inscriptions refers to the same Kamboja family. But whereas the Dinajpur Pillar inscriptions refer just to one Kamboja ruler with the appellation of "Kambojanvaya Gaudapati", the Irda Copper plate, mentions generation after generation of the Kamboja-Pala kings of Bengal i.e. Rajyapala, Narayanapala and Nayapala etc. The Kamboja-Pala kings of the Irda Copper plate had ruled north-west Bengal in the tenth or eleventh century.<ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 315, Dr J. L Kamboj; Ancient India, 1956, p 382–83, Dr R. K. Mukerjee, The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, p 208–210, S Kirpal Singh</ref>

===Bangar Grant of Mahipala I===
Bangar Charter<ref name="Inscription No 5">Inscription No 5</ref> of [[Mahipala|Mahipala I]] is the third very important ancient source of Kamboja rule in Bengal. The charter asserts that Mahipala had re-conquered nearly the whole of north and east Bengal ''"after defeating the usurpers who had seized his ancestral kingdom"''.<ref>
:hataskalavipashah sangre bahudarppad
:anudhikrit vilupatan rayamasadhya pitram
:nihitcharanpadamo bhubhutan murdhin tasmad
:abhavadvanipalah shrimahipaladehah || 11 ||
:(verse 11, Inscription No 5)</ref> The same verse has been repeated in the Aamgaachhi Charter of Vigrahapala-3. But who were the usurpers the inscription does not tell, but other evidences indicate that the rulers belonging to the Kamboja family were in possession of the north and west Bengal.<ref name="Indian People p 55">History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 55, Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr R. C. Majumdar; The struggle for Empire, p 24, Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr R. C. Majumdar</ref> Scholars believe that Mahipala's Charter alludes to the seizing of the northern parts of Bengal by Kamboja dynasty from the Gopala II or Vigrahapala II of the Pala dynasty, which the great king Mahipala I claims to have won back by the force of his arms<ref>See: Candellas of Jejakbhukti, 2003, p 48, R.K. Dikshit; Ancient India, 2003, p 651, Dr V. D. Mahajan; History of Bengal, I, 133; Dr R. C. Majumdar, The Dynastic History of Northern India, II, 676, Dr H. C. Ray; Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 399, Dr B. C. Sen; Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 312, Dr J. L. Kamboj; Bengal: Past and Present, P 77, by Calcutta Historical Society.</ref>

==Extent of Kamboja Empire==
No definite information is available on the precise geographical area of the Kamboja-Pala kingdom of Bengal. According to Irda Copper plate evidence, the Kamboja-Pala kingdom definitely comprised ''Varadhmana-Bhukti Mandala'' (modern Burdman division) and ''Dandabhukti Mandala'' within the Kamboja empire. The Dandabhukti division is believed to have comprised southern and south-western parts of [[Midnapore district]] as well as the lower parts of river Suvaranrekha in district [[Balasore]]. Evidence from Dinajpore Pillar Inscription attests that the Gauda country also formed parts of Kamboja-Pala kingdom. But as long as we do not include northern Ladha (Radha or W. Bengal) in Kamboja-Pala empire, the region does not constitute one viable political entity. Hence it appears likely that northern parts of Radha may also formed parts of Kamboja-Pala kingdom. Dr R. C. Majumdar says that Gauda and Radha both formed parts of Kamboja-Pala empire.<ref>History of Ancient Bengal, 1971, p 127, Dr Ramesh Chandra Majumdar – Bengal (India).</ref> The Kamboja power in Bengal received a severe jolt from the invasions of the Chandella king [[Dhanga]] & the [[Chandra dynasty|Chandra]] king of East Bengal [[Kalyanachandra]].<ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 315, Dr J. L. Kamboj</ref> This political scenario enabled the Pala king Mahipala I to re-conquer Gauda from the Kambojas.<ref> Ancient India, 2003, p 651, Dr V. D. Mahajan</ref> The last king of the Kambojas was ''Dharamapala'' who continued to rule Dandabhukti in the first quarter of the 11th century.<ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 315–16, Dr J. L. Kamboj; Decline of the Kingdom of Magadha, p 413, B. P. Sinha; Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 379–80, B. C. Sen etc</ref> The Kamboja ruler Dharamapala of Dandabhukti was defeated by the south Indian Emperor [[Rajendra Chola I]] who invaded Bengal and Bihar in the 11th century.<ref>Ancient Indian History and Civilization von Sailendra Nath Sen p.281</ref> The Capital of the Kamboja Pala kingdom is stated to be ''Priyangu'' which has not been identified yet,<ref>Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, VII, 619; History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 54, 1964, Dr. R. C. Majumdar and Dr A. D. Pusalkar</ref> though some scholars tend to identify the same with an old village known as Pingvani located in [[Garbeta]] Thana.<ref>Epigraphia Indiaca, Vol XXIV, p 46, Dr J. C. Ghosh; quoted by Dr J. L. Kamboj in Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country. 1981, p 334.</ref>

==Known Kamboja kings of Bengal==
We know the names of three Kamboja rulers of the Kamboja Pala family for sure viz. ''[[Rajyapala Kamboja|Rajyapala]], [[Narayanapala (Kamboja)|Narayanapala]] and [[Naya Pala (Kamboja)|Nayapala]]''. The Charter (Copper Plate Inscription) was issued by Kamboja king Nayapala wherein he and his father are given the imperial titles like ''Parameshevara, Paramabhattacharya and Maharajadhiraja''. The Copper Plate Inscription also attests that the founder of the Kamboja Pala dynasty was king ''Rajyapala''. He has been referred to as '' Kambojavamshatilaka Paramasaugata Maharajadhiraja parameshvara paramabhattAraka-Rajyapala''. This proves that this line of kings belonged to the Kamboja [[Lineage (anthropology)|lineage]]. The second king is Narayanapala who was son of Rajayapala. Narayanapala was succeeded by his younger brother Nayapala, the author of the Irda Copper plate. Dr R. C. Majumdar states that the expression ''Kunjarghatavarshan'' of the Dinajpore Pillar Inscription indicates that Kunjarghatavarshan was personal name of ''Kambojanvaya Gaudapati'' of the Dinajpore Pillar Inscription. If this is so, then this Kambojanvaya Gaudapati is the fourth known Kamboja king of Kamboja dynasty of Bengal. Some scholars however believe that the Kambojanvaya Gaudapati of the Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions is same as Kambojavamshatilaka Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate. This does not seem to be true since Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate is described as [[worship|devotee]] of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] (''Parama-saugata'') whereas Kambojanvaya Gaudapati of Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions claims in his own inscription to be a Siva [[Bhakti|devotee]]. It may however be possible that Kambojanvaya Gaudapati is same as Kamboja king Nayapala of the Irda Copper plate since king Nayapala also claims to be a Saivite (Siva devotee) in the Irda Copper plate. The last known ruler of the Kamboja Pala dynasty is stated to be king ''[[Dharmapala Kamboja|Dharmapala]]'' who ruled in Dandabhukti in first quarter of the 11th century.<ref>Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal: Pre-Muhammadan Epochs, 1942, p 380, 383, Dr Benoychandra Sen – Bengal (India); Journal of the Varendra Research Museum, Vol.1–4 1972-1975/1976, p 109, Varendra Research Museum – Bangladesh; Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, pp 318, 316 etc; History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 54, 1964, Dr. R. C. Majumdar and Dr A. D. Pusalkar; Decline of the Kingdom of Magadha, p 413, B. P. Sinha; Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 379–80, B. C. Sen</ref>

==Religion of Kamboja rulers of Bengal==
The ''Kambojanvaya Gaudapati'' of Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions is stated to be a builder of Siva temple and therefore was [[Bhakti|devotee]] of Siva. He is said to be a great bestower of the charities. ''Kambojavamsatilaka Rajayapala'', the first king of the Irda Copper plate is referred to as ''Parama-saugata'' (devotee of Buddha). The third ruler Narayanapala Kamboja is stated to be a devotee of god [[Vishnu]]. King Nayapala Kamboja, the author of Irda Copper plate is known to have practised Siva cult. There is no information on the Kamboja ruler Dharamapala, but it appears likely that he may have also been a [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] follower i.e. either Saivite or a Vishnu devotee. The Irda Copper plate has references to Hindu gods, high rising temple buildings as well as to the sacred smokes rising from the Yagya fires into the skies. This again alludes to the Hinduism of the Pala Kambojas. Irda Copper plate also makes special references to the Purohits, Kritivajyas, Dharmagyas and other holy officials. Thus we find that the Kamboja kings of Bengal were mostly Vedic Hindus, of course, with the exception of king Rajyapala. Mention is made of grants of lands and villages to the Purohits in the Burdwan district of east Bengal. According to [[R. C. Majumdar|Prof R. C. Majumdar]]: "More significant, however, is the inclusion of Purohits in the land grants of the Kamboja, [[Varman dynasty|Varman]] and [[Sena dynasty|Sena]] kings of Bengal. It indicates the great importance was attached to religious and social aspects of administration during rules of these dynasties which were all followers of orthodox Hinduism."<ref>(History of Bengal, Vol I., p 281, Dr R. C. Majumdar</ref> Dr B. N. Sen says that the Buddhism which had followers in the early Pala and Candra rulers was probably on the decline in Bengal during the 10th century. On the other hand, the Vedic religion was on the rise. Since the Kamboja Pala kings of Bengal were mostly Vedic Hindus, hence they must have got full support from their subject which must have helped them raise a powerful empire in Bengal.<ref>Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 378–79, B. C. Sen</ref>

==Kambojas in caste system of Bengal==

In the ancient caste classification in Bengal, there are references to people who came as invaders from [[Ordinal directions|northwest]] or accompanied the invaders. These people have been described as Mlechchas in the brahmanical Caste System in Bengal. Ancient [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] texts and inscriptions profusely attest the Kambojas as a [[tribe]] of [[Uttarapatha]] or Udichya division belonging to [[Indo-Iranians|Indo-Iranian]] or Scytho-Aryan and not to the Mongolian stock. The north-westerners including the Kambojas, [[Saka]]s, [[Huna people|Huna]]s, [[Yavana]]s, [[Abhira tribe|Abhira]]s, [[Khasas]], [[Sabaras]], [[Turkic peoples|Turushka]]s, [[Suhmas]] etc. have all been labelled as outsiders or foreigners within the Bengali society and therefore were left outside the ritual Caste Classification of ancient Bengal. [http://tanmoy.tripod.com/bengal/caste.html]
''Compare also'': Part-II: VI. Ancient peoples of Bengal: [https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no27183.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025083008/https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no27183.htm |date=25 October 2006 }}.<ref>The Author, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya, is probably not right here to include the Kambojas among the Extraneous Tribal Communities from North-east. Rather, they should have been included among the Tribal Communities from North-west which group comprises the Sakas, Yavanas, Hunas, Khasas, Abhiras, Turukshakas with whom the Kambojas are always found associated in numerous ancient Sanskrit texts. Doubtless, the Kambojas belong to the [[Uttarapatha]] as [[Mahabharata]], [[Ramayana]], [[Purana]]s and other ancient texts abundantly show. See [[Kamboja Location]]</ref>

==Evidence on later Kamboja rulers in Bengal==
There is a literary evidence which attests one Kamboja king known as Jagan Nath ruling in Bengal as late as the 16th century. King Jagan Nath is stated to have patronised a [[Brahmana]] scholar Sura Mishra who had composed ''Jagannathaprakasa'', a Smriti Granth in honour of this Kamboja king:

:Adesh.Kambojakula.vatansah Shri Jagana Natha iti parsidhah
:Akaryad dharmanibandhmaytam dhradhipaiapayairkablai nreshe<ref>(Notices of Sanskrit MSS., Vol V, No 1790;, R. L. Mitra, Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, p 208, Dr J. L. Kamboj )</ref>
This shows that the Kamboja rule in some parts of Bengal must have continued, as late as the 16th century.

==See also==
*[[Gopala (Pala king)|Gopala]]
*[[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharmapala]]
*[[Middle Kingdoms of India]]
*[[Kamboja (disambiguation)|Kamboja]]
*[[Cambodia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=AM |year=2012 |chapter=Chandra Dynasty, The |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chandra_Dynasty,_The |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=AM |year=2012 |chapter=Mahipala I |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mahipala_I |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Alam |first=Aksadul |year=2012 |chapter=Trailokyachandra |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Trailokyachandra |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=AM |year=2012 |chapter=Pala Dynasty |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pala_Dynasty |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
*{{cite book |last=Chattopadhyay |first=Rupendra Kumar |year=2012 |chapter=Dandabhukti |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dandabhukti |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Bhattacharyya |first=PK |year=2012 |chapter=Kamata-Koch Behar |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Kamata-Koch_Behar |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}

{{Middle kingdoms of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamboja-Pala Dynasty Of Bengal}}
[[Category:Kambojas]]
[[Category:Dynasties of Bengal]]

Kamboja Pala dynasty - Revision history

imported>RosalieHowes26 at 12:30, 22 March 2026