Devapala of Bengal

Devapala was the third king in the line, and had succeeded his father Dharamapala.History and Culture of Indian People, The Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p. 50, R. C. Majumdar, A. D. Pusalkar His mother was Rannadevi, a Rashtrakuta princess.{{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."}}{{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.{{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}}

Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Devapala's reign as follows:{{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 }}{{rp|32–37}}

Devapala is credited by Taranatha for subjugating the whole Northern India from the Himalayas to the Vindhyan Mountains.{{Cite book |last=Dutt |first=R. C. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=yA0-AAAAIAAJ&q=taranatha+ascribes+to+him+the+subjugation+of+the+whole+of+Northern+India+from+the+Himalaya+to+the+Vindhya+mountains&dq=taranatha+ascribes+to+him+the+subjugation+of+the+whole+of+Northern+India+from+the+Himalaya+to+the+Vindhya+mountains&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ69XIxY6MAxVZzTgGHTQ7FjwQ6AF6BAgNEAM#%22Taranath%20ascribes%20to%20him%20the%20subjugation%20of%20the%20whole%20of%20Northern%20India%20from%20the%20Himalaya%20to%20the%20Vindhya%20mountains%22 |title=Later Hindu Civilisation: A.D. 500 to A.D. 1200, Based on Sanskrit Literature |date=1965 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=40 |language=en}}

The Badal Pillar Inscription of Nārāyaṇapāla 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 InscriptionBadal Pillar Inscription, verse 5, Epigraphia Indica, II p 160.}}

According to Nitish K. Sengupta, the Badal Pillar inscription is highly exaggerated.{{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 }} 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.{{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}} Both Pramode Lal Paul and Ratikanta Tripathi states 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 an actual fact.{{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}}{{Cite book |last=Tripathi |first=Ratikanta |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=-2AeAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Devap%C4%81la+was+not+a+mere+political+exaggeration%22&dq=%22Devap%C4%81la+was+not+a+mere+political+exaggeration%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyvdbT64yMAxWs3TgGHWtYI9oQ6AF6BAgGEAM#%22Devap%C4%81la%20was%20not%20a%20mere%20political%20exaggeration%22 |title=Social and Religious Aspects in Bengal Inscriptions |date=1987 |publisher=Firma KLM |pages=XXIX |language=en}}

The Monghyr Plates praises him for Digvijaya of the entire Bharatavarṣa while the Badal Pillar only mentions his Digvijaya of Aryavarta.{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Dasharatha |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=gJudrgIcs1UC&q=%22devapala%22+%22exaggerated%22&dq=%22devapala%22+%22exaggerated%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl3P3Nw4yMAxWRja8BHa4KNRMQ6AF6BAgMEAM#%22Devap%C4%81la%20of%20Bengal%20who%20is%20credited%20not%20only%20with%20the%20digvijaya%20of%20%C4%80ry%C4%81varta%20(%20B%C4%81dal%20inscription%20of%20N%C4%81r%C4%81ya%E1%B9%87ap%C4%81la's%20reign%22 |title=Rajasthan Through the Ages: From the earliest times to 1316 A.D |date=1966 |publisher=Rajasthan State Archives |pages=146 |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Indian_Historical_Quarterly/VtkBAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=The Indian Historical Quarterly |date=1958 |publisher=Calcutta Oriental Press |volume=34-35 |pages=139 |language=en}} Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas and Pargiyotisas were subjugated according to his inscriptions.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientbanglades0000chak|title=Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources|last=Chakrabarti|first=Dilip K.|date=1992|publisher=Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-19-562879-1|pages=74–75}}{{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}}

Devapala launched military campaigns under his cousin and his general Jayapala, who was the son of Dharmapala's younger brother Vakpala.Badal Pillar Inscription, verse 13, Epigraphia Indica II, p 160; Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, The Indian Antiquary, XV p 304. These expeditions resulted in the invasion of Pragjyotisha (present-day Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and Utkala (present-day Odisha) whose ruler fled from his capital city.Bhagalpur Charter of Narayanapala, year 17, verse 6, Indian Antiquary, XV p 304. However, there is no definitive record of any expedition of Devapala

"Dravida" is generally believed to be a reference to the Rashtrakutas (led by Amoghavarsha), but RC Majumdar believes that it may refer to the 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.{{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}}

Devapāla is said to have reached the Kambhoja country (Tibet) in his military campaign. As a result, Devapāla came into conflict with the Tibetan Empire. There is nothing impossible as the Tibetan sources claim that their kings Khri-srong-lda-btsan and his son Mu-teg-btsan-po subdued India and forced Dharmapāla to submit. Therefore, Devapāla must have also clashed with and defeated the Tibetan kings.{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.534083 |title=Comprehensive History Of Bihar Vol.1; Pt.2 |date=1974 |pages=252–253}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

After the death of Dharmapāla, 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 Pratiharas.{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R.C. |url=http://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 |others=Public Resource |pages=50–51}}{{Cite book |last=Others |first=Muzaffar H. Syed & |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sy5gEAAAQBAJ |title=History of Indian Nation : Ancient India |date=2022-02-20 |publisher=K.K. Publications |pages=287 |language=en}}

Ramabhadra is credited with no victory in the Pratihara inscription, which states that he had no desire for the world. Majumdar has interpreted the Gwalior Praśasti to indicate that Ramabhadra's dominion was invaded by the Pala king Devapāla. This invasion have led to serious disturbances in the Pratihara dominion.{{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}} Ramabhadra suffered heavy setbacks at the hands of Devapāla, who even temporarily ravaged his dominion.{{Cite book |last=MAJUMDAR |first=R. C. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13287 |title=HISTORY OF ANCIENT BENGAL |date=1971 |publisher=G. BHARADWAJ , CALCUTTA |pages=113–114}}

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 Gurjaras specifically refers to the Pratiharas, with the Pratihara king in this case being Bhoja I.{{Cite book |last=Chakrabarti |first=Dilip K. |url=http://archive.org/details/ancientbanglades0000chak |title=Ancient Bangladesh, a study of the archaeologcial sources |date=1992 |publisher=Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-19-562879-1 |pages=74}}{{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}}

Like his father Devapala was a staunch sponsor of Buddhism, and approved the construction of many Buddhist temples and monasteries in Magadha.{{Cite book |last=S N Sen |url=http://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.}} 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.{{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. King Devapala granted five villages were Nandivanāka, Maņivāțaka, Națikā, Hasti and Pālāmaka to Nalanda University.{{Cite book |last=Sankalia |first=Hasmukh D. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107869 |title=University Of Nalanda |date= |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.}} He also patronized the Vikramashila University and the Nalanda University.{{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=English}} Devapāla patron of Buddhism, supporting esoteric practices and scholars like Haribhadra and Buddhajñānapāda. His contributions include founding major monastic centers such as Somapura, Vikramaśīla, and Odantāpura, along with numerous Buddhist monuments in eastern India.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/medievalsculptur0000unse |title=Medieval sculpture from eastern India : selections from the Nalin collection |date=1985 |publisher=Livingston, N.J. : Nalini International Publications |others=Internet Archive |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.}}

Buddhist scholar Vajradatta (the author of Lokesvarashataka), was the court poet of Devapala.{{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}} Archaeological excavations at Paharpur in the Rajshahi district have confirmed that the ruins there are indeed those of the renowned Somapura-vihara, founded by Devapala.{{Cite book |last=Ed. R. C. Majumdar |url=http://archive.org/details/history-of-bengal-1-ed.-r.-c.-majumdar-1943 |title=The History of Bengal Vol.1 (Ed. R. C. Majumdar) |date= |pages=115}}

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.{{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.[http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=4,1674,0,0,1,0#.Ux-qxfldW5I Bengal museum to reconstruct excavated Buddhist site] Mahendrapala was the son of Devapala and brother of Shurapala I. Both Mahendrapala and Shurapala I were born to Queen Mahata.{{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 }}

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

• List of rulers of Bengal

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{{succession box

| title = Pala Emperor

| years = 9th century

| before = Dharmapala

| after = Mahendrapala

}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Pala emperors

Category:Year of death unknown

Category:Year of birth unknown

Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs