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Information About

Pala Empire




The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the Bihar and Bengal regions of South Asia from the 8th to the 12th Century . The name ''Pala'' means "protector" and was used as an ending to the names of all Pala monarchs.

The founder of the empire was Gopala . He was the first independant Buddhist king of Bengal and came to Power in 750 in Gaur by Democratic Election . He reigned from 750 - 770 and consolidated his position by extending his control over all of Bengal. His successor was Dharmapala ( 770 - 781 ). He made the Palas a dominant power of northern India. The Empire disintegrated in the 12th Century under the attacks of the Sena Dynasty .

The Pala s intermarried with Gahadvala s of the Kannauj region.

The Palas were followers of Mahayana Buddhism . They created many temples and works of art and supported the Universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila . Their proselytism was at the origin of the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet .


MAIN PALA RULERS

  • Gopala (750-770)

  • Dharmapala (770-781)

  • Devapala (810-847)

  • Shur Pala (Ras Pala (Ras Pal) (847 - 860)

  • Vigraha Pala (860 - 861)

  • Narayan Pala (861 - 917)

  • Rajyo Pala (917 - 952)

  • Vigraha Pala II (952 - 972)

  • Mahipala (977 - 1027)

  • Naya Pala (1027 - 1043)

  • Vigraha Pala III (1043 - 1070)

  • Mahi Pala II (1070 - 1071)

  • Shura Pala II (1071 - 1072)

  • Rampala (1072 - 1126)

  • Kumar Pala (1126 - 1128)

  • Gopala III (1128 - 1143)

  • Madan Pala (1143 - 1161)

  • Govinda Pala (1161 - 1174)




EXTERNAL REFERENCES

Pala dynasty