Devapala

Devapala (rule: 810 AD - 850 AD) was a powerful king of Pala dynasty of Bengal. He was the third king in the line and had succeeded his father, king Dharamapala (rule: 770 - 810 AD). He inherited a great empire built by his father but he also made his own contributions to it to expand its frontiers.

Military career of Devapala

Though not much is known about the details of his military campaigns, he is said to have exacted tributes from whole of northern India from Himalayas to Vindhyas and from east to west ocean . More specifically, the inscriptions reveal that his victorious military compaigns led him as far as to Kamboja of northwest and Vindhyas in the south and that he exterminated the Utkalas, conquered the Pragjyotisha (Assam), shattered the pride of the Hunas, and humbled the lords of Gurjara Pratiharas and the Dravidas.

Information provided by these Inscriptions bears strong witness to Devapala's encounter with the Kambojas of Kabol valley, which nation, since remote antiquity, had been known for its quality war horses. The Monghyr Charter bears powerful witness to the fact that the Palas recruited their war horses from this Kamboja of the northwest.

Imperialistic and expanionistic policies

According to "Age of Imperial Kanauj" (History and Culture of Indian People), the above inscriptional statements attest that Devapala had followed imperialistic and expansionistic policy and in his military compaigns under his real cousin General Jayapala, the Pala army invaded Pragjyotisha (Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and the Utkalas whose king fled from his capital city . On the opposite frontiers of the empire, were the Hunas located in south-east Punjab in Uttarapatha who became the next target of Devapala's fury. From there, the Pala forces had proceeded further to Kamboja of North-West Frontiers (Trans-Indus territory). Unfortunately, no details of his compaign or extent of success against the Kambojas is available from these inscriptions (Dr R. C. Majumdar). It is not known if Pala army had actually engaged in fight with the Kambojas and subjugated them or not. Thereafter, Devapala reduced king Ramabhadra of the Pratiharas and later he defeated the Bhojas. It also pointed out that Devapala had vanquished the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha. It is further claimed that he humbled the rulers of Dravida too .

Religious leanings

Devapala was a staunch Buddhist and is stated to have granted five villages to Buddhist monasteries for the promotion of Buddhism and the welfare & comforts of the Bhikshus. He is said to have got constructed many temples and monasteries in Magadha..

Successor of Devapala

Devapala had ruled for about 40 years and was succeeded by Vigrahapala who was his nephew according to one view and his son according the other.

Estimate of Devapala

It is stated that the reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala constituted the most brilliant period of Bengal. Under the Palas, Bengal played a very important role in Indian history.

References

Books and Periodicals

History of Bengal, Vol I, Dr R. C. Majumdar
Ancient India, 2003, Dr V. D. Mahajan
History and Culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, 1964, (Ed) Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar
Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, Dr J. L. Kamboj
Some Kshatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, Dr B. C. Law
Vangalar Itihaasa (Bangla), R. D. Banerjee
The Early History of India, 1957, Dr. V. A. Smith
Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, S Kirpal Singh
Bihar Through the Ages, 1958, (Gen Editor) R. R. Diwarkar
Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, 1962, Calcutta University, Dr B. C. Sen
Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XV-4, 1939, Dr H. C. Ray
Epigraphia Indica, Vol XVII
Epigraphia Indica, Vol XXII, Dr N. G. Majumdar
Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol I, Dr H. C. Ray
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