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TheKamboja-Pala dynasty ruled parts ofBengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, after invading thePalas during the reign ofGopala III. The last Kamboja ruler of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty Dharmapala was defeated by the south Indian EmperorRajendra Chola I of theChola dynasty in the 11th century.[1][2][3]
During the last centuries BCE, many clans of theKambojas entered India in alliance with theSakas,Pahlavas,Yavanas and spread intoSindhu,Saurashtra,Malwa, Rajasthan,Punjab and Surasena.[4][5] An offshoot of the Meerut Kambojas moved eastwards and entered thePala domains and in the 10th century, conquering north-west Bengal.[6] Kamboja tribes were employed by the Palas followingDevapala's conquests due to the lack of native cavalry inBengal.[7] The Kambojas might have declared their independence from the Pala rule, due to it being weakenend by the invasions of theKamarupa kingRatna Pala & theChandela rulerYashovarman.[8]
There are several ancient inscriptions which attest Kamboja rule inBengal. The most important sources are:
TheDinajpur Pillar Inscription records to a Kamboja king called theKambojanvaya Gaudapati (i.e. lord ofGauda).. The Pillar Inscription was originally established in aSiva temple that was built by the king but removed to Bangar, about 40 miles east of Gauda, during the period ofMuslim 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.[9] The Dinajpore Pillar Inscription dates to the second half of the 10th century.[10]
The Irda Copper plate (Irda Tamarapatra) is another source on the Kamboja-Pala dynasty and was discovered in 1931.[11] It is written inSanskrit and has 49 lines of text in ancient Bengaliscript. The Vamsa or the tribal identity of the rulers mentioned in the Irda Copper Plate is specifically stated to beKamboja-Vamsha-Tilaka (i.e. Ornament of the Kamboja family or Glory of the Kamboja tribe).[citation needed] Like the Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions, the IrdaCopper 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.[12]
Bangar Charter[13] ofMahipala 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".[14] 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.[15] 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[16]
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 comprisedVaradhmana-Bhukti Mandala (modern Burdman division) andDandabhukti Mandala within the Kamboja empire. The Dandabhukti division is believed to have comprised southern and south-western parts ofMidnapore district as well as the lower parts of river Suvaranrekha in districtBalasore. 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.[17] The Kamboja power in Bengal received a severe jolt from the invasions of the Chandella kingDhanga & theChandra king of East BengalKalyanachandra.[18] This political scenario enabled the Pala king Mahipala I to re-conquer Gauda from the Kambojas.[19] The last king of the Kambojas wasDharamapala who continued to rule Dandabhukti in the first quarter of the 11th century.[20] The Kamboja ruler Dharamapala of Dandabhukti was defeated by the south Indian EmperorRajendra Chola I who invaded Bengal and Bihar in the 11th century.[21] The Capital of the Kamboja Pala kingdom is stated to bePriyangu which has not been identified yet,[22] though some scholars tend to identify the same with an old village known as Pingvani located inGarbeta Thana.[23]
We know the names of three Kamboja rulers of the Kamboja Pala family for sure viz.Rajyapala,Narayanapala andNayapala. The Charter (Copper Plate Inscription) was issued by Kamboja king Nayapala wherein he and his father are given the imperial titles likeParameshevara, Paramabhattacharya and Maharajadhiraja. The Copper Plate Inscription also attests that the founder of the Kamboja Pala dynasty was kingRajyapala. He has been referred to as Kambojavamshatilaka Paramasaugata Maharajadhiraja parameshvara paramabhattAraka-Rajyapala. This proves that this line of kings belonged to the Kambojalineage. 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 expressionKunjarghatavarshan of the Dinajpore Pillar Inscription indicates that Kunjarghatavarshan was personal name ofKambojanvaya 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 asdevotee ofBuddha (Parama-saugata) whereas Kambojanvaya Gaudapati of Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions claims in his own inscription to be a Sivadevotee. 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 kingDharmapala who ruled in Dandabhukti in first quarter of the 11th century.[24]
TheKambojanvaya Gaudapati of Dinajpore Pillar Inscriptions is stated to be a builder of Siva temple and therefore wasdevotee 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 asParama-saugata (devotee of Buddha). The third ruler Narayanapala Kamboja is stated to be a devotee of godVishnu. 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 aVedic 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 toProf R. C. Majumdar: "More significant, however, is the inclusion of Purohits in the land grants of the Kamboja,Varman andSena 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."[25] 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.[26]
In the ancient caste classification in Bengal, there are references to people who came as invaders fromnorthwest or accompanied the invaders. These people have been described as Mlechchas in the brahmanical Caste System in Bengal. AncientSanskrit andPali texts and inscriptions profusely attest the Kambojas as atribe ofUttarapatha or Udichya division belonging toIndo-Iranian or Scytho-Aryan and not to the Mongolian stock. The north-westerners including the Kambojas,Sakas,Hunas,Yavanas,Abhiras,Khasas,Sabaras,Turushkas,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.[1]Compare also: Part-II: VI. Ancient peoples of Bengal:[2]Archived 25 October 2006 at theWayback Machine.[27]
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 aBrahmana scholar Sura Mishra who had composedJagannathaprakasa, a Smriti Granth in honour of this Kamboja king:
This shows that the Kamboja rule in some parts of Bengal must have continued, as late as the 16th century.