| Devapala | |
|---|---|
| 3rdEmperor of the Pala Empire | |
| Tenure | 810s–845 CE |
| Predecessor | Dharamapala |
| Successor | Mahendrapala |
| Spouse | Mahata Devi, daughter ofDurlabharaja I of Chahamana dynasty |
| Issue | Rajyapala Mahendrapala Shurapala I |
| Dynasty | Pala |
| Father | Dharamapala |
| Mother | Rannadevi |
| Religion | Buddhism[1][2] |
Devapala (Sanskrit:দেবপালDevapāla) (c. 9th century) also known asSrimān Devapālah Harshahva,[3] was the successor ofDharmapala and the third emperor of thePala Empire.[4] ThePāla Empire was at its peak of power and prosperity under the reign of Devapala. He was known to be the Overlord ofAryavarta.[5]
Devapala was the third king in the line, and had succeeded his fatherDharamapala.[6] His mother was Rannadevi, aRashtrakuta princess.[7]: 178 Earlier historians considered Devapala as a nephew of Dharmapala, based on the Bhagalpur copper plate ofNarayanapala, which mentions Devapala as Jayapala'spurvajabhrata (interpreted as "elder brother"). Jayapala is mentioned as the son of Dharmapala's brother Vakpala in multiple Pala inscriptions. However, the discovery of theMunger (Monghyr) copper inscription changed this view. This particular inscription clearly describes Devapala as the son of Dharmapala.[8]
Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Devapala's reign as follows:[9]: 32–37
| Historian | Estimate of reign |
|---|---|
| RC Majumdar (1971) | 810-c. 850 |
| AM Chowdhury (1967) | 821–861 |
| BP Sinha (1977) | 820–860 |
| DC Sircar (1975–76) | 812–850 |
Devapala is credited byTaranatha for subjugating the wholeNorthern India from theHimalayas to theVindhyan Mountains.[10]
The Badal Pillar Inscription ofNārāyaṇapāla describes the campaigns led by Devapala as:
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 Inscription[11]
According toNitish K. Sengupta, the Badal Pillar inscription is highly exaggerated.[12]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 ofNarayanapala, but it is equally unreasonable to dismiss the entire description of Devapāla's conquests as mere bombast.[13] 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.[14][15]
The Monghyr Plates praises him forDigvijaya of the entireBharatavarṣa while the Badal Pillar only mentions his Digvijaya ofAryavarta.[16][17] Gurjaras, Utkalas, Hunas, Dravidas, Kambojas and Pargiyotisas were subjugated according to his inscriptions.[18][19]
Devapala launched military campaigns under his cousin and general Jayapala, who was the son of Dharmapala's younger brother Vakpala.[20] According to Bhagalpur copper-plate, the expedition resulted in the invasion of Pragjyotisha (present-dayAssam) where the king ofMlechchha dynasty submitted without a fight and accepted the suzerainty of Devapala.[21] According to the Bādal Pillar inscription, Utkala (present-dayOdisha) was exerminated and its ruler fled from his capital.[21][22]
"Dravida" is generally believed to be a reference to theRashtrakutas (led byAmoghavarsha), but RC Majumdar believes that it may refer to thePandyan 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.[23]
Devapāla is said to have reached the Kambhoja country (Tibet) in his military campaign. As a result, Devapāla came into conflict with theTibetan Empire. There is nothing impossible as the Tibetan sources claim that their kingsKhri-srong-lda-btsan and his sonMu-teg-btsan-po subduedIndia and forcedDharmapāla to submit. Therefore, Devapāla must have also clashed with and defeated the Tibetan kings.[24][25]
The inscription of Devapāla states that he liberated the entire Himalayas from the Tibetans. The Tibetan control of theHimalayas was lost during the period of 839-848 A.D. (During Devapāla's reign), as per the Chinese historical records.[26]
After the death ofDharmapāla,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 thePratiharas.[27][28]
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 thatRamabhadra's dominion was invaded by thePala king Devapāla. This invasion have led to serious disturbances in thePratihara dominion.[29]Ramabhadra suffered heavy setbacks at the hands of Devapāla, who even temporarily ravaged his dominion.[30]
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 theGurjaras specifically refers to thePratiharas, with thePratihara king in this case beingBhoja I.[31][32]
Like his father Devapala was a staunch sponsor ofBuddhism, and approved the construction of many Buddhist temples and monasteries inMagadha.[2][33] 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 ofTaranatha, state that it was magically built and then entrusted to Devapala.[9]: 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.[23] King Devapala granted five villages were Nandivanāka, Maņivāțaka, Națikā, Hasti and Pālāmaka to Nalanda University.[34] He also patronized the Vikramashila University and the Nalanda University.[35] Devapāla patron of Buddhism, supporting esoteric practices and scholars likeHaribhadra andBuddhajñānapāda. His contributions include founding major monastic centers such as Somapura, Vikramaśīla, and Odantāpura, along with numerous Buddhist monuments in eastern India.[36]
Buddhist scholar Vajradatta (the author of Lokesvarashataka), was the court poet of Devapala.[23][4] 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.[37]
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 beShurapala I and/orVigrahapala I.[9]: 32–37 In the 2000s, a copper-plate grant was discovered atJagjivanpur: this plate mentions that a hitherto unknown Pala king,Mahendrapala, had issued the grant in 854 CE.[38] Mahendrapala was the son of Devapala and brother of Shurapala I. Both Mahendrapala and Shurapala I were born to Queen Mahata.[39]
Devapala's exploits—both verified and legendary—inspired theBengali campaign inDynasties of India, the 2022 expansion pack forAge of Empires II: Definitive Edition.
| Preceded by | Pala Emperor 9th century | Succeeded by |
Besides a great conqueror, Devapala was a patron of Buddhism, and he constructed temples and monasteries in Magadha. Thus, art and architecture received fresh impetus, and Nalanda continued to flourish as the chief seat of Buddhist learning.
[p. 178] Dharmapāla's wife was Raṇṇādevī daughter of Parabala, the ornament of the Rāshṭrakūṭa race. Devapāla was their son.
Like his father, Devapala was a great patron of Buddhism and his fame spread to many Buddhist countries outside India.
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 likePrajñāpāramitā, 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.
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.
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