Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

THE PALAS 780 - 850 A.D.

their overlord and paid him homage. It is also mentioned in the Svayambu Purana that Nepal was a vassal state of Dharmapala. Under him, Bengal emerged as the most powerful state in northern India. Dharmapala was a great patron of Bud- dhism and also founder of the Vikramasila monastery which ultimately developed into a great centre of Buddhist learning and cul- ture. It was second only to the monastery of Nalanda. Devapala (810-850 A.D.): Dharmapala was succeeded by his son Devapala. He not only maintained intact the territories inherited by him from his father but also added to them. De- vapala got tributes from the rulers of the whole of Northern India. His campaigns took him to Kamboja in the west and the Vindhyas in the south. He exterminated the Utkalas, conquered Pragjyotisha or Assam, curbed the pride of the Hunas and humbled the rulers of the Gurjars andDravidas. Devapala defeated Amoghavarsha, the Rash- trakuta ruler. Devapala was a great patron of Buddhism. He gave 5 villages for "various comforts " of the Bhikshus as well as for writ- ing the "Dharma ratnas" and for the upkeep of a Buddhist monastery built by Balaputradeva, king of Suvamadvipa or Sumatra or Yav- abhumi or Java. Devapala constructed many temples and monasteries in Magadha. Art and CHOLAS 850-1173 A.D.

Overview *

architecture received a fresh impetus. Nalanda continued to flourish as the chief seat of Bud- dhist learning.

Palas succeeded Harsha of Kanauj.

* They reached the height of glory during the 9th c. A.D. and controlled parts of Bihar and Bengal until the 12th c. A.D. * Dharmapala and Devapala were the famous kings of the Pala dynasty. * Mainly followed Buddhism. Advent * Palas came to prominence during the 8th c. A.D. and ruled north-east India till 12th c. A.D. * The dynasty was founded by Gopala in 750 A.D. in eastern India. Dharmapala 780-810 A.D. Gopala was succeeded by his son Dhar- mapala who ruled for about 40 years. Dhar- mapala became the Paramount Lord in northern India. The empire of Dharmapala was divided into three parts, Bengal and Bihar were di- rectly under his control. The kingdom of Kanauj was subordinate to him as its rulers was his nominee. Rulers of Punjab, Rajpu- tana, Malwa and Berar acknowledged him as Overview * Ruled South India for a period of 3 cen- turies. * Raja Raja Chola (985-1014 A.D.) and Rajendra Chola were most powerful kings. * The Chola Kingdom was very extensive, including half of Ceylon (Lanka), Lakkadive Is. (Malabar Coast), Kuntalanadu, Gangavadi, Nolambavadi, Pallava, Chera and Pandya Vengi regions. * The main source of information is the large number of inscriptions. Advent * Towards the end of the 9th c. Cholas under Aditya overthrew the Pallavas and established the Chola Kingdom. * Under Rajaraja the great and after, the Cholas began to expand until they became the paramount power in south India. Chronology * Dharmapala (780-810A.D.) (810-850 A.D.) * Devapala

The Eastern Gangas

The established themselves in southern Orissa and soon controlled the Ganjam district of Orissa and Srikakulam ofAndhra and also southern Kosala. (mid. 6th C. A.D.) In 795 Mahasiva Gupta Yavati came to the throne and with him began the most brilliant epoch in the history of Orissa, United Kalinga, Kengoda, Utkala and Kosala; built the famous Jagan- natha temple of Puri; later Narasinga Dev built the unique temple of the Sun at Konark. From the 14th century onwards the kingdom was ruled by successive Muslim kings till 1592 when Akbar annexed it to the Mughal empire. Chronology * Mahasiva Gupta Yavati795 A.D. * Narasinga Dev Eastern Gangas Wars * Aditya I defeated Parantaka Vira- narayana of Kongu and annexed the Kongu Country. * Parantaka I annexed the territory of the Pandya King. * Raja Raja destroyed the Chera Navy at Trivandrum; captured Madurai; took Udagai (in Coorg); annexed the north- ern part of Ceylon, sacked Anuradhpura; captured Gangavadi, Tadigaivadi and Nolambavadi from the Gangas (991 A.D) conquered V aliya, Maldi ve Islands. * Rajendra I annexed the whole of Ceylon; ordered expedition to Eastern India, crossed Godavari, Bastar, Orissa; cap- tured Sumatra and Malaya Archipelago. Impact * Consolidation and expansion of Chola Kingdom in South India and other parts. Raja Raja Chola 985-1014 A.D.

Chronology * Vijalaya * Aditya

(850-871) (871-907) (907-953) (953-956) (956-957) (957-973) (973-985) (985-1012) (1012-1044) (1044-1054) (1054-1063) (1063-1069) (1052-1063) (1063-1069) (1069-1070) (1070-1122) (1122-1135) (1135-1146) (1146-1173)

* Parantaka I

* Gandharaditya

* Arinjaya

* Parantaka II * Uttamachola * Rajendra I * Rajendra II * Rajadhiraja * Rajendra II * Vira Rajendra I

* Rajendra III

* Veera Rajendra

* Adhiraja

* Kulottunga I * Vikrama Chola * Kulottunga II

* Rajaraja II