Pala Empire পাল সাম্রাজ্য
810–850
Deva Pala's empire at its greatest extent.
Capital	Pataliputra
Religion	Buddhism
Government	Monarchy
History
- Established	810
- Disestablished	850

Deva Pala (Deva Pala the Great), (ruled 810–850 CE) was a powerful emperor from the Pala Empire of Bengal region in the Indian Subcontinent. He was the third king in the line and had succeeded his father, emperor Dharamapala (ruled 770–810 CE). He inherited a great empire built by his father but he also made his own significant contributions to it to expand its frontiers^[1].

Military career of Devapala[link]

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 ^[2]. More specifically, the inscriptions reveal that his victorious military compaigns led him as far as to Kamboja of northwest and Deccan in the south ^[3][4] 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.^[5]

Information provided by these inscriptions bears witness to Devapala's encounter with the Kambojas of Kabol valley, which nation, since remote antiquity, had been known for its quality war horses^{[citation needed]}. The Monghyr Charter also bears witness to the fact that the Palas recruited their war horses from this Kamboja of the northwest.^[6][7] King Devapala definitely had some sort of relations with the north-west borderland of India (i.e. Kamboja) which fact also appears probable from his connections with Viradeva, a scholar from Nagarahara, Jalalabad near Kabul whom he had appointed to the post of Abbot of Nalanda in south Bihar ^[8]. Probably, Devapala had brought Viradeva during his military expedition to Kamboja in north-west ^[9].

Imperialistic and expanionistic policies[link]

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,^[10] the Pala army invaded Pragjyotisha (Assam) where the king submitted without giving a fight and the Utkalas whose king fled from his capital city ^[11]. 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 subjugate the Kambojas of North-West Frontiers (Trans-Indus territory). Thereafter, Devapala reduced king Ramabhadra of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire and later he defeated Gurjar Emperor Mihir Bhoja. It also pointed out that Devapala had vanquished the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha.^[12] He is further claimed that he humbled the rulers of Dravida ^[13].

Religious leanings[link]

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.^[14] Balaputradeva, the Sailendra king of Java requested Devapala to endow land for the monastery at Nalanda.

Successor of Devapala[link]

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

Estimate of Devapala[link]

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 the history of India.

See also[link]

• List of rulers of Bengal
• Gopala
• Dharmapala
• Mahipala
• Pala Empire

References[link]

Constructs such as ibid., loc. cit. and idem are discouraged by Wikipedia's style guide for footnotes, as they are easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated title. (July 2010)

Further reading[link]

• 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
• Vangalar Itihaasa (Bangla), R. D. Banerjee
• The Early History of India, 1957, Dr. V. A. Smith
• 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

Statue of Samraat Mihir Bhoj in the Bharat Upvan (Garden of India) of Akshardham Mandir, New Delhi

Mihira Bhoja I (836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a ruler of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of India. He succeeded his father Ramabhadra. Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted the title of Adivaraha which is inscribed on some of his coins.^[1] One of the outstanding political figures of India in ninth century, he ranks with Dhruva Dharavarsha and Dharmapala as a great general and empire builder.^[2]

At its height, Bhoja's empire extended to Narmada River in the South, Sutlej River in the northwest, and up to Bengal in the east. It extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas up to the river Narmada and included the present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.^[3]

Reign[link]

Sculptures near Teli Mandir, Gwalior Fort

When Mihira Bhoja started his career reverses and defeats suffered by his father Ramabhadra had considerably lowered the prestige of the Royal Gurjar Pratihar family. He invaded the Pala Empire of Bengal, but was defeated by Devapala.^[4] He then launched a campaign to conquer the territories to the south of his empire and was successful. He gradually rebuilt the empire by conquest of territories in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Chandelas of Bundelkhand acknowledged his suzerainty.^[4] Besides being a conqueror, Bhoja was a great diplomat.^[5] During his reign, the capital was in Kannauj (present-day Uttar Pradesh), during his period Kannauj was referred as Panchala.

Gate of Teli Mandir, Gwalior Fort

He was a bitter enemy of the Muslim invasions^[4] who, according to an Arab chronicler, Sulaiman, maintained a large army and had a fine cavalry.^[6] The territories under his rule were prosperous and safe from robbers. His state was rich in natural resources, especially gold and silver mines.^[7]

Many temples made by him still survive. Teli Mandir, near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, marks the presence of Vishnu on earth. The temple's architecture, design and layout features an outstanding fusion of architectural styles: the roof resembles a Dravidian style while the decoration highlights the art of North India.^[8][9] He was a scholar and respected learned persons. Raj Shekhar was his court poet.

Bhoja had the reputation of a strong ruler, able to maintain peace in his empire and defend it and to make this task a sacred legacy to his succession. He was succeeded by his son Mahenderpal 1 (c.890 - 910 CE).

Mihira Bhoja finds a mention in the Daulatpura copper plate.

Coins of Mihira Bhoja I[link]

Mihira Bhoja I's epithet was Srimad-Adivaraha (the fortunate primeval boar incarnation of Vishnu) and therefore there is a broad agreement amongst the scholars on the attribution of adivaraha dramma billon coins to him. These coins have a depiction of Adivaraha on the obverse.^[10]

Adivaraha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, wears a long "Vanamala" to right with his left leg raised. Below is a small lion, to the right a sun-wheel (chakra) symbol, a moon symbol and another dumb-bell-like symbol is above and a trident and conch shell on the left and a two-lined inscription Shrimad Adi Varaha, with traces of a stylised fire-altar and two female attendants. Samrat Mihira Bhoja I (836-885 A.D) or Bhoja I was a great emperor of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of Āryāvarta (undivided India). He succeeded his father Ramabhadra. Emperor Bhoja's kingdom extended to Narmada River in the South, Sutlej River in the North-West, River and up to Bengal in the East. It extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas up to the river Narmada and included th...e present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.An Arab chronicler, Sulaiman who visited Mihira Bhoja's kingdom praised him thus: "The king of Gurjars maintain numerous faces and no other Indian prince has so fine a cavalry .He has great riches and his camels and horses are numerous.There is no country in India more safe from robbers." He was undoubtebly one of the outstanding political figure of India in ninth century and ranks with Dhruva and dhampala as a great general and empire builder. National Highway 24 (NH-24) (India) is renamed as "Gurjar Samrat Mihir Bhoj Marg" by chief minister of Delhi to tribute this great emperor.

Notes[link]

Samrat Mihira Bhoja I (836-885 A.D) or Bhoja I was a great emperor of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty of Āryāvarta (undivided India). He succeeded his father Ramabhadra. Emperor Bhoja's kingdom extended to Narmada River in the South, Sutlej River in the North-West, River and up to Bengal in the East. It extended over a large area from the foot of the Himalayas up to the river Narmada and included th...e present district of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.An Arab chronicler, Sulaiman who visited Mihira Bhoja's kingdom praised him thus: "The king of Gurjars maintain numerous faces and no other Indian prince has so fine a cavalry .He has great riches and his camels and horses are numerous.There is no country in India more safe from robbers." He was undoubtebly one of the outstanding political figure of India in ninth century and ranks with Dhruva and dhampala as a great general and empire builder. National Highway 24 (NH-24) (India) is renamed as "Gurjar Samrat Mihir Bhoj Marg" by chief minister of Delhi to tribute this great emperor.

References[link]

• Deyell, John S. (1999), Living without Silver, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, ISBN 0-19-564983-4 
• Mahajan, V.D. (1960, Reprint 2007), Ancient India, S. Chand & Company, New Delhi, ISBN 81-219-0887-6 

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012)

The "Hephthalite bowl", NFP Pakistan, 5–6th century CE. British Museum.^[1]

Huna coin of King Lakhana of Udyana, legend "RAJA LAKHANA (UDAYA) DITYA ".

Huna king Napki Malka.

Billon drachm of the Hephthalite King Napki Malka (Afghanistan/ Gandhara, c. 475–576).
Obv: Napki Malka type bust, winged headdress with bull head in the center. Pahlavi legend "NAPKI MALKA".
Rev: Zoroastrian fire altar with attendants either side. Sun wheel, or possibly eight-spoked Buddhist Dharmacakra, above left.

Sardonyx seal representing Vishnu with a worshipper, Afghanistan or Pakistan, 4th–6th century CE. The inscription in cursive Bactrian reads: "Mihira (Mihirakula?), Vishnu and Shiva". British Museum.

Huna is the name under which the Xionite tribes who invaded northern India during the first half of the 5th century were known.

History[link]

Asia in 500 AD, showing the Huna domain at its greatest extent.

The Central Asian Xionites consisted of four hordes in four cardinal directions. Northern Huna were the Black Huns, Southern Huna were the Red Huns, Eastern Huna were the Celestial Huns, and Western Huna were the White Huns or Hephthalites. This article mainly concerns the Alchon and their Indo-Hephthalite ruling-elite. They seem to have been part of the Hephthalite group, who established themselves in then Bharatvarsha and present day India by the first half of the fifth century. They sometimes call themselves "Hono" on their coins, but it seems that they are similar to the Huns who invaded the Western world.

They appeared in Northwestern India and parts of eastern Iran. During their invasion, the Hunas managed to capture the Sassanian king Peroz I, and exchanged him for a ransom. They used the coins of the ransom to counter mark and copy them, thereby initiating a coinage inspired from Sassanian designs.^[2]

The Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata, supposed to have been edited around the 4th or 5th century, in one of its verses, mentions the Hunas with the Parasikas and other Mlechha tribes of the northwest including the Yavanas, Chinas, Kambojas, Darunas, Sukritvahas, Kulatthas etc.^[3] According to Dr V. A. Smith, the verse is reminiscent of the period when the Hunas first came into contact with the Sassanian dynasty of Persia.^[4]

Scholars believe that king Raghu, the hero of Kalidasa's Sanskrit play Raghuvamsha (4th/5th c AD) was in fact king Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta Dynasty. According to the epic,he had started a military expedition and after defeating and subjugating the local peoples along the way he reached the Parasikas of Sassanian Iran and defeated them after fierce fighting. Then he proceeded to north from Iran and reached river Vamkshu (or Oxus) where he battled with the Hunas. After conquering the Hunas, he crossed the Oxus and encountered the Kambojas, an ancient Iranian people who find frequent mention in South Asian texts.^[5]

Brahat Katha of Kashmiri Pandit Kshmendra (11th c AD) also claims that king Vikramaditya had slaughtered the Shakas, Barbaras, Hunas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Parasikas and the Tusharas etc. and hence unburdened the earth of these sinful Mlechhas.^[6] There is still another ancient Brahmanical text Katha-Saritsagara by Somadeva which also attests that king Vikramaditya had invaded the north-west tribes including the Kashmiras and had destroyed the Sanghas of the Mlechhas (reference to Sanghas here obviously alludes to the Sanghas of the Madrakas, Yaudheyas, Kambojas, Mallas or Malavas, Sibis, Arjunayans, Kulutas and Kunindas etc). Those who survived accepted his suzerainty and many of them joined his armed forces.^[7]

These references suggest that the Guptas indeed had encounters with the Hunas from the north-west.

Skandagupta is stated to have repelled a Huna invasion in 455, but they continued to pressure South Asia's northwest frontier (present day Pakistan), and broke through into northern India by the end of the fifth century, hastening the disintegration of the Gupta Empire.

According to Litvinsky, the initial Huna or Alxon raids on Gandhara took place in the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD, upon the death of the Gupta ruler, Skandagupta (455–470), presumably led by the Tegin Khingila. M. Chakravary, based on Chinese and Persian histories believes that the Hunas conquered Gandhara from the Ki-to-lo (Kidarites) in ca. 475 AD. Gandhara had been occupied by various Kidarite principalities from the early 4th century AD, but it is still a subject of debate as to whether rule was transferred from the Kidarites directly to the Hephthalites. It is known that the Huns invaded Gandhara and the Punjab from the Kabul valley after vanquishing the Kidarite principalities.

The Alchon ruler Toramana established his rule over Gandhara and western Punjab, and was succeeded by his son Mihirakula in 520 whose capital was Sakala or modern day Sialkot in the Pakistani Punjab. The Guptas continued to resist the Hunas, and allied with the rulers of the neighboring Indian states.

The Hunas suffered a defeat by Yasodharman of Malwa in 528, and by 542 Mihirakula had been driven off the plains of northern India, taking refuge in Kashmir, and he is thought to have died soon after. Mihirakula is remembered in contemporary Indian and Chinese histories for his cruelty and his destruction of temples and monasteries, with particular hostility towards Buddhism.

Victory pillar of Yashodharman at Sondani, Mandsaur

The Huna were further defeated around 565 by a coalition of Sassanians and Western Turks.

After the end of the sixth century little is recorded in India about the Huna, and what happened to them is unclear; some historians surmise that the remaining Huna were assimilated into northern South Asia's population.

The Gurjara clan appeared in northern India about the time of the Huna invasions of northern India, and later established a number of ruling dynasties in northern India, including the Pratiharas of Kanauj. Gurjara origins and their relationship to the Hephthalites are not well documented, and subject to considerable debate. However, Huna is one of the prominent gotras among Gurjars and many Huna (Gurjar) villages can still be found in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr. Some Rajput sub-castes like Huna Jat and Barnwal may be of Huna ancestry.

King Devapala of Pala dynasty of Bengal (810 AD −850 AD) is said to have invaded and received tributes from the Vindhyas, Dravidas, Hunas, Gurjaras and Kambojas in the West.^[8]

The Hunas are mentioned in the Tibetan chronicle Dpag-bsam-ljon-bzah (The Excellent Kalpa-Vrksa), along people like the Yavanas, Kambojas, Tukharas, Khaqsas, Daradas etc.^[9][10]

Religion[link]

The Indianized Huns were fervent worshippers of the Sun God and of Shiva ^[11]

See also[link]

• Raghuvaṃśa
• Hon
• History of India
• Ancient India and Central Asia
• History of Central Asia

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Iaroslav Lebedynsky, "Les Nomades", Paris 2007, ISBN 978-2-87772-346-6

External links[link]

• Hephthalite coins
• More Hephthalite coins
• Alchon Hunnic History and Coins of the Kashmir Smast Kingdom- Waleed Ziad