Latest / The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History / Bengal's Buddhist Pala Empire: Patronage, Art, and Decline
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked quite a bit about Bengal's medieval Hindu kings and Muslim sultans, but there's a whole chapter that often gets overlooked — the Buddhist Pala Empire. They ruled from the 8th to the 12th century, and they were arguably the most powerful dynasty Bengal ever produced before the Mughals. Luna: I don't think I know much about them beyond a name. How did they come to power? Lucas: It's a fascinating story. In the mid-8th century, Bengal was in chaos — a period of anarchy called Matsyanyaya, which literally means 'rule of the fish', where the big fish eat the small fish. Local chieftains were fighting each other, and there was no central authority. So the regional leaders got together and elected a king — a remarkable event in Indian history. They chose a man named Gopala, who was apparently a military leader of some renown. Lucas: Gopala founded the Pala dynasty, and he established his capital at a place called Odantapuri, near what is now Bihar. He built a monastery there that became a major Buddhist centre. And this is where, if you've been following the show, you might see a parallel to how listener support keeps us independent — just like Gopala's election was a collective choice to restore order, you can help keep this show ad-free and digging into these stories by supporting us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every bit helps us keep history alive without commercial breaks. Luna: That's a nice connection. So Gopala set the stage for a Buddhist revival? Lucas: Exactly. But it was his son, Dharmapala, who really expanded the empire. He ruled for about 60 years and turned the Palas into a major power. He conquered the important city of Kannauj in the Gangetic plain, which was the traditional seat of power in North India. He also founded the famous Vikramashila monastery, which became one of the greatest Buddhist universities in the world. Lucas: Under Dharmapala and his successor Devapala, the Pala Empire stretched from Assam in the east to the borders of modern-day Afghanistan in the west. They controlled the entire Gangetic basin. And they were devout Buddhists — especially followers of the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools. They poured immense resources into monasteries, libraries, and sculpture. Luna: So they were like the Buddhist patrons of their age. What about the famous Nalanda university — was that Pala? Lucas: Great question. Nalanda was actually established earlier, during the Gupta period, but it reached its peak under the Palas. Dharmapala and Devapala were major benefactors — they built new temples and monasteries there, and they funded scholarships for monks from all over Asia — Tibet, China, Korea, Central Asia. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang had visited in the 7th century, but by the 9th century, Nalanda was the premier centre of Buddhist learning in the world. Lucas: The Palas also built Somapura Mahavihara, now in Bangladesh, which is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries ever constructed. Its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The architecture and the terracotta plaques are stunning — they show scenes from daily life, religious figures, and fantastic animals. Luna: It's amazing that such a powerful Buddhist empire arose in Bengal, which later became mostly Muslim and Hindu. What caused their decline? Lucas: The Palas faced challenges from within and without. After Devapala, a succession of weaker rulers led to internal strife. The empire shrank. The Sena dynasty, originally from the Deccan, began to assert power in Bengal. But there was a revival under Mahipala I in the 11th century — he reconquered much of the lost territory. And later, Ramapala, the last great Pala king, managed to crush a rebellion and restore some glory. Lucas: But by the 12th century, the Sena dynasty under Vijayasena had taken over most of Bengal. The last Pala ruler, Madanapala, was defeated around 1161. And with that, the Buddhist era in Bengal came to an end. The Sena kings were Hindu and promoted a revival of Brahmanical traditions. Luna: So what's the lasting legacy of the Palas? Do we see their influence today? Lucas: Absolutely. For one, they were the first dynasty to issue coins with Bengali script — that helped standardize the language. They also patronised the earliest known Bengali literature, a collection of mystic poems called the Charyapada. These poems are the oldest examples of the Bengali language, and they give us a glimpse into the lives of common people — fishermen, potters, hunters. Lucas: And then there's the art. Pala bronze sculptures are considered masterpieces — they were exported to Southeast Asia and influenced Buddhist art in places like Nepal, Tibet, and Java. The Pala style is known for its elegance, with delicate features and intricate jewelry. Many museums around the world have Pala bronzes. Luna: I've seen some of those sculptures — they're incredibly detailed. It's hard to believe they were cast over a thousand years ago. Lucas: Yes, the lost-wax casting technique they used was highly advanced. And the monasteries — Vikramashila, Odantapuri, Somapura — became models for Buddhist education in Tibet. Many Tibetan monks studied there and then carried the teachings back. So in a way, the Palas helped shape Tibetan Buddhism. Lucas: One of the fascinating figures from the Pala period is the teacher Atisha, who was a monk at Vikramashila. He later travelled to Tibet at the invitation of the king and helped revive Buddhism there. His teachings became the foundation of the Kadam school, which later evolved into the Gelug school of the Dalai Lamas. Luna: So the Palas had a truly global impact, even if they're not as famous as some other empires. Lucas: Exactly. And that's one of the reasons I wanted to cover them — they're often overshadowed by the Mughals and the British, but for about 400 years, Bengal was the centre of Buddhist culture in South Asia. The Palas were also known for their diplomatic ties: they sent embassies to the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, and there's a record of a Pala king sending a gift of a giraffe to the Chinese emperor. Luna: A giraffe? That must have been quite the journey. Lucas: Indeed. The Tang dynasty chronicles mention a 'giraffe' from the kingdom of 'Tien-chu' — that's India. It was probably sent by a Pala ruler. So their reach was remarkable. But eventually, the combination of internal decay, the rise of the Senas, and later the arrival of Turkic invaders under Bakhtiyar Khalji in the early 13th century erased much of their institutional presence. Lucas: Bakhtiyar Khalji, who we talked about in the episode on Lakshmanasena, actually destroyed the great monasteries at Odantapuri and Vikramashila. Many monks were killed or fled to Tibet and Nepal. That was the end of Buddhism as a major force in Bengal. Luna: It's heartbreaking to think of all that knowledge being lost. Lucas: It is. But thanks to the manuscripts that were carried to Tibet, and the archaeological work being done today, we're recovering more of that history. There are ongoing excavations at Somapura and other sites that are revealing the scale of these institutions. Luna: I'm glad we're giving them their due. Is there a particular Pala king you find most interesting? Lucas: I think Devapala stands out. He ruled for about 40 years, from around 810 to 850, and under him the empire reached its greatest extent. He was also a great patron of learning — he appointed the famous scholar Viradeva as the head of Nalanda. An inscription from his reign describes him as 'a lion to the deer of the haughty kings of the south'. But he wasn't just a warrior; he was also a builder and a diplomat. Lucas: And then there's Mahipala I, who restored the empire after a period of decline. He's remembered in Bengali folk traditions as a just and popular king. There's a saying: 'If you want to know what a good king is, ask about Mahipala.' Luna: I'd love to hear more about those folk tales sometime. Lucas: We can definitely do a follow-up. For now, I think the key takeaway is that the Pala Empire was a golden age for Bengal — a time when the region was not just a backwater but a major centre of civilization, connecting East and South Asia through trade, religion, and ideas. Luna: And it's a reminder that history is full of these forgotten empires that shaped the world in ways we don't always appreciate. Lucas: Exactly. And that's what we're here for — to uncover those stories. Thanks for joining us on this journey.