Political History of Northern India

SR No.: 001744
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 482
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Culture
File Size: 10 MB

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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
he held the position of a suzerain king in northern India. In the Udayasundari-katha, the king Dharmapäla is referred to as 'Uttara pathaswami' or Lord of Uttarapatha.' This Dharmapala can only be referred to the Pala emperor of that name-the expression 'Pafica Gauda' is also possibly reminiscent of the Gauda empire of Dharmapāla.
The Bappabhatti-carita also throws some light over the personal history of king Dharmapala. He was a great lover and patron of learning. Though he was by faith a Buddhist, he equally respected the scholars of other sects. Jain savant like Bappabhatti and the poet Väkpati of the Brahmanical sect were no less regarded in his court than the Buddhist saints and writers. He was also very fond of scholarly debates. A debate of such a type was held in his court which lasted for six months.2
Devapala: Dharmapala was succeeded by his son Devapāla and the latter by his son Vigrahapala I. As regards Devapäla we have no direct reference to him in the Jain sources, but in this connection we have an interesting reference to a Påla ruler, Yuvaraja by name, in the Udayasundari katha. We learn from this work that a famous poet Abhinanda by name graced his court." The Rama carita, composed by this poet (Abhinanda), gives more details about Yuvaraja who is described as a great conqueror. He had the epithet Haravarsa and was the son of Vikramašila. He is also referred to as the ornament of the Påla family founded by Dharmapala. These epithets leave no doubt that Yuvaraja Haravarṣa belonged to the Päla family of Bengal. According to the Udayasundarikatha, he was a powerful ruler, a statement which is also corroborated by the Rama carita. The question, therefore, naturally arises whether he is to be identified with a known Pāla king, or regarded as a ruler over some territory outside Bengal or Bihar. It has been suggested by certain scholars that Vikramasila, the father of Yuvaraja I, was but another name of Dharmapala who founded the Vikramašila monastery and Haravarsa is identical with Devapäla." Regarding Vigrahapala I, we have perhaps no reference in the Jain sources. He was succeeded by his son Nārāyaṇapāla.
Rajyapala: Nārāyaṇapāla died about 908 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Rajyapāla. Rajyapäla's son was called Gopala II. Several records
1 See supra, p. 53. fn. 2.
SJGM., XIII, pp. 94-7.
3 GOS., IVL, p. 2.
Palakula candra, Palakula pradipa etc., Dharmapāla kula kairava Kananendu. Chap. I., V. 110, p. 10.
R. C. Majumdar: History of Bengal, Pt. I, Chap. VI, p. 123.