The Pala Empire

The Pala Empire (r. 750-1162 CE) was an imperial power during the post-classical period in the
Indian subcontinent, which originated in the region of Bengal. It is named after its ruling dynasty;
whose rulers bore names ending with the suffix Pala ("protector" in Sanskrit). They were followers
of the Mahayana and Tantric schools of Buddhism. The empire was founded with the election of
Gopala as the emperor of Gauda in 750 CE. The Pala stronghold was located in Bengal and Bihar.
Religion during Pala Dynasty: The Palas were followers of Mahayana Buddhism, but it is not
known if this is true. So far as religion was concerned during the societal life of the Pala Age,
Brahmanical Hinduism had gained wider acceptance. But Hinduism was transformed throughout
the Palas, due to the extreme popularity of Vaishnavism and the Shakti cult. Puranic themes and
legends dominated the religious beliefs of the people. The worship of phallus (manifestation of
Lord Shiva) was popular widely during the Pala period. The Palas were the followers of Mahayana
Buddhism. Their popular beliefs have resulted in the creation of several temples and works of art.
Buddhism suffered a possibility of extinction after the reign of King Harsha Vardhana. But the
coming of the Palas again popularised Buddhism as a religion in the Indian subcontinent. Religion
during Pala Dynasty was characterized by Buddhism and Hinduism. The Palas were the devotees
of Buddha and also worshipped the avatars of Vishnu. Various temples emerged during the Pala
rule in Bengal, Bihar, and Assam. Religion during Pala Dynasty thus saw the emergence of
Buddhism and they patronized Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana is one of the major branches of
Buddhism. Outstanding Personalities persons traveled to the neighboring countries for the
extension of Buddhism.
Art and Architecture of Pala Dynasty: The matchless examples of the Art and Architecture of
the Pala Dynasty find their significance in the museums in Bangladesh and West Bengal as
remarkable displays. The sculptures beautifully painted in the Pala period demonstrate the mastery
of the Pala dynasty. In India, during the rule of Palas, art and architecture witnessed a phenomenal
development in the states of Bengal and Bihar. The matchless tradition of sculptural art had
attained a new position under the reign of Palas. The exclusive development of Art and
Architecture of the Pala Dynasty demonstrated the emergence of the 'Pala School of Sculptural
Art'. One of the finest instances of the architecture of the Pala period is the creation of Dharmapala,
the Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur.In addition to that several enormous structures of
Vikramshila Vihar, Odantpuri Vihar, and Jagaddal Vihar proclaim to be the masterpieces of the
Palas. Moreover, with the advanced stage of architectural expansion, several Buddhist Viharas
came originated. The plan of the central shrine in the Buddhist Vihara evolved in Bengal during
the Pala rule. Other instances demonstrating the brilliance of the art in the Pala period include the
terracotta plaques. These plaques are used as the surface decoration of the walls and are recognized
as a unique creation of Bengal artists.
Economic Life during the Pala period: The Pala period constituted one of the significant eons
in the history of ancient India. Though there is a dearth of ample information regarding the
economical structure during the Pala period, yet sources available to date state that the Pala period
was marked by economic and material prosperity. The main source of the economy during the Pala
period was agriculture. The Pala kings usually granted land to the farmers. The chief source of
income of the common people was derived from agricultural products of the land granted to them.
Rice, sugarcane, mango, bamboo, coconut, etc. were the important agricultural products produced
during the Pala period. During the Palas, paddy production had become the chief source of
economy in Bengal. Salt production also shared a significant position in the agricultural economy
during the Pala period. South Midnapore was famous for the production of salt in seawater. North
Bengal was famous for the production of Pundri Sugarcane, from which good quality sugar was
produced. Betel leaf was cultivated on a wide scale. Cocoa leaf, long pepper, cardamom, clove
were grown and exported to West Asia. High-quality cotton was also grown in Bengal. The
"Charya Padas" refer to cotton production as an important part of Bengal's economy during the
Pala period. Silkworm cultivation was also very popular in Bengal. As a whole, agriculture shared
a significant part of the economy during the Pala period. Apart from agriculture, mineral resources
also played an important part in the economy during the Pala period. Mineral resources were
abundant during the Palas. Historians have opined that Bengal was prosperous and economically
affluent during the Pala period. Bengal became a flourishing country, abounding in agriculture and
mineral resources. Not only agriculture and mineral resources, but Bengal during the Pala period
also had witnessed growing prosperity in the field of industry. Since agricultural products were
grown in plenty, industries, therefore, were mainly agro-based. The textile industry was in high
requirement during the Pala period. Cotton was the principal industry in Bengal. Bengal became
the harbor of fine-quality cotton fabrics. Many people had adopted weaving as a profession during
the Pala era. The silk industry was very popular in Bengal because it not only owned a domestic
market but a foreign market as well. Gur produced in Bengal, during the Pala period was exported
to foreign countries like Ceylon, Arabia, and Persia. Black smithy, carpentry, and the brass metal
industry also had played an important part in the industrial economy of the Pala period. The decline
of the standard of trade is evident from the debased coins of the Pala period. The scarcity of gold
and silver coins led to the dependence on copper coins. Hence foreign trade had received a great
blow during the Palas. Moreover, the brisk trade from the port of Tamralipta had declined from
the time when the course of the river Saraswati was altered. During the 8th century A.D., trade of
the Palas had declined considerably, with the descent of the Tamralipta port. As a result, the
economic system became entirely dependent on agriculture. Since Bengal had an agrarian climate,
therefore agriculture flourished on a huge scale. The flowering agrarian economy gave rise to
feudalism in society. The agricultural economy and feudalism had developed simultaneously by
crushing the peasants ruthlessly. Hence the Pala epoch though had witnessed material and
economic prosperity and affluence, yet was concentrated within a limited group of the upper class
or aristocratic society. Common men were cut off from financial prosperity during the Palas
Social Life during the Pala Period: The long reign of the Palas formed a glorious period in the
history of ancient Bengal. The dynasty had ruled for about four hundred years. Credits of the
achievements of Bengal during this long period indeed can be attributed to the glories of the Palas.
Widespread empire, organized administrative system, ruling policy oriented towards the welfare
of the people, unprecedented excellence in fields of art, and cultivation of knowledge and literature
were the achievements and resplendencies of the Pala Empire in Bengal. In all, the Palas were the
founders of Bengali nationalism, which was evident from the social structure and life of the people
during the Pala period. With the emergence of feudalism, hero cult and bravery in warfare also
was developed. Sacrificing one's life on the battlefield was considered a sacred duty and was highly
praised during the reign of the Pala kings in Bengal. As a whole, though the social structure was
based on the rules laid by Brahmanical Hinduism, yet the Pala kings were staunch Buddhists.
During this period Buddhism had earned enormous patronage of the Palas. From the inscriptions
and epigraphic evidence of the Pala period, it is known that though the caste system was not so
rigid, yet people of the lower castes were considered untouchables. They were considered outcasts
and lived on the outskirts of villages. The "Charya Padas" refer to the lax sexuality of this class of
people, which gradually penetrated into the life of the upper castes. The trading and merchant
classes, as also the Kshatriyas had lost their importance in society. The Varna or caste regulation
during the Pala age was extremely flexible. Hinduism was transformed throughout the Palas, due
to the extreme popularity of Vaishnavism and the Shakti cult. Puranic themes and legends
dominated the religious beliefs of the people.