Kamarupa Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900 CE–1100 CE | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Harruppeshvar (present-day Tezpur), Durjaya (present-day North Guwahati), Kamarupanagara (present-day North Guwahati) | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||
| Maharajadhiraja | |||||||||||||||||
• c. 900 - c. 920 | Brahma Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 920 – c. 960 | Ratna Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 960 – c. 990 | Indra Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 990 – 1015 | Go Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 1015 – c. 1035 | Harsha Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 1035 – c. 1060 | Dharma Pala | ||||||||||||||||
• c. 1075 – c. 1100 | Jaya Pala | ||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||||||||||
• Established | 900 CE | ||||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1100 CE | ||||||||||||||||
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The Pala dynasty of Kamarupa kingdom ruled from 900 CE. Like the Pala Empire of Bengal, the first ruler in this dynasty was elected, which probably explains the name of this dynasty "Pala". But unlike the Palas of Bengal, who were Buddhists, the Palas of Kamarupa were Hindus. The Hindu orthodoxy drew their lineage from the earlier Varman dynasty and thus ultimately from Narakasura i.e. Bhauma dynasty.
The Pala kings of Kamarupa assumed the title of paramadaivata paramabhattāraka mahārājādirāja (the imperial title of the Guptas), sri-vārāha (the one who can trace his origin to Varāha) and prāigjyotisādhipati (the ruler of Prāgjyotisa).[1] The Pala dynasty came to an end when Kamarupa was invaded by the Gaur king Ramapala (c. 1072-1126). Timgyadeva was made the governor of Kamarupa who ruled between 1110 and 1126. Timgyadeva threw off the yoke of the Pala king and ruled independently for some years when he was attacked and replaced by Vaidyadeva under Ramapala's son Kumarapala. Vaidyadeva, who ruled between 1126 and 1140, declared independence within four years of his rule after the death of Kumarapala. Both Timgyadeva and Vaidyadeva issued grants in the style of the Kamarupa kings (three copper plates attached to the seal of the Kamarupa kings by a ring). The work of the pala dynasty of Kamarupa is reflected in the Madan Kamdev sculpture.
Rulers
- Brahma Pala (900-920)
- Ratna Pala (920-960)
- Indra Pala (960-990)
- Go Pala, also Gopalavarman (990-1015)
- Harsha Pala (1015-1035)
- Dharma Pala (1035-1060)
- Jaya Pala (1075-1100)
References
Bibliography
- Sircar, D. C. The Bhauma-Naraka or the Pala Dynasty of Brahmapala, The Comprehensive History of Assam, ed H. K. Barpujari, Guwahati, 1990.
- Shin, Jae-Eun (2018), "Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa", in Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (eds.), Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation, London & New York: Routledge, pp. 23–55