Pala Dynasty Vs Kamboja-Pala Dynasty
Curiously, there are several similarities between the Kamboja Pala ruling family and the so-called Pala ruling family of Bengal: e.g.
- The names Rajyapala, Narayanapala and Nayapala born by the Kamboja-Pala kings (mentioned in Irda Copper plates) are also born by Pala emperors of the (so-called) Pala dynasty of Bengal ,
- The Kamboja-Pala king Rajyapala of Irda Copper plate and king Rajyapala (II) of the so-called Pala dynasty belong exactly to the same era and time frame,
- Kamboja-Pala king Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate and king Rajyapala (II) of the so-called Pala dynasty assumed exactly similar imperial titles i.e. Parmeshevara, Paramabhattacharya and Maharajadhiraja ,
- Kamboja-Pala king Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate and Rajyapala (II) of the so-called Pala dynasty have assumed exactly similar religious epithets i.e. Paramasaugata (devotee of the Buddha),
- The queen of Kamboja-Pala king Rajyapala of Irda Copper plate is named Bhagyadevi, which very interestingly is also the name born by the queen of the so-called Pala king Rajyapala (II),
- The Kamboja-Pala kings of Irda Copper plate as well as the Pala kings of the so-called Pala dynasty use 'Pala' as the last part of their names,
- The Kamboja-Pala kings of Irda Copper plate as well as the Pala kings of the so-called Pala dynasty are known to have similar religious beliefs,
- The script and language of Irda Copper plate and that of the Dinajpur Pillar inscriptions belonging to the Kamboja-Pala dynasty is very identical to that of the numerous charters and grants of the kings of the so-called Pala dynasty of Bengal.
Based on these startling similarities, some scholars have gone to the extent of stating that the Pala dynasty and the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Irda Copper plate & Dinajpore Pillar Inscription is one and the same dynasty. But if this is really so, then the inescapable conclusion which must follow is that the unified Kamboja/Pala dynasty of Bengal must belong to the Kamboja lineage.
It is very curious to note that whereas the identity of the Kamboja Pala rulers of Bengal has been referred to twice and is indisputably connected to the Kamboja ethnicity, that of the Palas has nowhere been specifically stated in any of the Pala traditions in numerous of their Grants, Charters and Inscriptions (Dr D. C. Sircar). According to Manjuśree Mūlakalpa, Gopala I was a Śudra. Balla-Carita says that "The Palas were low-born Ksatriyas". Tibetan Historian Taranatha Lama, in his "History of Buddhism in India" and Ghanarama, in his "Dharma Mangala", (both of 16th century), also give the same story. Arabic accounts tell us that Palas were not kings of noble origin. According to Abu Fazal (Ain-i-Akbari), Palas were Kayasthas. Khalimpur Plate of Dharmapala, son of Gopala I (the founder of the dynasty), states that Gopala was a son of a warrior (Khanditarat) Vapyata and grandson of a highly educated (Saryavidyavadat) Dayitavishnu. Ramachrita of Sandhyakaranandi attests Pala king Ramapala as a Kshatriya, but in another portion of the same text, Dharmapala is described as Smudrakula-dipa, though, the reason why the origin of the Palas has been ascribed to the Sea (Samudrakula) remains obscure. In the Udaya-sundari-katha, a Champu-Kavya, written by Soddhala in the eleventh century, Pala king Dharmapala is said to have belonged to the family of Mandhata of the Ikshvaku line which is known to belong to solar race. It is also stated that they were born of a Ksatriya mother. "All these hear-says practically have no value at all for discussion".
The Kamauli Copper Plate inscription of king Vaidyadeva of Kamarupa (Assam) indisputably connects the Palas to the Kshatriyas of "Mihirasya vamsa" (Surya lineage).
Since Mihira means Sun or Sun worshipper, the expression Mihirasya implies connected with or relating to the Sun or Sun Worship (Sanskrit Mitra, Persian Mithira == > Mihira = Sun). According to Bhavishya Purana, the Mihira lineage originated from the union of Nishkubha, daughter of Rsi Rijihva and the Sun (Mihira). From this wedlock was born a sage called Zarashata, who apparently is Zoroaster of the Iranian traditions. Mihirasya Vamsa means Mihira Vamsa which is also found written as Mihirkula i.e. lineage of the Sun-worshippers. The reference to Mihirasya vamsa as being the lineage of the Palas of Bengal as attested independently by the Kamauli Grant of king Vaidyadeva of Assam holds a probable clue that the Palas may have come from the Sun-Worshipping lineage i.e. Iranian or Zoroastrian line of the Kambojas.
The fact that Gopala I, the founder of the so-called Pala dynasty was a Buddhist and that he has also been branded as a Śudra king may also carry a clue to his connections to the Kamboja lineage since the Kambojas were also predominantly Buddhists in post-Christian times and have also been branded as Vrishalas (degraded Kshatriyas or Śudras) in several Hindu texts like Manu Smriti, Mahabharata, Harivamsha and numerous Puranas. Also the fact that Gopala I's grandfather was a learned man, his father a warrior, and king Gopala himself was elected to the throne of Bengal, he therefore, was definitely not initially of a distinguished royal blood from the Hindu point of view. Some surmise that he may have been from a Brahmin lineage but since the Palas are called Śudras as well as Ksatriyas, these references qualify them more as the Indo-Iranian Kambojas than of any other lineage. The ancient Indian traditions also incidentally attest the scholarship and learning of the Kambojas who excelled in education and produced many outstanding teachers and sages in ancient and medieval times. Scholars further note that Vapyata, the grand father of Gopala I, had come into east from the north-west Punjab, which if true, definitely means Gandhara/Kamboja region.
It is notable that one section of scholars like Dr N. G. Majumdar, Chandra Chakrabarty, E. Vasey Westmacott etc. consider that the so-called Pala Rulers of Bengal (authors of Pala Empire) actually belonged to Kamboja race. Dr N. G. Majumdar was the original editor of Irda Copper plate, and had initially thought that the Pala Dynasty and the Kambboja Pala dynasty were two separate dynasties, but later on, had modified his views in light of new discovery which demonstrated that king Rajyapala-II of the so-called Pala dynasty, just like king Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate, was found as adorned with religious epithet of Parama-saugata (devoted Buddhist) as well as the imperial title of the Maharajadhiraja. Based on this new evidence and earlier similarities, Dr N. G. Majumdar, had accordingly changed his views and got inclined to identify the Pala Dynasty of Bengal with the Kambojas, and thereby, also dispelling the earlier views on the origin of the Pala kings of Bengal.
Dr H. C. Ray however, has advised a policy of 'wait' till the discovery of more powerful evidence before we can say that the Pala dynasty and the Kamboja Pala Dynasty belonged to the Kamboja race. He oberserved: "I can only suggest that we must wait for more definite proof before we can say that the Palas were Kambojas". Dr Ramananda Chatterjee writes that "as regards the Kamboja origin of the Pala, one cannot be definite in the present state of our knowledge". Dr J. L. Kamboj cautions that if we identify Rajyapala of the Pala Dynasty with the Rajyapala of the 'Irda Copper Plate', then we will have no option other than to accept that the Pala Dynasty of Bengal had sprang from the Kamboja race. Dr R. C. Majumdar advises that if we identify the Kamboja-vamsa-tilaka Rajyapala of the Irda Copper plate with the Rajyapala of the Pala dynasty, then we must also accept that after Rajyapla, the Pala empire had split up into two. Dr R. C. Majumdar further advises that "although the presumption about the identity (of the Palas with the Kambojas) is certainly a reasonable one, the evidence in favor of it can not be regarded as conclusive..".
In spite of the above, the probabilities of unification of two dynasties and their connection to Kamboja lineage seem to have tremendously increased though.
Read more about this topic: Kamboja-Pala Dynasty Of Bengal