Vigrahapala I (Pala dynasty)

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Vigrahapala
Pala Emperor
Reign9th century
PredecessorGopala II
SuccessorNarayanapala
SpouseLajjadevi of Chedi[1]
IssueNarayanapala
DynastyPala
FatherJayapala

Vigrahapala was a 9th-century ruler of the Pala dynasty, in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. He was the sixth Pala emperor. He reigned for a brief period before becoming an ascetic. Vigrahapala was a grandson of Dharmapala's younger brother Vakapala and son of Jayapala. He was succeeded by his son, Narayanapala.

Ancestry[edit]

Previously, the historians believed that Shurapala and Vigrahapala were the two names of the same person. However, the discovery of a copper plate in 1970 in the Mirzapur district conclusively established that these two were cousins. They either ruled simultaneously (perhaps over different territories) or in rapid succession.[2]:32–37 If they ruled in succession, it seems more likely that Shurapala preceded Vigrahapala, since Vigrahapala I and his descendants ruled in unbroken succession. Vigrahapala either dethroned Shurapala, or replaced him peacefully in absence of any direct heir to the throne.[3]

The information about him and his ancestors is found in the Bhagalpur copper-plate inscription of his son, Narayanapala.[4]

Reign[edit]

Based on the different interpretations of the various epigraphs and historical records, the different historians estimate Vigrahapala's reign as follows:[2]:32–37

Historian Estimate of Gopala's reign
RC Majumdar (1971) 850-853 (along with Shurapala I)
AM Chowdhury (1967) 861-866 (along with Shurapala I)
BP Sinha (1977) 860-865 (along with Shurapala I)
DC Sircar (1975–76) 858-60

Vigrahapala was of peaceful disposition, and abdicated the throne in favour of his son Narayanpala.[5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Mishra, Vijayakanta (1979). Cultural Heritage of Mithila. Mithila Prakasana. p. 39.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Susan L. Huntington (1 January 1984). The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture. Brill Archive. ISBN 90-04-06856-2.
  3. Dilip Kumar Ganguly (1 January 1994). Ancient India, History and Archaeology. Abhinav Publications. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7017-304-5.
  4. George E. Somers (1 January 1977). Dynastic History Of Magadha. Abhinav Publications. pp. 188–. ISBN 978-81-7017-059-4.
  5. The Cambridge Shorter History of India. CUP Archive. pp. 144–. GGKEY:2W0QHXZ7K40.
Preceded by
Gopala II
Pala Emperor
9th century
Succeeded by
Narayanapala