Palas were the patrons of Mahayana Buddhism who ruled eastern India from Pataliputra between the 8th to 12th century AD. Though the Palas were tolerant towards all the religions, they patronized and played a significant role in the rise of Buddhism.
1. Role of Rulers: Dharmapala and Devapala played an important role in flourishing Buddhism. E.g.: Dharmapala founded the renowned Vikramshila University.
2. Secular Character: Though most of the subjects in the area were Hindus, the Pala rulers followed an approach of religious tolerance. This allowed for a peaceful exchange of ideas which gave rise to the Vajrayana philosophy.
3. Patronisation: Dharmapala patronized Haribhadra, a Buddhist writer, and made him his preceptor. Noted Buddhist scholars include Atisha, Santaraksita, Saraha, Tilopa.
4. Restoration Efforts: Mahipala I ordered construction and repairs of sacred structures at Sarnath, Nalanda, and Bodh Gaya. Devapala also restored and enlarged Vikramshila and Somapura Mahavihara.
5. Propagation of Buddhism: Buddhist scholars from Pala empire travelled from Bengal to other regions to propagate Buddhism. Atisha preached in Tibet and Sumatra.
6. Promotion of the religion: Devapala granted five villages for the construction of Nalanda monastery at the request of Sailendra dynasty king Balaputradeva.
The Pala dynasty created the environment for Buddhist monasteries to thrive and discuss philosophies without prejudice. But importantly, it also facilitated the spread of these ideas around the world, leaving a legacy that we can still see today.
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