Kamboja Pala dynasty

The Kamboja-Pala dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, after invading the Pala Empire during the reign of Gopala III. The last Kamboja-Pala ruler Dharmapala was defeated by the south Indian emperor Rajendra I of the Chola dynasty in the 11th century.

Origins

The dynasty came into power in the 10th century, conquering north-west Bengal. Previously it was believed that it was a result of large-scale invasion by northwestern Kambojas, but R. C. Majumdar rejects this theory after citing the Irda copper plate grant, and states that, "The theory of a Kamboja invasion is not supported by any positive evidence, and appears to be highly improbable." He further says that nothing is known about its origins with certainty, although he suggests that the founder of the dynasty, Rajyapala may have been same as Rajyapala, the Pala emperor, Kamboja being his maternal lineage. He further mentions other speculations that Tibetan sources name an eastern tract lying between Bengal and Burma as Kam-po-tsa and this dynasty might have come from there, that it might have arrived from Cambodia, or might be related to the Kambojas of northwest. The dynasty might have declared their independence from the Pala rule, due to it being weakened by the invasions of the Kamarupa king Ratna Pala and the Chandela ruler Yashovarman.

Sources

There are several ancient inscriptions which attest Kamboja rule in Bengal. The most important sources are:

Dinajpore Pillar Inscription

The Dinajpur Pillar Inscription records to a Kamboja king called the Kambojanvaya Gaudapati (i.e. lord of Gauda). The Pillar Inscription was originally established in a Śiva temple that was built by the king but removed to Bangar, about 40 miles east of Gauda, during the period of Muslim rule. During the 18th century, the Pillar was further moved to Dinajpore by maharaja Ram Nath and as a result, the inscription came to be known as Dinajpore Pillar Inscription.