Dharmapala Kamboja
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Dharmapala Kamboja was probably the last ruler of Kamboja Pala dynasty of Bengal
. He ruled Dandabhukti-mandala in Vardhamana-bhukti in the first quarter of eleventh century and was contemporary of Rajendra Chola (reign 1012-1044) of Chola dynasty
of Deccan .
Though K. A. Nilakanta Sastri links Kamboja king of Chidambram inscription to Cambodia
(Kampuchea) which however seems to be far-fetched, many other scholars say that Kamboja of Chidambram inscriptions is this Dharampala of Kamboj
lineage who was ruling in Dandbhukti-mandala of west Bengal during early 11th c AD and was therefore a contemporary of Rajendra Chola .
The above inscription says that, in order to seek Chola’s friendship, Kamboja king presented to Rajendra Chola a chariot with which he (Kamboja raja) had won his enemies in many battles .
The Kamboja king mentioned in the Karandai (Tanjavur or Tanjore) plates (v.48) is also believed to be Dharmapala of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal. There can also be doubt that Dharmapala of the Tirumalai Inscription of king Rajendra Chola is the Kamboja king Dharmapala of Dandabhukti who was a scion of the Kamboja dynasty to which Nayapalaa, Narayanapala and Rajyapala of the Irda Copper Plate grant & the Kalanda Copper Plate grant belonged . He was ruling in Dandabhukti-mandala at this time and therefore, was a contemporary of Rajendra Chola.
When threatened by illustrious Pala
ruler Mahpala-I, this Kamboja Dharmapala appears to have sought friendship and help with Rajendra Chola against Pala ruler by forming an alliance with Rajendra Chola and presenting him a valuable Ratha (Chariot) as a token of friendship. As a consequence, Rajendra Chola led his victorious northern expedition to the banks of the Ganges and also met Dharmapala in Dandabhukti. This fact demonstrates Kamboja rulers' weakened position and Rajendra Chola’s political influence in Bengal
and Bengladesh. (Some scholars however, think that “Kamboja king sent his ratha as a friendly present to Rajendra Chola to avoid war with the latter" ).
Kamboja Dynasty of Bengal
The Kamboja-Pala Dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE, gradually gaining independence from their former liege lords, the Palas.-Origins:...
. He ruled Dandabhukti-mandala in Vardhamana-bhukti in the first quarter of eleventh century and was contemporary of Rajendra Chola (reign 1012-1044) of Chola dynasty
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
of Deccan .
- One king named Dharmapala ruling in Dandabhukti finds mention in the Tirmulai Inscription of Rajendra Chola which he issued in his 13th regnal year (about 1025 AD) . Scholars identify this Dharmapala of the Tirmulai Inscription with the Dharmapala of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty ruling in Dandabhukti in the first quarter of 11th c AD. It has also been suggested that when threatened by Pala rulers of Bengal, Dharmapala, this last ruler of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal, might have sought help from Rajendra Chola of the Chola Dynasty .
- Chidambaram Inscription Tamil languageTamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, found in Chidambaram refers to one Kamboja (Kambosha-raja) ruler who made a beautiful stone gift as a curio (katchi) to (Kulotunga) Rajendrasoladevar (i.e. Rajendra Chola) which with latter’s permission, was embedded in front row of the edirambalam of the Nataraja temple:
- Rajendra sola devarku Kambosha-rajan katchiyaaga kattina kallu, idu
- udaiyar rajendra sola devar tiruvaai molindaruli udaiyar
- tiruchrirramblam udaiyar koyilil mun vaittadu indakkallu tiruvedir
- ambalattu tiru kkai sarattil tiru mum pattikku melai ppattiyille vaittadu'.
Though K. A. Nilakanta Sastri links Kamboja king of Chidambram inscription to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
(Kampuchea) which however seems to be far-fetched, many other scholars say that Kamboja of Chidambram inscriptions is this Dharampala of Kamboj
Kamboj
The Kambojs , also Kamboh, are an ethnic community of the Punjab region. They may relate to the Kambojas, an Iranian tribe known to the people of Iron Age India and mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and epigraphy. Kamboj is frequently used as a surname in lieu of the sub-caste or the gotra name...
lineage who was ruling in Dandbhukti-mandala of west Bengal during early 11th c AD and was therefore a contemporary of Rajendra Chola .
- Karandai (Tanjavur or Tanjore) plates (v.48) (Sanggham Copper Plate Charter) of about 1020 AD issued by Rajendra Chola (c. 1012- 1044 AD) in the eighth year of his reign states that a Kamboja king solicited friendship of Rajendra Chola by sending him for the protection of his royalty (atmalaksmim) a victorious war-chariot with which he (Kamboja king) had defeated the armies which opposed him in battle. The inscription issued in the eighth year of his reign (1020 AD) contains a significant verse in its separate Sanskrit section and it refers to one Kamboja Raja:
- Kamboja-rajo ripu-raja sena-jaitrena yen= ajayad=ahaveshu |
- tarn prahinot prartthita-mitra-bhavo yennai ratham || .
The above inscription says that, in order to seek Chola’s friendship, Kamboja king presented to Rajendra Chola a chariot with which he (Kamboja raja) had won his enemies in many battles .
The Kamboja king mentioned in the Karandai (Tanjavur or Tanjore) plates (v.48) is also believed to be Dharmapala of the Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal. There can also be doubt that Dharmapala of the Tirumalai Inscription of king Rajendra Chola is the Kamboja king Dharmapala of Dandabhukti who was a scion of the Kamboja dynasty to which Nayapalaa, Narayanapala and Rajyapala of the Irda Copper Plate grant & the Kalanda Copper Plate grant belonged . He was ruling in Dandabhukti-mandala at this time and therefore, was a contemporary of Rajendra Chola.
When threatened by illustrious Pala
Pala Empire
The Pāla Empire was one of the major middle kingdoms of India existed from 750–1174 CE. It was ruled by a Buddhist dynasty from Bengal in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, all the rulers bearing names ending with the suffix Pala , which means protector. The Palas were often described...
ruler Mahpala-I, this Kamboja Dharmapala appears to have sought friendship and help with Rajendra Chola against Pala ruler by forming an alliance with Rajendra Chola and presenting him a valuable Ratha (Chariot) as a token of friendship. As a consequence, Rajendra Chola led his victorious northern expedition to the banks of the Ganges and also met Dharmapala in Dandabhukti. This fact demonstrates Kamboja rulers' weakened position and Rajendra Chola’s political influence in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Bengladesh. (Some scholars however, think that “Kamboja king sent his ratha as a friendly present to Rajendra Chola to avoid war with the latter" ).