Indra Pala

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Part of a series on the
History of Kamarupa
Ruling dynasties
Varman dynasty (350–650 CE) Pushyavarman 350–374 Samudravarman 374–398 Balavarman 398–422 Kalyanavarman 422–446 Ganapativarman 446–470 Mahendravarman 470–494 Narayanavarman 494–518 Bhutivarman 518–542 Chandramukhavarman 542–566 Sthitavarman 566–590 Susthitavarman 590–595 Supratisthitavarman 595–600 Bhaskaravarman 600–650 Avantivarman Unknown
Mlechchha dynasty (650–900 CE) Salasthamba 650–670 Vigrahastambha 670–680 Palaka 680–695 Kumara 695–710 Vajra 710–725 Harshavarman 725–745 Balavarman II 745–760 Salambha 795–815 Harjjaravarman 815–832 Vanamalavarman 832–855 Jayamala 855–860 Balavarman III 860–880 Tyagasimha 890–900
Pala Dynasty (900–1100 CE) Brahma Pala 900–920 Ratna Pala 920–960 Indra Pala 960–990 Go Pala 990–1015 Harsha Pala 1015–1035 Dharma Pala 1035–1060 Jaya Pala 1075–1100
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Indra Pala (ruled 960–990) was ruler of Pala Dynasty (900–1100) of Kamarupa Kingdom.^[1]

Ratna Pala's son, Purandera Pala, predeceased him, and thus the later's son, Indra Pala, his grandson became successor. He issued two copper plate grants in 8th year (Guwahati plates) and 28th year (Guwakuchi plates) of his reign. In these records the king is adorned in grandiose epithets. The epithet Varaha (descendant of the Boar incarnation of Vishnu) is applied for the first time to Pragjyotisha king who is also described as Prachi-Pradipa (the light of the east) and a past master of grammar (Pada), Vakya (Mimamsa), logic (Tarka), and Tantra. The donee of Guwakuchi grant belongs to Deva family, which is now a non-Brahminical cognomen in Bengal. His family belonged to Vai village in the land called Savathi (Sanskrit, Sravasti); same as the modern Baigram near Hili railway station in Bogra district of Bangladesh. The area was formerly known as Pahuni yojana which later came to be known as Sravasti, apparently, because a larger number of Brahmins had settled there from Sravasti, a well-known ancient centre of learning in UP. It was also the capital of old Kosala Janapada and an early centre of Buddhism and was situated at the site of modern Set-Mahet on the border of Gonda and Bahraich districts.

A unique and interesting feature of Guwakuchi grant is that after the details of gift land, there is enumeration of no less than 32 names of the Paramesvara i.e., the reigning monarch. Some of the serials are given here (1) Kirti-Kamalini-Martanda, (6) Arasika-Bhima, (28) Medini-Tilaka, (31) Turanga-Revanta, (32) Haragirija-Chasana-Pankaja-Rajo-Ranj itottamanga.

Indra Pala who was addicted more to study than to war, was succeeded by his son Go Pala (990-1015 AD) and the latter by his son Harsha Pala. Earlier there was no information about these two rulers, but copper plate grant issued by Go Pala and found at Gachtal, near Doboka in Nagaon district, has changed it all.^[2]