The Palas of Bengal: Buddhism, Empire, and the Lost University of Somapura

Before the Senas and the Sultans, Bengal was ruled by the Pala Empire — a Buddhist dynasty that dominated North India for four centuries and built one of the ancient world's greatest centers of learning: Somapura Mahavihara. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of Gopala I, the empire's founder, and the reign of Dharmapala, who turned Somapura into a magnet for monks from Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia. They discuss the Pala patronage of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, the empire's conflicts with the Gurjara-Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas, and the eventual decline under later Palas like Mahipala II. They also touch on the Pala legacy in Bengali art and architecture, including the distinctive black stone sculptures and the monastery at Paharpur. Finally, they consider the Pala connection to the revival of Buddhism in Tibet through the scholar Atisa Dipankara, who was invited to Tibet in the 11th century. A fresh angle on Bengal's medieval history that hasn't been covered in prior episodes. #PalaEmpire #SomapuraMahavihara #GopalaI #Dharmapala #MahipalaII #AtisaDipankara #BengalHistory #BuddhismInIndia #Paharpur #Vajrayana #Mahayana #GurjaraPratihara #Rashtrakuta #MedievalIndia #BengalArt #Nalanda #TibetanBuddhism #FexingoHistory #SenaDynasty #BengalSultanate Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo