Rule of the Bengalis on Himachal - Pala dynasty & Sena dynasty

Rule of the Bengalis on Himachal - Pala dynasty & Sena dynasty 

The Royal Chronicles of Himachal kings called the 'Banshavali', which was published by A.F.P. Harcourt in his Himalayan Districts of Kooloo, Laboul and Spiti (1871) but which is no longer available, claims to bridge both the early and later periods of Kullu's history; for while the last Kullu ruler flourished in the nineteenth century A.D., the first one, the founder of the dynasty, is presented in the genealogy as having lived at a remote period.

The Banshavali records the names of total 88 Bengali kings who ruled in Kullu of Himachal. These eighty-eight kings are all said to have belonged to one and the same dynasty, there having been no change of dynasty throughout the entire period, although the kingdom did not always pass down from father to son. The first seventy-three kings had the suffix Pall the seventy-fourth, Siddha Pal added Singh to his name, and Siddha Pal Singh's fourteen successors retained only the Singh suffix. This long line of eighty-eight kings ruled with varying fortunes from as many as three capitals, Jagatsukh, Naggar and Sultanpur-Kullu.

■ Pala Dynasty Rule on Himachal :

In 9th Century the Imperial Gauda-Palas from Bengal led by Gaudeshwar Devapala dispelled the ruling Khashas from Kullu & included it in Gaudiya Pala Empire. A somewhat definitive history of the Kullu valley can be derived  from the genealogical records of the Rajas of Kullu known as Vanshavali. 

The Gaudiya Pala Empire on its highest expansion under rule of Gaudeshwara Paramabhattaraka Devapala (810-850 AD)

From this record it is believed that Bihangamani Pal, a scion from the Pala royal dynasty of Bengal after being displaced  from power in his native state (sometime around 8th century CE), came to establish his kingdom at Jagat Sukh, with the blessings of the Hadimba devi. Thus, started the Pala dynasty in Himachal Pradesh that ruled Kullu until 1450 CE. From Jagat Sukh, Raja Visudh Pal shifted his capital to Naggar, and later the capital was again moved to Sultanpur (Kullu) in 1660 under Raja Jagat Singh.

King Bihangamani Pal the founder of the dynasty, whom the Bansävali credits with a legendary career, arrived in Jagatsukh from Prayaga, Almora or Mayapuri. He and eleven of his successors ruled from Jagatsukh near Manali, but the exact date of the founder is not known. The eleventh king, Viśuddha Pall transferred the capital to Naggar, some ten km south. In the time of Rudra Pall the eighteenth king, Chamba is said to have conquered Lahaul from Kullu.

According to this Banshävali, Bihangamani Pal who settled down in Kullu after first temporarily staying in Almora and Mayapuri (or Haridvar). When Bihangamani Pal first arrived in Kullu, he is likely to have found the land divided amongst petty chieftains, Ranas (ancient Räjänakas) or Thakurs. In fact, these have persisted throughout the history and paid tribute to their local overlords and helped them in fighting wars; occasionally they ignored the superior power.

■ Sena Dynasty Rule on Himachal :

According to the Baleshwar copperplate inscription of Kumaon, the Sena dynasty Prince of Bengal,  Hemchandra Madhav Sena migrated to the Himalayas in 1223 AD. Gaudeshwar Madhav Sena's fame is described in the inscription on the floor of the Jageshwar temple near Almora in Kumaon about his strong resistance and valiant victory over the invading Turks of Delhi Sultanate led by Bakhtiyar Khalji on the capital of Gauda with the troops of the Dandanayakas & Pratiharas.  Many Brahmins also went on pilgrimage with King Madhavasena. The name of Rudrasharma, a descendant of Bhattanarayana, appears in the copperplate in the middle of the Baneshwar temple on the land of Kedarbhumi.

The Baleshwar temple of Himachal

The Jageshwar Shiva temple of Himachal on the floor inscription of which Gaudeshwar Madhav Sean's fame is described. 

The Piti Thakurs, as they are known to the compiler of the Bansävali, made many incursions into the Kullu valley: their names ended in Sena. One immediately thinks of the Sena family of Nirmand of the sixth-seventh century with names such as Varunasena, Sañjaya sena, Ravişena and Samudrasena. Chet Sen, chief of Spiti, invaded Kullu and made it tributary. But Prasiddha Pal son of Hamir Pal and son's son of Rudra Pal liberated Kullu from Spiti's control, and also recovered Lahaul from Chamba.

Another Gaudiya clan which arrived in Himachal and founded a sort of 'Bengal' state in Himachal. This state included 'Boro Bengal' i.c. Greater Bengal in the Ravi Valley and 'Chhoto Bengal' i.c. Smaller Bengal between Kangra and Kullu, whose founder belonged to the Imperial Pala dynasty of Bengal. The state is believed to have been founded in AD. 1300 or might be at a period earlier than that. The nomenclature 'BEGAL shows the hold of the original Bengal on the minds of the founders of this State so much so that they tried to keep the memory of the native Bengal fresh in those strange and hostile surroundings. The Boro Bengal' area is cut into two halves by the Dhauladhara Western Himalayan range. The Ravi river traces its origin from Boro Bengal. The area lics between 2500 feet above the sca to peaks rising to heights of 17000 to 20000 fect. Greater Bengal has an area of 464 square kilometres and contains but a single village at a height of 8500 feet above sea level with a few Gaddi families inhabiting it.

■ Cultural Influence of Bengal in Himachal :

∆ Dashal Temple : 

The Dashal temple - a Shiva temple in Dashal village near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, Pala era (11th Century). The temple is built in the Rekha Deula structure in the Bardhaman division of Gaudiya Deul Architecture. It states the connection of Bengalis Pala rule there & the cultural influence of Bengalis in the mountains of Himachal.

The Dashal Shiva temple of Himachal built according to the Gaudiya Deul architecture constructed by the Pala Emperors of Bengal in 11th Century 

∆ Baijnath Temple :

Baijnath temple in Himachal Pradesh, 9th century CE. This temple, which was built by two local traders Manyuka and Ahuka, was constructed during the Gaudiya Pala dynasty reign in that area. The temple architecture shows similarities to the Trilokinath temple in Mandi, HP. The Sena dynasty in Mandi had built, and also repaired many old temples there (some were of the Pala era).

The Baijnath temple in Himachal Pradesh built during Pala dynasty rule of Bengal, 9th Century CE 

Both the Pala and Sena dynasties were from Bengal that moved to HP (along with other states like Uttarkhand) and ruled there for many centuries, even after their main family branches lost the power seat in Bengal.  

∆ Shimla Kalibari :

Shimla, the State capital of Himachal Pradesh, owes its name to the goddess Shyamla. The Bengalis have built a 'Kalibari' at Shimla and it attracts many pilgrims and tourists every year. Manimahesh, a famous place of pilgrimage at a height of 12000 feet above sea level, has held a special attraction for the Bengalis for a very long time. In 1982 there was a virtual pilgrim-invasion when nearly 40,000 pilgrims undertook the arduous journey up the mountain ous path.

The Simla Kalibari established by Bengali Brahmin Ram Charan Brahmachari in 1845

Kali Bari temple was originally built in 1845 by a Bengali Brahmin Ram Charan Brahamchari in the vicinity of Rothney Castle on Jakhoo Hill. That's why it resembles the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata. It is one of the ancient temples of the city and features a unique Hindu-style architecture along with blue coloured wooden idol of goddess Kali. Later, the British shifted the location of the temple to Bantony Hill. Kali Bari Temple trust formed in 1902 mainly consists of Bengali members.

∆ Art :

The Bengali influence on Himachal has not been confined to the migration of people only. Even Bengali art traditions and cultural influences travel led to the remotest parts of Himachal, assimilated with the local customs and art traditions.

● Sources :

1) A Bit of Bengal in The Himalaya

S. N. Yerma, Volume 9, 1984

2) Annual Report 1907-08

by Archaeological Survey Of India, 1911

3) Art & Architecture of Uttarakhand

Book by Madhu Jain By - O. C. Handa

4) Antiquities of Himachal

by Postel, Michael; Neven, Armand; Mankodi, Kirit, 1985

5) Himalayan temples in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh

Posted by MONI1706 on FEBRUARY 8, 2018