Mod 5: The Later Palas — Mahipala I’s Revival, the Chola Raid of 1023, the Kaivarta Revolt, Ramapala and the Ramacharita, and the Last Palas in Bihar
Concept
14.9 Revival and decline
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Mahipala I to the last Palas
After Devapala the Palas weakened, losing Magadha for a time to the Pratiharas. Mahipala I (c. 988–1038 CE) recovered north and east Bengal and Bihar and is called the “second founder” of the Pala empire. Folk songs (“Mahipaler git”) remembered him in Bengal for centuries.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chola raid (c. 1023) | Rajendra Chola I’s army reached the Ganga and defeated Mahipala I (Tirumalai inscription); Rajendra took the title Gangaikondachola and built Gangaikondacholapuram |
| Nayapala | Atisha helped make peace between Nayapala and the Kalachuri king Lakshmikarna |
| Kaivarta revolt (c. 1070s) | Under Mahipala II, the Kaivarta officer Divya rebelled and seized Varendra (north Bengal); crushed by Ramapala |
| Ramapala (c. 1077–1130) | Last great Pala; founded Ramavati; subject of the Ramacharita |
| End | Madanapala and Govindapala (Gaya region) were the last; the Senas (Vijayasena) took Bengal, the Gahadavalas pressed Bihar from the west (1160s) |
- Mahipala I (c. 988–1038) “second founder”; Rajendra Chola’s raid c. 1023 (Tirumalai).
- Ramapala (c. 1077–1130), Ramavati; last Palas to 1160s; Senas, Gahadavalas.
- Question: Who is the “second founder” of the Palas? Answer: Mahipala I.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] The Pala king called the “second founder” of the dynasty is:
[UPSC level] The Chola king whose army defeated Mahipala I near the Ganga was:
[BSSC pattern] Rajendra Chola’s Ganga campaign is recorded in the inscription at:
[BPSC level] Atisha mediated peace between Nayapala and the:
[UPSC level] Ramapala founded the city of:
[BPSC level] The Pala kingdom in Bengal was finally replaced by the:
[School] Mahipala I ruled in about:
One-liners
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Who is the “second founder” of the Palas?
Mahipala I.Concept
14.10 The Kaivarta revolt
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
A rebellion and its meaning
- The Kaivartas were a fishing–cultivating community; their leader Divya was a royal officer. Historians such as R. S. Sharma see it as one of the earliest recorded peasant-based revolts in India, possibly against heavy demands of land-grant holders.
- Ramapala could win only with the help of many samantas (feudatories) — showing how feudal the Pala state had become.
- A victory pillar, the Divar Dighi pillar in north Bengal (Bangladesh), is linked by tradition with Divya.
- For exams: the revolt is usually linked with Ramapala, who suppressed it.
- Kaivarta revolt: Divya under Mahipala II; Varendra lost; Ramapala recovers with samantas.
- Question: Who led the Kaivarta revolt? Answer: Divya (Divvoka).
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] The Kaivarta revolt was led by:
[UPSC level] The Kaivartas seized which region from the Palas?
[BPSC level] The poem that tells both the story of Rama and of Ramapala is:
[UPSC level] Ramapala’s victory over the Kaivartas depended on the help of:
[BSSC pattern] The Kaivartas were traditionally a community of:
[UPSC level] The Kaivarta revolt broke out in the reign of:
[BPSC level] Divya’s successor who was finally defeated by Ramapala was:
One-liners
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Who led the Kaivarta revolt?
Divya (Divvoka).Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs and traps
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Kaivarta revolt; Rajendra Chola’s Ganga campaign |
| BPSC | Mahipala I; Ramapala; Ramacharita |
| BSSC / SSC | Who wrote Ramacharita |
Which Chola king took the title “Gangaikondachola” after defeating the Pala king Mahipala I? (a) Rajaraja I (b) Rajendra I (c) Kulottunga I (d) Parantaka I
- Rajendra I’s northern expedition (c. 1023) reached the Ganga; he built Gangaikondacholapuram.
- Revolt broke out under Mahipala II; suppressed by Ramapala — exam answer “Ramapala”.
- Ramacharita (Sandhyakaranandi) ≠ Ramacharitmanas (Tulsidas).
- Ramacharita (Sandhyakaranandi) ≠ Ramacharitmanas (Tulsidas).
- Question: Which Chola king raided the Pala lands? Answer: Rajendra I.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] In exams, the Kaivarta rebellion is usually linked with which Pala king?
[UPSC level] Which statement about the later Palas is correct?
[BSSC pattern] Who wrote the Ramacharita?
[BPSC level] The western power that pressed Pala Bihar in the 12th century was the:
[UPSC level] Historians see the Kaivarta revolt as evidence of:
[School] The city Gangaikondacholapuram was built by:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Which Chola king raided the Pala lands?
Rajendra I.