Pala

Pala
A dynasty of Bihar and Bengal in north-eastern India that ruled from the 8th to the 12th century. Gopala, the founder, was chosen king by the great men of the region. The reign of his successor, Dharmapala ( c. 770 – 810 ) marked the dynasty's apogee, after which power rose and fell intermittently until its final eclipse in the 12th century. The surviving Pala artefacts in both stone and metal are of a particularly fine decorative quality. An important development during their rule was the spread of Buddhism to Tibet by missionaries from the University of Nalanda in Bihar, which received Pala patronage.