The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.67

v1.c16.67

Dharmapāla married Raṇṇādevī, the daughter of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa Parabala, who has been identified with a prince of the same name whose Pathari (Long. 78°15′, and Lat. 24°56′, Bhopal Agency, C.P.) pillar inscription is dated in V.E. 917 (*c.* 861 A.D.).¹ If this Parabala was really the father-in-law of Dharmapāla, his inscription must have been incised very late in the life of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa chief. From his seal as well as his title *Parama-saugata*, it is clear that Dharmapāla was a Buddhist. But it is a curious commentary on his Buddhism that the Monghyr grant of his son should give him the credit for making the castes (*varṇān*) conform to their proper rules (*svadharme*). According to Tibetan tradition it was Dharmapāla who built the celebrated Buddhist monastery of Vikramaśīlā on a hill situated on the bank of the Ganges.² We have the following records of the reign of Dharmapāla: