{"id":24806,"date":"2026-04-30T21:11:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrfadda.com\/exams\/?p=24806"},"modified":"2026-04-30T21:11:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:41:39","slug":"kingdoms-in-eastern-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrfadda.com\/exams\/ugc-net-notes\/kingdoms-in-eastern-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Kingdoms in Eastern India: Palas and Senas of Bengal, Varmans of Kamarupa, Bhaumakaras and Somavamsis of Odisha"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kingdoms in Eastern India<\/b> represent a fascinating chapter of medieval history that transformed the political landscape of the Bay of Bengal region. After the death of King Harshavardhana in the 7th century, a power vacuum emerged in Northern and Eastern India. Various regional powers rose to fill this gap, leading to a vibrant era of art, architecture, and religious growth. Understanding these dynasties helps students grasp how regional identities formed in Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam.<\/span>
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Kingdoms in Eastern India Political Map\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The geography of the <\/span>Kingdoms in Eastern India<\/b> covered a massive territory stretching from the Himalayas to the Vindhya hills. Bengal served as the heart of this activity, especially under the Palas who ruled for nearly 400 years. These rulers did not just govern locally; they fought major battles with the Pratiharas of Western India and the Rashtrakutas of Southern India.<\/span><\/p>\n

The borders of these provinces changed frequently due to constant warfare and internal revivals. While the <\/span>Palas<\/b> dominated <\/span>Bihar and Bengal, the Varmans<\/b> established strong roots in Kamarupa, which we known today as <\/span>Assam.<\/b> Meanwhile, the <\/span>Bhaumakaras<\/b> and <\/span>Somavamsis <\/b>created a unique administrative and religious culture i<\/span>n Odisha<\/b>. This network of powers created a complex web of diplomacy and military strategy across the eastern subcontinent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Major Eastern Indian Kingdoms 8th\u201312th Century<\/b><\/h2>\n

The following section highlights the major kingdoms that dominated eastern India from the 8th to the 12th century.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Dynasty<\/b><\/td>\nRegion Controlled<\/b><\/td>\nImportant Rulers<\/b><\/td>\nCapital<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pala Dynasty<\/b><\/td>\nBihar & Bengal<\/span><\/td>\nGopala, Dharmapala, Devapala<\/span><\/td>\nPataliputra \/ Monghyr<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Varman Dynasty (Kamarupa)<\/b><\/td>\nAssam (Kamarupa)<\/span><\/td>\nBhaskaravarman<\/span><\/td>\nPragjyotishapura<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bhaumakara Dynasty<\/b><\/td>\nCoastal Odisha<\/span><\/td>\nSubhakaradeva, Tribhuvanamahadevi<\/span><\/td>\nToshali<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Somavamsi Dynasty<\/b><\/td>\nOdisha (Inland region)<\/span><\/td>\nJanmejaya I, Yayati I<\/span><\/td>\nYayatinagara<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Rise of\u00a0 Pala Dynasty Bengal and Bihar<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Pala Empire began its journey in <\/span>750 CE under the leadership of Gopala. <\/b>Before his rise, Bengal suffered from a state of total lawlessness known as<\/span> Matsyanyaya<\/i><\/b> or “fish justice”. <\/b>This term describes a chaotic society where the strong prey on the weak, similar to how large fish eat smaller ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n