The Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate
(UPSC GS Mains 1) 2020 Question
Gopala, the first Pala king, was a Buddhist and so all of his descendants also were. It’s no surprise when considering how involved the rulers were in the management of their empire that this also extended to religion.
They used the revenue from the new tax collection methods to fund initiatives all across the region that would spread Buddhism. The most important of these was the large monasteries like Paharpur, which was founded during the reign of King Dharma Pala Deva.
The Pala rulers followed an approach of religious tolerance, granting land for Hindu temples and allowing Hindu Brahmins to hold high official posts in the Pala court.
This allowed for a peaceful exchange of ideas between the faiths and is a large factor in why Hindu Tantrism made its way into Buddhism, giving rise to the Vajrayana philosophy. The Pala dynasty created the environment for Buddhist monasteries to thrive and discuss philosophies without prejudice.