Patola Shahis
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The Patola Shahis, or Palola Shahis, also Gilgit Shahis, were a dynasty of
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
kings of the Kingdom of
Gilgit Gilgit (; Shina language, Shina: ; ) is a city in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit–Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kas ...
("Lesser Bolü"), located in the northern tip of the
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...
in the 6th-8th century CE. The Kingdom was located on a strategic trans-Himalayan trade route, now known as the
Karakoram Highway The Karakoram Highway (, ), also known as the KKH, National Highway 35 (), N-35, and the ChinaPakistan Friendship Highway, is a National Highways of Pakistan, national highway which extends from Hasan Abdal in the Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab p ...
, which branched off the
Grand Trunk Road Grand Trunk Road (formerly known as Uttarapath, Sadak-e-Azam, Shah Rah-e-Azam, Badshahi Sadak, and Long Walk) is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For at least 2,500 years it has linked Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. It r ...
. It followed the important stops of
Shatial Shatial is a transit station with archaeological significance on Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. Location Shatial is an important transit station consisting mainly of shops, rest places, and sarais. It is loca ...
and
Chilas Chilas () is a city in Pakistani-administered Gilgit–Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sou ...
.


Early records

Between 399 and 414, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim
Faxian Faxian (337–), formerly romanization of Chinese, romanized as Fa-hien and Fa-hsien, was a Han Chinese, Chinese Chinese Buddhism, Buddhist bhikkhu, monk and translator who traveled on foot from Eastern Jin dynasty, Jin China to medieval India t ...
visited
Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative units of Pakistan, administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has b ...
. Between 627 and 645, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim
Xuanzang Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...
travelled through this region on his pilgrimage to India. According to Chinese records from the Tang dynasty, between the 600s and the 700s, the region was governed by a Buddhist dynasty referred to as ''Bolü'' (), also transliterated as ''Palola'', ''Patola'', ''Balur''. They are believed to be the Patola Sāhi dynasty mentioned in a Brahmi inscription, and are devout adherents of
Vajrayana Buddhism ''Vajrayāna'' (; 'vajra vehicle'), also known as Mantrayāna ('mantra vehicle'), Guhyamantrayāna ('secret mantra vehicle'), Tantrayāna ('tantra vehicle'), Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition that emp ...
. At the time, Little Palola () was used to refer to Gilgit, while Great Palola () was used to refer to
Baltistan Baltistan (); also known as Baltiyul or Little Tibet, is a mountainous region in the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and constitutes a northern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
. However, the records do not consistently disambiguate the two. The first known Palola Shahi, as recorded by the Tang annals, was King Somana in the 6th century CE. A Sanskrit inscription on a gilded statue of the Buddha, mentions that it was commissioned by Queen Mangalahamsika, known as a senior queen to King Vajraditayanandi (reigned 585-605 CE) by Gilgit manuscripts. The Sanskrit inscription reads: “Om. This is a pious gift. This pious gift was ordered to be made by the Shri Paramadevi ighest QueenMangalahamsika”. A few Buddhist paintings from the cover of manuscripts in the
Sharada script The Śāradā, Sarada or Sharada script is an abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts. The script was widespread between the 8th and 12th centuries in the northwestern parts of Indian Subcontinent (in Kashmir and neighbouring ...
are also known from this period in Gilgit. These were the first texts known to mentions the "Patola Shahis" as participants to the donation of the painted manuscripts. Gilgit and Kashmir in this period were the seat of a major school of Buddhist art, producing ornate early medieval bronze icons, which also greatly influenced the production of metallic statues in the
Swat Valley Swat District (), also known as the Swat Valley, is a district in the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Known for its stunning natural beauty, the district is a popular tourist destination. With a population of 2,687,384 per th ...
. These statues borrow their physiognomy and drapery from the earlier
Art of Gandhara The Greco-Buddhist art or Gandhara art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between Ancient Greek art and Buddhism. It had mainly evolved in the ancient region of Gandhara, located in the northwestern fringe of t ...
.


Tang suzerainty

Circa 650 CE, Gilgit came under Tang suzerainty at the time the fall of
Western Turkic Khaganate The Western Turkic Khaganate () or Onoq Khaganate () was a Turkic khaganate in Eurasia, formed as a result of the wars in the beginning of the 7th century (593–603 CE) after the split of the First Turkic Khaganate (founded in the 6th century o ...
due to Tang military campaigns in the region. As early as 656 the
Tibetan Empire The Tibetan Empire (,) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plateau, formed as a result of expansion under the Yarlung dynasty heralded by its 33rd king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It expanded further under the 38th king, Trisong De ...
attacked the Patola Shahis southwest of the Tang protectorate. In the late 600s CE, the rising
Tibetan Empire The Tibetan Empire (,) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plateau, formed as a result of expansion under the Yarlung dynasty heralded by its 33rd king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It expanded further under the 38th king, Trisong De ...
wrestled control of the region from the Tang dynasty. Faced with growing influence of the
Umayyad Caliphate The Umayyad Caliphate or Umayyad Empire (, ; ) was the second caliphate established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty. Uthman ibn Affan, the third of the Rashidun caliphs, was also a member o ...
and then the
Abbasid Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes ...
to the west, the Tibetan Empire was forced to ally themselves with the Islamic caliphates. The region was then contested by Tang and Tibetan forces, and their respective vassal states, until the mid-700s. Rulers of Gilgit formed an alliance with the Tang dynasty and held back the Arabs with their help. Between 644 and 655, ''Navasurendrāditya-nandin'' became king of Palola Sāhi dynasty in Gilgit. Numerous Sanskrit inscriptions, including the Danyor Rock Inscriptions, were discovered to be from his reign. In the late 600s and early 700s, Jayamaṅgalavikramāditya-nandin was king of Gilgit. According to Tang court records, in 717 and 719 respectively, delegations of a ruler of Great Palola (Baltistan) named Su-fu-she-li-ji-li-ni () reached the Tang imperial court. By at least 719/720,
Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a Kashmir#Kashmir dispute, dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and India an ...
(Mard) became part of the
Tibetan Empire The Tibetan Empire (,) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plateau, formed as a result of expansion under the Yarlung dynasty heralded by its 33rd king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It expanded further under the 38th king, Trisong De ...
. By that time,
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
was practiced in
Baltistan Baltistan (); also known as Baltiyul or Little Tibet, is a mountainous region in the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and constitutes a northern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
, and
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
was the written language. Buddhism became firmly established in the region. Great monasteries were established, with education in Sanskrit language regarding Indian religions and philosophy. Trade expanded between Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan. The rulers of Leh in Ladakh became increasingly influential in Balti culture and customs, and the chiefs of the region became vassals to the Ladakhis and Tibetan paramountcy. In 720, the delegation of ''Surendrāditya'' () reached the Tang imperial court. He was referred to by Tang records as the king of Great Palola; however, it is unknown if Baltistan was under Gilgit rule at the time. The Tang emperor also granted the ruler of Cashmere, Chandrāpīḍa ("Tchen-fo-lo-pi-li"), the title of "King of Cashmere". By 721/722, Baltistan had come under the influence of the Tibetan Empire. In 721–722, the Tibetan army attempted but failed to capture Gilgit or Bruzha (Yasin valley). By this time, according to Tang records, the king of Little Palola was Mo-ching-mang (). He had visited Tang court requesting military assistance against the Tibetans. Between 723 and 728, the Korean Buddhist pilgrim
Hyecho Hyecho (; 704–787) was a Korean Buddhist monk from Silla, one of Korea's Three Kingdoms. He is primarily remembered for his account of his travels in medieval India, the . Life Hyecho studied esoteric Buddhism in Tang China, initially under ...
passed through this area. He wrote: Of Greater Bolor, which has customs similar to Lesser Bolor,
Hyecho Hyecho (; 704–787) was a Korean Buddhist monk from Silla, one of Korea's Three Kingdoms. He is primarily remembered for his account of his travels in medieval India, the . Life Hyecho studied esoteric Buddhism in Tang China, initially under ...
said that they followed the
Three Jewels In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Its object is typically the Three Jewels (also known as the Triple ...
and believed in Buddhism: "There are also monasteries and monks. People respect and believe in the
Three Jewels In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Its object is typically the Three Jewels (also known as the Triple ...
. Eastward from here is Tibet, where there are no monasteries, and people don't believe in Buddhism. Because the people in Greater Bolor are "Hu" (native/ barbarian) people, they believe in Buddhism". Numerous ornate gilded Buddhas, often wearing elaborate crowns, are known from Gilgit at this period, which were often dedicated by local rulers. Among the dignitaries which have been recorded in these inscriptions are: Shri Surabi in 678 CE, Princess Devasri in 714 CE, King Nandivikramadityanandi in 715 CE. The figures of the kings frequently appear as donors at the base of these statues, together with identifying inscriptions.


Tibetan suzerainty

In 737/738, Tibetan troops under the leadership of Minister Bel Kyesang Dongtsab of Emperor
Me Agtsom Me most often refers to: * Me (pronoun), the first-person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker Me, M.E. or ME may also refer to: Language * Me (cuneiform), a sign in cuneiform writing * Me (kana), a letter in Japanese script * Middle En ...
took control of Little Palola. By 747, the Tang army under the leadership of
Gao Xianzhi Gao Xianzhi or Go Seonji (died January 24, 756) was a Tang dynasty general of Goguryeo descent. He was known as a great commander during his lifetime. He is best known for taking part in a number of military expeditions to conquer the Western Regi ...
had recaptured Little Palola. The Patola Shahis were then restored on the throne for some undetermined time. Great Palola was subsequently captured by the Tang army in 753 under the military governor
Feng Changqing Feng Changqing ( (died January 24, 756) was a general of the Chinese Tang dynasty. Feng was described as ugly in his appearance, and when he first met Gao Xianzhi and asked to be a guard for Gao, Gao initially rejected him, but eventually agreed ...
. However, by 755, due to the
An Lushan rebellion The An Lushan rebellion was a civil war in China that lasted from 755 to 763, at the approximate midpoint of the Tang dynasty (618–907). It began as a commandery rebellion attempting to overthrow and replace the Tang government with the rogue ...
, the Tang forces withdrew and were no longer able to exert influence in
Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
and in the regions around Gilgit-Baltistan. The control of the region was left to the Tibetan Empire. They referred to the region as Bruzha, a toponym that is consistent with the ethnonym " Burusho" used today. Tibetan control of the region lasted until late-800s CE.


Rulers

* Somana (Mid 6th century CE). * Vajraditayanandin (585–605 CE). * Vikramadityanandin (605–625 CE). * Surendravikramadityanandin (625–644 or 654 CE). * Navasurendrāditya-nandin (644 or 654–685 CE). * Jayamaṅgalavikramāditya-nandin (685–710 CE). * Nandivikramadityanandin (710–715 CE). * ''Su-fu-che-li-chi-li-ni'' (name by foreign sources) (715–720 CE). * Surendradityanandin (720–740 or 750 CE).


Aftermath

Ahmad Hasan Dani Ahmad Hassan Dani (Urdu: احمد حسن دانی) FRAS, SI, HI (20 June 1920 – 26 January 2009) was a Pakistani archaeologist, historian, and linguist. He was among the foremost authorities on Central Asian and South Asian archaeology ...
noted Gilgit traditions to mention of a Trakhan Dynasty succeeding to the Patola Shahis, and ruling continuously until the 19th century. Historical evidence—coins, inscriptions etc.—corroborating the narrative was absent during Dani's time and those which have been since discovered, reject such claims.Vohra, Rohit. Early History of Ladakh: Mythic Lore and Fabulation in ed: Henry Osmaston, Philip Denwood (1995) ''Recent Research on Ladakh 4 & 5: Proceedings of the Fourth and Fifth'', Motilal Banarsidass, p. 231


Notes


References

{{reflist Gilgit Buddhist dynasties Former countries in Chinese history