In conventional historiography, kings of the Pa-la dynasty are celebrated for upholding the last bastion of Buddhism in early medieval eastern India. The article demonstrates, on the basis of epigraphic evidence, that along with royal patrons, there were other categories of benefactors actively involved in the building and sustenance of Buddhist establishments. In fact, compared to the brief epigraphic history of royal patronage, there is a more sustained record of support provided to Buddhist establishments by subordinate rulers and Buddhist monks in the Pa-la domain. Through a close analysis of two twelfth-century stone inscriptions, an attempt is made to track continuities and changes in the nature of patronage provided by these two categories in a milieu defined by the presence of Buddhist institutions of trans-regional renown and participation of patrons from other realms. By paying attention to the inscriptional vocabulary, the article also highlights a typology of Buddhist monastic establishments within an eastern Indian sector and a range of devotional activities open to donors to acquire religious merit at these centres.

中文翻译：

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佛陀建筑：帕拉王国的赞助人

在传统的史学中，为了庆祝帕拉王朝在印度东部中世纪早期坚持佛教的最后堡垒而闻名。这篇文章根据人口学证据证明，除了皇家赞助人外，还有其他类别的恩人积极参与佛教设施的建造和维持。实际上，与王室庇护的简短历史记录相比，在帕拉地区下属统治者和和尚为佛教机构提供的支持更加持久。通过仔细分析十二世纪的两个石刻铭文，试图在环境中追踪这两类提供的赞助的性质的连续性和变化，该环境由跨地区知名的佛教机构的存在和来自其他领域的赞助者的参与来定义。通过关注铭文词汇，该文章还重点介绍了印度东部地区佛教寺院建筑的类型，以及捐助者可以进行的一系列奉献活动，以在这些中心获得宗教功德。