Matsyanyaya
Also called: Law of the fishes · Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Matsyanyaya is a Sanskrit term meaning "the law of the fishes". In the sea, big fish eat small fish. Indian political texts used the term for anarchy, a time with no strong ruler when the powerful prey on the weak. The term is best known from early medieval Bengal.
Example
Pala records, such as Dharmapala's Khalimpur copper plate, say that matsyanyaya prevailed in Bengal before Gopala became king. To end the disorder, the people are said to have chosen Gopala as their ruler in c. 750 CE. This made him the founder of the Pala dynasty.
Related concepts
- Tripartite struggle
- Gopala
- Pala dynasty
- Dharmapala
- Devapala
- Vikramashila
- Odantapuri
- Somapura Mahavihara
- Atisha Dipankara
- Pala school of art