Dharmapala is a Sanskrit name which means "protector of the Dharma". The Pāli equivalent is Dhammapala. The name is often used by Buddhists to refer to a variety of persons and concepts, including:
Buddhism Anagarika Dharmapala (1864–1933), a 19th-century Sri Lankan Buddhist activist who founded Maha Bodhi Society Dharmapala, a type of supernatural being in Vajrayana Buddhism Dhammapala, name of a number of great Theravada Buddhist commentators Dharmapala of Nalanda (530–561), one of the great scholars of the Yogācāra school
Rulers Dharmapala (emperor) (ruled 8th century), one of the most powerful rulers of the Pala Empire of Bengal Dharma Pala (1035–1060), king of Kamarupa in northeastern India Dharmapala Kamboja (11th century), a Kamboja ruler of Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal Dharmapala of Kotte (1541–1597), a Sri Lankan ruler of Kingdom of Kotte, who converted to Christianity Dharmapala of Nalanda (530–561), 6th-century Indian Buddhist scholar of Yogachara at Nalanda Dharmapala, an ancient Kamboja ruler of Kamboja Kingdom, according to Sthala Purana
Others A. W. Dharmapala, a pioneering broadcaster of Radio Ceylon Dharampal (1922–2006), Indian historian of colonial India Dharampal Gulati or Mahashay Dharampal Gulati (1923–2020), Indian businessman, founder of the spice company MDH (Mahashian Di Hatti) Dharampal Lakra, Indian politician from the Aam Aadmi Party, member of the 7th Delhi Legislative Assembly Dharampal Saini, Indian educationist and activist for tribal rights Dharampal Singh, Indian politician from the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh, member of the 16th Legislative Assembly of India Dharampal Singh Gudha, Indian marathon runner
See also Dharma (disambiguation) Pala (disambiguation) Dharampal Satyapal Group, an Indian conglomerate