Mahipala's reign marked a resurgence in fortunes for the Pala empire, whose boundaries were expanded as far as Varanasi.

However, his rule was temporarily hampered by the northern expedition of the Chola Emperor, Rajendra I.

[2][3] The Palas continued to patronise Shaivism, and epigraphic evidence suggests that Mahipala I and Nayapala were initiated as Shaivites by their royal preceptors.

Vigrahapala III's Amagachi inscription describes him as "devoted to Śiva worship", and this tradition continued under his successor Ramapala.

Poet Sandhyakar Nandi describes Ramapala's son Madanapala as a devotee of Shiva.