SENA DYNESTY

1070 AD-1230 CE
MAP of Sena Dynesty
 Sena Empire

সেন োম্রাজ্য
Shen Shamrajjo

CE 1070–CE 1230

Capital Gauda, Bikrampur, Nabadwip

Common languages Sanskrit

Religion Hinduism (Vedic Hinduism, Shaivism, Tantra and Vaishnavism)

Government Monarchy

King

• 1070–1095 AD Samanta Sena

• 1095–1096 AD Hemanta Sena

• 1096–1159 AD Vijaya Sena

• 1159-1179 AD Ballala Sena

• 1179-1204 AD Lakshmana Sena

• 1204-1230 AD Keshava Sena

• 1206–1225 AD Vishvarupa Sena

• Surya Sena
Sena Dynesty Introduction
• The Sena/Sen Empire (Bengali: সেন োম্রাজ্য, Shen Shamrajjo) was
a Hindu dynasty during the Late Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, that ruled
from Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. The empire at its peak covered much
of the north-eastern region of the Indian subcontinent. The rulers of the Sena Dynasty
traced their origin to the south Indian region of Karnataka.[1]
• The dynasty's founder was Samanta Sena. After him came Hemanta Sena who usurped
power and styled himself king in 1095 AD. His successor Vijaya Sena (ruled from 1096 AD
to 1159 AD) helped lay the foundations of the dynasty, and had an unusually long reign
of over 60 years. Ballala Sena conquered Gaur from the Pala, became the ruler of the
Bengal Delta, and made Nabadwip the capital as well. Ballala Sena married Ramadevi a
princess of the Western Chalukya Empire which indicates that the Sena rulers maintained
close social contact with south India.[2] Lakshmana Sena succeeded Ballala Sena in 1179,
ruled Bengal for approximately 20 years, and expanded the Sena Empire
to Assam, Odisha, Bihar and probably to Varanasi. In 1203–1204 AD,
the Turkic general Bakhtiyar Khaljiattacked Nabadwip. Khalji defeated Lakshman Sen and
captured northwest Bengal – although Eastern Bengal remained under Sena control.
Origins:
• The political space after the decline of the Pala power in Bengal was occupied by the Senas whose king Vijayasena succeeded in conquering a large part of Pala
territory. The Senas were the supporters of orthodox Hinduism. The dynasty traces its origin to the South, to the Western Chalukya Empire of southern
India.[3] Theres is a record of a Western Chalukya invasion during the reign of Someshvara I led by his son Vikramaditya VI who defeated the kings of Gauda and
Kamarupa.[4][5] This invasion of the Kannada ruler brought bodies of his countrymen from Karnataka into Bengal which explains the origin of the Sena Dynasty.[3][4]
• The founder of the Sena rule was Samantasena who described himself as a Brahma-Kshatriya of Karnataka (Karnataka). He himself stated that he fought the
outlaws of Karnataka and later turned an ascetic.[citation needed] The inscriptions of the Sena kings mention them as Brahma-Kshatriyas (Brahmins who ruled as
Kshatriyas) or Kshatriyas.[6] Also, sources have identified them with the Vaidya (as well as the Ambashtha caste or sub-caste, considered as a mixed caste, being
born of Brahmin father and Vaishya mother,[6][7]) and they married with and were identified with the Bengali Vaidyas (commonly known as Baidyas in Bengal) in
Vaidya Kula-panjikas (family-tree accounts).[8]
• Sena Dynasty had ruled Bengal for little over a century (c 1097–1225). The emergence of the dynasty, which supplanted the Palas in Bengal towards the close of
11th century A.D., had constituted a significant epoch in the history of ancient India. Taking advantage of the revolt of Samantachakra in Varendra during the reign
of Mahipala II, Vijayasena, founder of the Sena dynasty, gradually consolidated his position in western Bengal and ultimately assumed an independent position
during the reign of Madanapala. One important aspect of Sena rule in Bengal is that the whole territory of Bengal was brought under a single rule for the first
time. It is likely impossible to provide definite information to the question as to how the family entered Bengal. The Sena records also are amazingly silent about
this.
• The Sena kings claim in their own inscriptions that they are Brahma-Kshatriyas. Their remote ancestor was one Virasena, whose name was supposed to have been
mentioned in Puranas. The "Deopara Inscription" of the Senas also traces the Sena ancestry from Virasena. Since there are no authentic records available still, a
keen controversy prevails among scholars regarding origin of the Senas.[citation needed]
• Like the origin of the Senas, their early history or circumstances, which led them to concentrate in Bengal is also still unknown. It has been presumed by historians
that the Senas came to Bengal on the eve of the invading army led by the Chalukya kings Vikramaditya VI and Someswara III. Some scholars have also suggested
that when Rajendra Chola's army had invaded Bengal, the Senas had accompanied them. According to some other historians, a few Karnataka officials, who were
subordinate to the Pala kings, had established their independent kingdom in the region of Radha, taking advantage of the weakness of the Pala powers. Those
Karnataka chiefs might have arrived in Bengal in wake of the Chalukya invasion and had settled into a kingdom of their own. According to historians Samantasena
was such a chief who had established his independent kingdom in the Radha region of Bengal.
• Samantasena was a scion of the Sena family, who had distinguished himself through various warfares in South India. He had settled in Radha in Bengal, at an old
age. He had also laid the foundation of the Sena family in Bengal. His son Hemantasena carved out an important kingdom in Radha, taking advantage of the
decline of the Pala Empire. From their base in Radha, the Senas ultimately extended their powers over the whole of Bengal.[
Introduction of Sen Emperors
• Samanta Sena: the founder
• The founder of the Sena Dynasty in Bengal was Samanta sena, who
first settled in Radha on the banks of the Ganges. However, as he did
not actually establish a kingdom, he is not regarded as the first ruler
of the sena Dynasty.
Hemanta Sena
• Hemanta Sena
• Description
• Hemanta Sena was son of Samantasena, the founder of the Hindu
Sena dynasty in Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. He ruled
from 1070 to 1096 CE. His son, Vijaya Sena, reigned after
him. Wikipedia
• Born: 1179
• Died: 1206
• Children: Vijaya Sena
• Grandchild: Ballala Sena
Vijaya Sena (Bengali: বিজ্য় সেন) (c
1098–1160 AD), also known as Vijay
Sen in vernacular literature, was the
son of Hemanta Sena, and
succeeded him as a Sena
dynasty ruler of Bengal region of
the Indian subcontinent. This dynasty
ruled for more than 200 years. He
conquered Bengal, fighting the kings
of Gauda, Kamarupa, and Kalinga. He
had a capital in Vijayapuri
and Vikramapura.[1]
It appears from his records that he
inherited the position of a subordinate
ruler in Rarh under the Palas. He was
possibly the same as Vijayraj of
Nidravali, one of the fourteen
Samanta kings who
Ballala Sena

Ballala Sena
বল্লাল সেন
Reign 1160 – 1179
Predecessor Vijaya Sena
Successor Lakshmana Sena
Spouse Ramadevi
Issue Roopsundari & Kamaladevi
Dynasty Sena
Father Vijaya Sena
Vallalasena
• Vallalasena or Ballala Sena (Bengali: িল্লাল সেন; reign: 1160–1179), also known as Ballal Sen in vernacular
literature, was the second ruler of the Sena dynasty of Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent.[1] He was
the son and successor of Vijaya Sena, and ended the Pala Empire by defeating Govindapala.[2]
• Ballala Sena married Ramadevi a princess of the Western Chalukya Empire which indicates that the Sena
rulers maintained close social contact with south India.[3]
• He is the best-known Sena ruler and consolidated the kingdom. He might have completed the conquest of
North Bengal and also conquered Magadha and Mithila. According to a tradition in Bengal, Ballala Sena's
kingdom consisted of five provinces, viz., Banga, Barendra, Rar, Bagri (possibly a portion of lower Bengal) and
Mithila. But neither the two inscriptions that survive from this region, nor the two great literary works,
which were attributed to him, viz., Dan Sagar and Adbhut Sagar, allude to his military victories. On the other
hand, these refer to his scholastic activities and social reforms. Ballala Sena is associated with the revival of
orthodox Hindu practices in Bengal, in particular with the establishment of the reactionary tradition of
Kulinism among Brahmins and Kayasthas. The Brahmins were classified into Kulin, Śrotriya, Vamsaja and
Saptasati; the Kayasthas were classified into Kulin and Maulik, but there is no historical authenticity. His
marriage to Ramadevi, the Chalukya princess also indicates that the Sens maintained the kingdom inherited
from his father, which included the present day Bangladesh, the whole of West Bengal and Mithila, i.e.,
portions of North Bihar. According to a cryptic passage in Adbhuta Sagara, Ballala Sena, along with his
queen, retired in his old age to the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna leaving his son, Lakshmana
Sena, with the task of both maintaining his kingdom and completing his literary work.
• According to a Sena epigraph, Ballala was an author. He wrote Danasagara in 1168.[4] And in 1169, he
started but did not finish writing Adbhutasagara.[1] In Adbhutasagara, it was mentioned that Ballala Sena
conquered Mithila while Vijaya Sena was still alive.[5] Besides he introduced the practice of Kulinism.[1
 Lakshmana Sena

Lakshmana Sena (Bengali: লক্ষ্মণ সেন; reign: 1178–

1206), also called Lakshman Sen in modern vernaculars,
was the ruler from the Sena dynasty of
Reign 1178–1206 Predecessor Ballal Sen the Bengal region on the Indian subcontinent. His rule
Spouse Tandra Devi House House of Sen lasted for 28 years; and extended to much of the
Father Ballal Sen Name Lakshman Sen eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent, notably
Died 1206 Parents Ballal Sena Bengal and Bihar regions. His reign ended with the
Successor Vishwarup Children Keshab Sen, invasion of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji.[1]
Sen Vishwarup Sen Lakshmana Sena succeeded his father Ballala Sena. The
Grandparents Vijay Great- history of his reign can be reconstructed from
Sen grandparents Hemanta the epigraphs of his time so far discovered. Besides the
Sen writings of Umapati Dhar, Sharan and the book Tabaqt-i-
Nasiri is helpful for collecting information about him. He
defeated King Jayachandra. The capital city of his
kingdom was at Bikrampur. He was interested in
literature and wrote due part of Adbhuta Sagara, a book
incompletely written by his father.[2]
Vishvarupa Sena
• Vishvarupa Sena, also known as Biswaroop Sen in vernacular
literature, was the fifth ruler from the Sena dynasty of
the Bengal region on the Indian subcontinent.
Keshava Sena
• Keshav-Sen, also known as "Keshab Sen" in vernacular literature, was
the sixth and last known ruler of the Sen dynasty of the Bengal region
on the Indian
• subcontinent.[
Preceded Succeede
Sen Dynasty
by d by
King, Bengal
Vishvarup Deva
1225–1230
a Sen dynasty
 Sena Dynesty Architecture

Kashmir, the dynasty

also likely built a
temple knows as
Sankara Gaureshwara.

Dhakeshwari Temple in what

is now Dhaka,
Literature of Sena Dynesty
Sanskrit
संस्कृतम्
Saṃskṛtam
Saṃskṛtam in Devanagari script
Pronunciation [sə̃skr̩təm] (listen)
Region South Asia
parts of Southeast Asia
Era c. 2nd millennium BCE – 600 BCE (Vedic
[1]
Sanskrit );
600 BCE – present (Classical Sanskrit)
Gita Govinda Revival 24,821 people in India have registered
[2]
Sanskrit as their mother tongue.
Language family •Indo-EuropeanIndo-Iranian
• Indo-Aryan
• Sanskrit
Early form Vedic Sanskrit
Writing system Devanagari,
also written in various other Brahmic
[3]
scripts.
Language codes
ISO 639-1 sa
ISO 639-2 san
ISO 639-3 san
[4]
Glottolog sans1269
 Fall Of Sena Dynesty

• Fall
• In 1206, Mohammed Ghori established the Turkish state in Delhi. Earlier in
1202, Turkish military leader Ikhtiaruddin Mohammad bin Bakhtiyar
Khilji attacked Bangla. Shortly before, Lakshman Sen established a
temporary capital in Nadia. When Nadia was attacked by the Turks, the old
Lakshman Sen escaped to East Bengal with the help of boat. Nadia went to
Turkish rule. But Laxman Sen continued to rule from East Bengal. After his
death son Visvipil Sena became king. He ruled until 1225. After his death,
his son Surya Sen became king. But after the death of Laxman Sen, Sen's
rule in Bengal started to weaken. In the end, due to the feudal insurgency
in different regions, the kingdom of Sena was collapsed.