The Senas

In the eleventh and twelfth century CE, the Sena dynasty reigned over parts of Bihar as well as Bengal. They are well known for being Brahmanism’s defenders. Some of the current characteristics of the Bengali language and script came about because of the Senas. Bengali society was likewise systematised during Sena hegemony, and religious writings such as the Upapuranas formalised this system. Their encouragement led to the flourishing of Sanskrit literature. The Sena Empire and the Sena Kingdom are other names for the dynasty.

The Senas: Overview

Capital	Gauda, Bikrampur, Nabadwip, Lakhnauti, Chandrabhoga Gadhi, Balirajgarh, Vijaynagar
Common languages	Sanskrit, Bengali
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchial
King 1070-1095 CE 1095-1096 CE 1096-1159 CE 1159-1179 CE 1179-1204 CE	Samanta Sena Hemanta Sena Vijaya Sena Ballala Sena Lakshmana Sena
Historical era	Middle Kingdoms of India
Established	1070 CE
Disestablished	1230 CE
Preceded by Pala Empire Varman Dynasty (Bengal) Samatata	Succeeded by Deva Dynasty & Khalji Dynasty of Bengal

The Senas: Origin

The Senas came from Karnataka in south India, According to the Deopara inscription. The creator of this dynasty in the South, Samanta Sen, was named in this inscription. About 1095 CE, Hemanta Sen, Samantha’s successor, deposed the Palas and proclaimed himself king.

Legend has it that Hemanta Sen established the Sena Dynasty in the Bengal region at the end of the eleventh century. Historians disagree on when exactly it was founded and established.

The Senas: Rulers

The Sena family ruled Bengal after the Palas. The son of Samantasena, Hemantasena, founded a separate principality.

The name “Brahmakshatriya” was applied to its founder, Samantasena. Samantasena’s caste was determined to be Brahmakshatriya. However, only Kshatriyas were called by his successors.

Vijayasena

The dynasty became well-known during the more than sixty-year reign of Vijayasena, the son of Hemantasena. As a modest king at first, Vijayasena nearly took over Bengal to establish the foundation for his family’s dynastic reign in the future.

The Vijayaprasasti was composed by the well-known poet Sriharsha as a tribute to Vijayasena. Among other royal titles, Vijayasena assumed the names Paramesvara, Paramabhattaraka, and Maharajadhiraja. He had two capitals: Vikramapura in Bangladesh and Vijayapuri in West Bengal.

Ballalasena

Vijayasena’s son Ballatasena succeeded his father. He ruled in relative tranquillity, maintaining the dominions he had inherited from his father. Ballalasena was academically gifted.

Among the four pieces he created that are still in existence are the Danasagara and the Adbhutasagara.

The first is an in-depth examination of omens and portents, and the second involves astronomy.

Lakshmanasena

At the age of sixty, he assumed the role of head of the family in AD 1179. As his rule came to a close, Lakshmanasena had to deal with a plethora of problems. Sena control was already beginning to wane due to internal upheavals, but Bakhtiyar Khalji‘s invasion ultimately brought it to an end.

The invasion by Bakhtiyar Khalji is described in detail in the Tabakat-i-Nasiri. An extensive justification of Bakhtiyar Khalji’s attack may be found in the Tabakat-i-Nasiri.

The Senas: Administration

Monarchial Form of Government:

The Sena Dynasty had a monarchical system of governance, in which the king acted as the focal point of power and had considerable influence over his domain.

Hierarchical Organisation:

There was a hierarchical structure to the administration. The highest rank was the king, then a council of ministers and other officials who helped run the country. Common royal officers include Mandalpati, Vishayapati, and Bhuktipati. There is evidence that the Sena monarchs gave their Rajmahishi, or Queen, land concessions. The households Purohita and Mahapurohita also received land through official grants. This shows how important and well-respected the Purohitas and Mahapurohitas were.

Judiciary:

Royal courts were used to settle legal issues, and the monarch was the final arbiter of justice. Decisions were made using legal codes and ideas that were frequently impacted by customs and laws from the Hindu culture.

Local Level of Government:

The kingdom was organised into provinces and districts, which were each under the jurisdiction of local officials that the monarch had selected. Bengali Sena members have selected Mahamudradhkrita and Mahasarbadhkrita. The supreme judge was sometimes referred to as Mahadharmadhyakshya.

Military:

As part of the Senas of Bengal, military officers also adopted new names. It is acceptable to mention Mahapilupati, Mahaganastha, and Mahabyutpati in this context.

The Senas: Currency

• In Bengal’s ancient past, the Senas were a strong ruling dynasty. The Sena writings make frequent references to various forms of money, such as the Purana, Dharan, and Dramma. These terms were used to describe a silver coin weighing thirty-two ratis or a karshapan weighing scale.
• The currency is known as “Karpadak,” and it is certain that “Purana” is a kind of silver coin. A “kapardaka-purana” is a unit of commerce that is valued similarly to a Purana or silver coin but determined by the fractional denominator.
• The traditional arithmetic table of Bengal used 1260 cowries instead of a single silver coin. Put differently, the Purana and the Kapardaka have a ratio of 1: 1280. There is clear evidence that cowrie was widely used in early mediaeval Bengal, uncovered in excavations at Paharpur and Kalgang.
• Early mediaeval Bengal saw a large use of cowries and a dearth of fine coins. Scholars have been trying for a while to figure out why coins today have these virtual limitations.

The Senas: Religion

Most people associate the Senas of Bengal’s dominion with the origins of orthodox Hinduism. The persecution of Buddhists in Bengal is said to have started at this time, which sparked a large-scale Buddhist flight to neighbouring countries.

Buddhism in India lost popularity after Sena took the helm. Many universities teaching Buddhism were pillaged by Bhaktiyar Khalji.

The Senas: Literature

• Sena literature is known for its “Gita Govinda,” which was written by Jayadeva under the Ballala Sena’s rule. In terms of classical Sanskrit poetry, it is regarded as one of the best.
• Of all the poets connected to the Sena Dynasty, Jayadeva was one of the most important.
• With songs and poems honouring the love and heavenly union of Lord Krishna and Radha, it is divided into twelve chapters. The piece’s complex poetic structure and beautiful lyrics are well-known.

The Senas: Architecture

The Sena dynasty’s architecture has a remarkable consistency in design, carrying along the Palas’ legacy with ease.

Notably, the architectural shape has not undergone any noticeable alterations, highlighting the integrity of the unique Palas style.

The Sena dynasty’s architectural style preserves a feeling of symmetry and continuity by adhering to the sophisticated aesthetic set by the Palas.

The Senas: Decline

At the beginning of the 13th century, Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, one of Mohammad Ghori’s generals, invaded Bihar and Bengal, assaulted Nabadwip, and annexed them to their Islamic kingdom (c. 1203 – 1204 CE).

He subdued the Sena in eastern Bengal and took control of northwest Bengal.

But by the mid-13th century, the Sena’s power had entirely diminished as the Deva dynasty had completely deposed the Sena.

Conclusion

Several significant legacies that the Senas left behind would always be woven into the fabric of Indian civilization. They not only created the Bengali script and language and were responsible for many of its modern characteristics, but they were also major supporters of Sanskrit literature. The expansion of orthodox Brahminism resulted in the entrenchment of conservative social norms. To determine government revenue more precisely, they introduced a new unit of measurement for land elsewhere, known as the Nala or “reed measure.”

After the reign of its last capable king, “Lakshmana Sena,” the Sena Dynasty showed obvious signs of depletion. The heirs did not indicate that they intended to continue and grow the dynasty. They shared the previous monarchs’ major lack of interest in the burgeoning arts, cultures, and religions.

They were taking part in activities that sought comfort and enjoyment. This was used by “Bakhtiyar Khilji” of the “Ghurid Empire,” who successfully invaded and later took control of the Sena Dynasty’s capital.

FAQs on The Senas

Who is the founder of the Sena dynasty?

Hemanta Sena

The Sena Empire was a Hindu dynasty during the late classical period on the Indian subcontinent. The founder of the dynasty was Samanta Sena but the real founder of the Sena dynasty was Hemanta Sena who usurped power and declared himself king in 1095 AD.

Who defeated the Sena dynasty?

Bakhtiyar Khalji

In 1203–1204 AD, Bakhtiyar Khalji, a general under the Ghurid Empire, attacked and captured the capital City of Nadia.

Where did Sena come from?

The Sena family, which ruled in Bengal after the Palas, originally belonged to Karnata in South India. According to the Deopada Stone Inscription of Vijayasena (c. 1096-1159 AD), these are called ‘Brahma-Kshatriya’ (Sircar, 1983). The place Deopada is situated in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh.

What are the coins of the Sena dynasty?

The Sena dynasty was a powerful ruling dynasty in Bengal’s political history. Purana, Dharan, and Dramma are just a few of the currency names mentioned in the Sena writings. A silver coin weighing 32 ratis (56.6 grains) or a karshapan weighing scale were both referred to by these terms.

Which dynasty is known as the Sena dynasty?

Sena dynasty was an Indian dynasty ruling in Bengal in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. Their ancestors came from the south and established themselves as chieftains in southwestern Bengal early in the 11th century. Hemantasena, the founder of the dynasty, was originally a tributary of the Pala dynasty.