Sena Dynasty [11-13th Century AD]: Comprehensive Overview for UPSC PSC Exam

Sena Dynasty Map

Origin of the Sena Dynasty

• The Sena dynasty ruled from mid 11th century to the early 13th century.
• The Senas were initially the vassals of the Pala kings.
• After the fall of the Pala dynasty in Bengal and Bihar, the Sena dynasty came into power.
• Deopara Prashasti mentioned that the Senas were originally of the Brahmo Kshatriya caste and hailed from Karnataka (the Kannada-speaking region of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) in southern India.

Sen Dynasty Rulers

Samanta Sen

• Founder of the Sena Family: The history of the Sena family begins with Samanta Sen.
• Migration from Karnataka: In his old age, he is said to have migrated from Karnataka and settled on the banks of the Ganges in Bengal, probably in some parts of the Rarh region.
• Brahmo-kshatriya Identity: The Deopara Prashasti describes Samanta Sen as a Brahmo-kshatriya, meaning the Senas were originally Brahmins by caste who later took up the profession of arms and became Kshatriyas.
• No Royal Title: He had no royal title and no evidence that he was a ruler.

Hemanta Sen (1070-1096)

• Hemanta Sen set up a small kingdom in Bengal taking advantage of the political turmoil following the invasion of the Kalchuris.
• He is given the title “Maharajadhiraja” in the Barrackpur copper plate of his son Vijayasena.

Vijay Sen (1095-1158)

• Vijay Sen conquered eastern Bengal from the Burmans and a part of northern Bengal from the Pala kings.
• According to an inscription, ‘His navy advanced along the river Ganga to conquer a kingdom in the west. It is probably a description of the campaign against King Govindachandra of the Gaharbal dynasty of Kanauj.
• He had two capitals – Vijayapur in West Bengal and Bikrampur in East Bengal.

Ballal Sen (1158-1179 AD)

• Ballal Sen succeeded his father, Vijay Sen.
• Territorial Expansion and Kingdom:
  • He ruled over the regions that now comprise modern-day East and West Bengal, along with parts of North Bihar. Ballal Sen’s kingdom was vast, consisting of several provinces:
    • Banga (Bengal),
    • Barendra (North Bengal),
    • Rarh (South Bengal),
    • Bagri (possibly part of lower Bengal),
    • Mithila (North Bihar).
  • Some traditions even suggest that his kingdom may have extended up to Delhi, though there is limited historical evidence to support this claim.
  • Despite these territorial descriptions, inscriptions and his literary works Danasagar and Adbhutsagar focus more on his scholarly achievements than on military conquests.
• Capital: Ballal Sen made Nabadwip the capital of his kingdom.
• Cultural and Social Reforms- Introduction of Kulinism:
  • One of Ballal Sen’s most significant contributions was the introduction of Kulinism, a hierarchical system among the Brahmins and Kayasthas in Bengal.
  • This system divided Brahmins into four categories—Kulin, Rotriya, Vamsaja, and Saptasati and Kayasthas into Kulin and Maulik.
• Marriage and South Indian Connections: Ballal Sen married Ramadevi, a princess of the Western Chalukya Empire, indicating that the Sena Dynasty maintained close relations with South India.
• Ballal Sen’s Literary Works:
  • Ballal Sen was also a renowned scholar and writer. He wrote two important texts:
  • Danasagar (Ocean of Charity),
  • Adbhutsagar (Ocean of Wonders).
  • These works do not mention his military conquests.
• Religious Inclinations: Though a Shaivite by faith, Ballal Sen also had an affection for Vaishnavism.
• Retirement:
  • According to Adbhutsagar, Ballal Sen, along with his queen Ramadevi, retired to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna during their old age
  • He handed over the responsibility of ruling the kingdom to his son, Lakshman Sen.

Lakshman Sen (1179-1206)

• Last Notable King of the Sena Dynasty: Lakshman Sen, son and successor of Ballal Sen, was the last notable king of the Sen dynasty.
• Military Campaigns: Inscriptions reveal that he defeated the kings of Gaura, Kamarupa, Kalinga, and Kashmir. It is said that he erected victory pillars at Puri, Varanasi, and Allahabad.
• Invasion of Bakhtiar Khalji and Decline of the Sena Kingdom: The expedition of Turkic soldier Bakhtiar Khalji accelerated the collapse of the Sen kingdom. After conquering Magadha, he arrived at Nabadwip. Lakshmana Sen was then living in Nabadwip. The old king was completely unprepared for this sudden attack. He fled to the eastern part of his kingdom and ruled East Bengal for at least three to four years. But towards the end of his reign, the Sen kingdom was weakened by internal rebellions. As a result, small independent states emerged in South and East Bengal.
• Lakshmana Era (Calendar System): Lakshman Sen established a calendar era called the Lakshmana Era that was used in Bengal and Bihar for at least 400 years.
• Lakshman Sen’s Court and Cultural Contributions:
  • Umapati Dhar was the chief minister and one of the court poets of Lakshmana Sen. He composed the ‘Deopara Prashasti‘ praising the Sena kings.
  • Jayadeva, Dhoyi, Sharan, and Govardhan were his court poets.
  • Halayudh was the royal priest in his court.
  • Lakshmana Sen himself gained considerable fame as a writer. He completed his father’s unfinished work, ‘Adbhutasagar‘.
• Later Years and End of the Sena Rule: According to “Tabakat-e-Nasiri“, the descendants of Lakshman Sen ruled Bengal till 1245 AD.

Administration of the Sena Dynasty

Administrative Units

• Bhukti: A large province that included multiple districts (Vishayas) or regions (Mandals).
• Vishaya: A district within a Bhukti, comprising several villages or smaller units.
• Mandala: A region that could either be a subdivision within a Vishaya or a larger unit containing multiple Vishayas.
• Grama: A village, the smallest administrative unit, forming the basis of rural governance.

Titles and Roles of Officials

• Bhuktipati: Officer in charge of a Bhukti (province).
• Mandalpati: Officer in charge of a Mandala (region).
• Vishayapati: Officer in charge of a Vishaya (district).
• Mahamantri: The Prime Minister.
• Purohitas and Mahapurohitas: Priests who were highly respected and granted land officially.
• Mahasandhivigrahika: The chief officer responsible for peace and war, an elevated title from the Palas’ Sandhivigrahika.
• Mahadharmadhyakshya: The highest judge, responsible for overseeing the judicial system.
• Mahavyuhapati: Military officer in charge of battlefield formations.
• Mahapilupati: Military officer responsible for the elephant forces.
• Mahaganastha: A new military officer title under the Senas.
• Mahabyutpati: Another new military officer title under the Senas.
• Maha-Dharmadhyaksha: Chief Justice overseeing the judicial system.
• Maha-Purohita: Chief Priest managing religious ceremonies.
• Maha-Sarvadhikrita: High-rank supervisor overseeing general administration.

Sena Art

• Materials Used:
  • Sculptures of the Sena period were mostly made of black stone (kashti-pathar), either fine or coarse-grained.
  • Metal images were commonly cast in brass or octoalloy (ashta-dhatu). A few images were also made in gold, silver, and even wood.

• Style:
  • Most sculptures from this period featured figures carved in relief, meaning they were raised from a flat background. However, some artists modelled figures fully in the round, creating more three-dimensional forms.
  • Over time, these figures became more independent from their backgrounds. By the 12th century, sculptures showed a strong three-dimensional quality, with figures standing out more vividly.

• Themes:
  • The central focus of Sena’s sculptures was the human figure.
  • Female divinities were portrayed with full, rounded bodies, emphasizing physical beauty and sensuality, which also had spiritual significance.
  • Male figures were also depicted with a sense of physical strength and sensuality, with broad shoulders and narrow waists.

• Influence:
  • The sculptures likely drew inspiration from Tantric practices.
  • Artists followed rules and guidelines set by religious cults, focusing on symmetry, balance, and proportion.

• Ornaments: While the human forms were often stylized, the artists paid meticulous attention to the ornaments, crafting them with intricate detail and precision.

• Poses and Attitudes:
  • Common poses included standing with both feet firmly on the ground (samapada-sthanaka) or seated with legs crossed (vajra-paryanka), reflecting stability and spiritual calmness.
  • Even in dynamic poses, like Vishnu striding across the world or Gandharvas flying through the air, the figures’ faces remained calm and serene, capturing a sense of inner peace.

Decline of the Sena dynasty

The decline of the Sena dynasty happened because of internal problems like weak leadership and external threats such as invasions by Turkish forces. Here’s a detailed look at the factors leading to the downfall of the Sena dynasty:

Succession Issues and Weak Rulers

• After the strong leadership of Ballala Sena and his son Lakshmana Sena, the dynasty saw a series of weaker rulers who were unable to maintain the same level of control and administrative efficiency.
• Lakshmana Sena’s successors were not as capable of defending the realm against external threats and managing internal stability.

External Invasions

• Turkish Invasions: The most significant factor in the decline of the Sena dynasty was the invasion by the Turkish general Bakhtiyar Khalji. Khalji was a military leader under the Delhi Sultanate who conducted a series of raids into Bengal.
• Battle of Nadia (1204): In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji launched a surprise attack on the Sena capital at Nadia (now Nabadwip, West Bengal). Lakshmana Sena, the reigning king at the time, was unprepared for the attack and fled to eastern Bengal. This marked the beginning of the end for the Sena control over Bengal.
• Conquest of Bengal: Bakhtiyar Khalji’s conquest led to the rapid establishment of Muslim rule in Bengal, marking the significant loss of Sena power.

Sena Dynasty at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Period	11th to 13th Century
Founder	Samanta Sen
Preceded by	Pala Empire, Varman Dynasty
Succeeded by	Deva dynasty, Khalji dynasty of Bengal
Notable Rulers	Vijayasena (1095–1158)
	Ballalasena (1158–1179)
	Laksmanasena (1179–1206)
Capital	Gauda, Bikrampur, Nabadwip, Lakhnauti
Literature	Promotion of Sanskrit literature
	Notable works include “Gita Govinda” by Jayadeva
Coins	Issued various silver and copper coins
	Coins often depicted the king and religious symbols
Decline	Invasions by the Delhi Sultanate rulers

Sena Dynasty UPSC WBCS MCQs

• Who was the founder of the Sena Dynasty in Bengal? [UPSC CSE Prelims 2004]
  (a) Vijayasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Hemantasena
  Answer: (d) Hemantasena

---

• Which Sena ruler is credited with composing the Sanskrit work ‘Danasaagara’? [WBCS Prelims 2016]
  (a) Ballalasena
  (b) Vijayasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Hemantasena
  Answer: (a) Ballalasena

---

• During whose reign did the Sena Dynasty come to an end? [UPPCS Mains 2018]
  (a) Vijayasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Hemantasena
  Answer: (c) Lakshmanasena

---

• Which of the following kings of the Sena Dynasty extended their rule over Mithila and Northern Bengal? [UPSC CSE Mains 2015]
  (a) Hemantasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Vijayasena
  Answer: (d) Vijayasena

---

• The Sena Dynasty was succeeded by which of the following dynasties in Bengal? [BPSC Prelims 2017]
  (a) Pala Dynasty
  (b) Pratiharas
  (c) Cholas
  (d) Deva Dynasty
  Answer: (d) Deva Dynasty

---

• Which of the following Sena rulers was a contemporary of the famous poet Jayadeva, who wrote ‘Gita Govinda’? [WBCS 2013]
  (a) Hemantasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Vijayasena
  Answer: (c) Lakshmanasena

---

• Which Sena king established the capital of the Sena Dynasty at Nabadwip? [UPPCS Prelims 2010]
  (a) Hemantasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Vijayasena
  Answer: (c) Lakshmanasena

---

• Which Sena ruler composed the Sanskrit work ‘Danasaagara’? [WBCS 2016]
  (a) Ballalasena
  (b) Vijayasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Hemantasena
  Answer: (a) Ballalasena

---

• Which of the following kings of the Sena Dynasty was known for extending their rule over Mithila and Northern Bengal? [WBCS 2015]
  (a) Hemantasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Vijayasena
  Answer: (d) Vijayasena

---

• Which Sena ruler was a contemporary of the famous poet Jayadeva, who authored ‘Gita Govinda’? [WBCS 2013]
  (a) Hemantasena
  (b) Ballalasena
  (c) Lakshmanasena
  (d) Vijayasena
  Answer: (c) Lakshmanasena

---

• The Sena Dynasty was succeeded by which dynasty in Bengal? [WBCS Prelims 2017]
  (a) Pala Dynasty
  (b) Pratiharas
  (c) Cholas
  (d) Deva Dynasty
  Answer: (d) Deva Dynasty

Sena Dynasty FAQs

---