Bangladesh Studies: Lec 2

Mediaval History of Bengal

Prof. Dr. Kazi Shahdat Kabir

Pro Vice Chancellor, City University
E mail: kazi.rimon@gmail.com
P
 Lecture-03

Pala Dynasty
Pala Dynasty
 The Pāla Empire (r. 750–1161 CE) was an
imperial power during the post-classical period in
the Indian subcontinent, which originated in the
region of Bengal. The empire was founded with
the election of Gopāla as the emperor
of Gauda in late eighth century CE. The Pala
stronghold was located in Bengal and
eastern Bihar.
Pala Dynasty
 The Pala period is considered one of the
golden eras of Bengali history. The Palas
brought stability and prosperity to Bengal after
centuries of civil war between warring
divisions. They advanced the achievements of
previous Bengali civilizations and created
outstanding works of arts and architecture.
Pala Dynasty
 Palas built grand Buddhist temples and
monasteries, including the Somapura
Mahavihara and Odantapuri, and patronised the
great universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila.
The empire enjoyed relations with the Srivijaya
Empire, the Tibetan Empire and the Arab Abbasid
Caliphate. Islam first arrived in Bengal during this
period as a result of flourishing mercantile and
intellectual contacts with Middle-East. The Pala
legacy is still reflected in Tibetan Buddhism
Pala Dynasty
 After the fall of Shashanka’s kingdom, the Bengal
region was in a state of anarchy. There was no
central authority, and there was constant struggle
between petty chieftains. The contemporary
writings describe this situation as matsya
nyaya ("fish justice" i.e. a situation where the big
fish eat the small fish). During that time, Gopala
was elected by a group of feudal chieftains as the
first Pala King . Such elections were quite
common in contemporary societies of the region.
Pala Dynasty
 Gopala's empire was greatly expanded by his
son Dharmapala; Dharmapala was
succeeded by his son Devapala, who is
regarded as the most powerful Pala
Emperor. His expeditions resulted in the
invasion of Assam where the king submitted
without giving a fight and the Northern
Odishawhose king fled from his capital city
Pala Dynasty
 The Pala rule was monarchial. The king was
the center of all power. Pala kings appointed
Prime Ministers. Pala Empire was divided into
separate Bhuktis (Provinces). Bhuktis were
divided into Divisions and Mandalas
(Districts). Administration covered widespread
area from the grass root level to the imperial
court.
 Lecture-03

Sena Dynasty
Sena Dynasty
 Hemantasena, the founder of the dynasty,
was originally a tributary of the Pala
dynasty. In the mid-11th century he
declared his independence and set himself
up as king. His successor, Vijayasena
(reigned c. 1095–1158), built an empire on
the ruins of that of the Palas, gaining
control of all Bengal and northern Bihar.
Sena Dynasty
 The Sena dynasty was a Hindu dynasty during
the early medieval 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.
Sena Dynasty
 The Sena Ruled the Bengal for more than
century (1097-1223 AD/CA)
 The Three Kings – Vijayasena, Vallalasena
and Laksmansena – were important figure in
the dynasty.
 The Senas were Hindus and their rule is
considered to be a period of revival of
Hinduism in Bangal.
Sena Dynasty
 Vallalsena is known to have attempted
orthodox Hindu social order with caste
rigidity.
 The Sena period is significant from another
point of view that the period saw the
development of Sanskrit literature in
Bengal.
 The literary activities of Sanskrit are
distinctly visible in this period.
Sena Dynasty
 he Sena dynasty is famous for building Hindu
temples and monasteries, which include the
renowned Dhakeshwari Temple in what is
now Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 The rule of the Senas in Bengal is usually
connected with the emergence of orthodox
Hinduism in a Hindu-Buddhist society which
for long had enjoyed the peaceful coexistence
of the two religions resulting in an atmosphere
of amalgam of the two.
Sena Dynasty
 There is no doubt that Laksmanasena came
to the throne at a fairly old age. His reign was
famous for remarkable literary activities. He
himself wrote many Sanskrit poems and
completed the Adbhutasagara, which was
started by his father. His court was an
assembly of several renowned poets like
Jayadeva, the author of Gitagovinda.
Sena Dynasty
 Downfall of Sena dynasty was destined under
the rule of weak rulers of this dynasty. This
dynasty started declining during the rule of
Lakshmanasena who was the last significant
Sena king. Sena kings continued to rule in
eastern Bengal for some decades, but the
main political power in Bengal passed to the
Muslim Ghurid Empire (Bakthair Khilji).
Features of Senas

• During the 11th and 12th centuries, Senas ruled

from Bengal. The Sena Dynasty traces its origins to
the south Indian region of Karnataka.
• Vijayasena deposed Madanapala (the last ruler of
the Pala dynasty) and established the Sena
dynasty. He was the genuine founder of the Sena
kingdom.
Features of Senas
• Lakshamanasena succeeded Ballal Sena. This
dynasty's greatest ruler was Lakshmana Sena.
• His son, Ballala Sena (1160-1178), instituted the
social reforms known as Kulinism in Bengal.
Features of Senas
• He became weak near the end of his reign
(Lakshmansena). Within his kingdom, there were
signs of disintegration. Muhammad Bhaktiyar
Khalji dealt the Sena kingdom its final blow (1204
AD).
• Sena rule in Bengal resulted in a significant revival
of orthodox Hinduism.
Features of Senas
• The caste system, which had become lax due to
the Buddhist influence of the Palas, was
reestablished, and the Sena king Vallalasena is
said to have founded the Bengali system of
hypergamy, or the socially upward marriage of
women.
• Lakshmanasena (reigned c. 1178–c. 1207), the last
Sena king, was a great patron of literature; the
poets Jayadeva and Dhoyi wrote at his court in
Nadia.
Features of Senas
• Lakshmanasena was expelled from Nadia
by the Turkish chief Muammad Bakhtyar
Khalji in 1202, and died about three years
later.
• Sena kings continued to rule in eastern
Bengal for several decades, but the
Muslims gained the majority of political
power in Bengal.
Thank You