Bangladesh Studies

Midterm_Lecture 08
Ancient Bengal:
Pala and Sena Dynasty
 Concentrating on Bengal
• Shashanka (First Bengal King)
Topic • Matsyanam (Chaotic Period)
• Pala Dynasty (400-years rule)
• Sena Dynasty (Hindu Regime)
 Shashangka

• Referred as the First King of Bengal.

• Ruled between 600 AD-625AD.
• Fought many battles and brought large areas under Gaur
kingdom
• Most rajas emerged and ruled from within native
territories, and over their own people.
• Therefore, it may be surmised that Karnasubarna in Gaur
was Shashnka’s true home, and the ultimate seat of his
power.
Gaur
Empire
 Shashangka

• Little information
available about his rule.
• Controversy over killing
of Rajyavardhana.
• Ruled with strong
command.
• No stable king in Bengal
for centuries.
 Matsayanyam

• Period between the death of

Shashangka and rise of Palas
in mid 8th century.
• Matsayanyam, a Sankrit
term, refers to a situation
when big fish swallows a
small fish.
• Chaos prevailed in Bengal as
no ruler could retain power
for more than a year.
 Rise of Palas
• Pala kings put an end to
the disorder.
• ‘Pala’ means protector.
• Ruled for 400 years!
(Mid 8th-late 11th
Century)
• Followers of Buddhism
• Eighteen
generations of
kings
• There were
rise and
stagnation in
the rule
Tripartite Conflict
 • Administration
System
Important • Religious Harmony
• Spread of Buddhism
Features
• Flourishing of Arts
and Culture
 Administration

They
Theycould
improved
govern
upon
for the
so long
administrative
because they
structure
had a strong
developed
administration
by Gupta system.
Empire.
 Administration

• Well-designed structure spanning from the center to

the rural areas prevailed during this period.
• Long list of state officials have been found on sources
from Pala period
 • This region became the
hub of Buddhist
teaching.
• Many came from
different corners of the
world.
Spread of • Buddhism spread to
areas like Myanmar,
Buddhism Indonesia, etc.
• Viharas or monasteries
became center of
excellence.
• Nalanda university was
revived.
 • Though most natives
were Hindus, amicable
relation persisted
between the Palas and
Religious their subjects.
Harmony • Brahmin were posted in
important position.
• Lands were granted for
temples.
 Atish Dipankar (980-1053)

• Atish Dipankar was appointed

the Chancellor of
Vikramashila Maravihara in
Bhagalpur, Bihar.
• In addition to that, he was in
charge for 15 years of
Odantapuri and Sompura
Viharas.
Atish Dipnakar

• He along with a few

distinguished scholars
journey to Tibet on the
invitation of king.
• Tibetans revere Dipankar,
granting him a rank second
only to Gautam Budhdha.
• Dipankar wrote and translated
more than 200 books, which
helped spread Buddhism.
 Flourishing of Art and Culture

• This era is renowned for development of unique

styles in terracotta.
• These serve important sources of information.
• The architectural design of Sompura Vihar is a
testament to the height of architectural feat in this
period.
Sompur Vihar
 Early Period of Bengali Language

• Proto-Bangla
language was
developed
under Pala
rule.
 Sena Dynasty (1097 AD-1202/04)

• Samanta Sen
• Hemanta Sen
• Bijoy Sen, most important ruler from the dynasty
• Laxman Sen
• Keshab Sen
 Rule of Sena Dynasty

• Came from Karnataka and gradually built their stronghold

in Bengal.
• Staunch supporter of Hinduism.
• Served as king of some areas under Palas.
• Some accounts suggest they were in Pala’s army and
toppled the regime when their power diminished.
 Sena Dynasty

• Bijay Sena, the important ruler of the Sena dynasty,

consolidated power in Bengal.
• His son Vallal Sena is noted for literary pursuits and
introduction of Kulinism.
• Laxman Sen was the last Sena ruler.
• He was ousted by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji
Dhakeswari Temple
 Foundation of Muslim Rule:
Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khilji
 Shashangka

• The decline and fall of the Gupta Empire coincided with

considerable progress in outlying regions.
• Many were ruled by tribal chiefs and were thinly settled,
came into historical limelight.
• Under this perspective, Shashangka attempted to extend
his political influence in different parts of India.
 Shashangka

• Shashangka of Gaur is termed as the first king Bengal.

• He ruled approximately between 600 AD and 625 AD.
• In the beginning of 7th century, Shashangka started
bringing large tracts of the lower Gangetic plains under
his control.
 Shashangka

• He led military campaigns against mighty kings and

armies in every direction, and established his dominion
over a considerable part of the former Gupta Empire.
• Shashangka is identified as a staunch Shaiva (Shiva
worshipper) Brahmin, who made land grants to Brahmins
and used Shiva’s imagery in his coins.
 Shashangka

• He established the capital in Karnasuvarna (near

Rajshahi)
• Evidences suggest he had alliance with Gupta king and
jointly attacked on some fronts.
• Shashangka led the Gaur army in these instances.
• He brought the whole of Bengal under his sway.
• Later Odisha, Benaras came under his control.
 Shashangka

• We have little and contradictory information about

Shashangka.
• In spite of ruling a prosperous kingdom, he remains a
footnote in mainstream Indian history.
• Controversy over the killing of King Rajyavadhana of
Thanesar.
• Shashangka is accused to have killed him under murky
circumstances.
• The conquest of Kanuj marks the height of Gaur empire.
 Shashangka

• King Harshavardhana pledged to avenge his brother’s

death and launched multiple attacks on Gaur.
• But Shashangka not only defended his territory but also
issued copper-plate inscription and gold dinars from
Karnasubarna.
• It was only after his death, that Harshavardhana made
inroads into Gaur territories.
Matsyanam

• Complete chaos and lawlessness set in after the

death of Shashangka.
• Matsyanyayam is the period of Bengal in the
century following the death of Shashngka and
before the rise of Palas (around 750 AD).
Matsyanam

• Sankskrit term Matsyanyayam refers to a condition

when the law of punishment is kept in abeyance, it
gives rise to such disorder as is implied in the proverb
of fishes, ie, the larger fish swallows a smaller one, for
in the absence of magistrate, the strong will swallow the
weak.
Matsyanam

• After Shashangka, the state of Gauda was paralysed,

and whoever was king would not be able to rule for
even a year.
• All of Bengal was pervaded by an unprecedented
anarchy.
• Government was fragmented, with no king having real
control over Gauda, Vanga or Samatata.
• The sufferings and strife of the common people were
intolerable.
 Pala Dynasty

• Gopala
• Dharmapala
• Devpala
• Mahindrapala
• Rampala
• Madanpala, the last one
 • Pala means protector.
• They saved the region from
century-long chaotic time
Pala Dynasty of Matyasanaya.
• Golden period in the
history of Bengal
 Pala Dynasty

• The Pala Empire was centered on the area of

Bengal and Bihar, in the north and northeastern
parts of India.
• This empire was founded during the 8th century
AD and existed for about 400 years.
• One of the most important aspects of the empire is
the fact that is rulers were Buddhists and made
several important contributions to this religion.
 Pala Dynasty
• Founded by Gopala, the rule of the dynasty
lasted for eighteen generations of kings.
• The reigns of Dharmapala and Devpala
formed the period of ascendency of the
dynasty.
• During this period, the dynastic rule gained
strong footing in Bengal and Bihar and the
Palas felt powerful enough to venture out in
the political arena of northern India.
• Bengal came to be reckoned as a powerful
force in northern Indian politics.
 Gopala

• First Buddhist king

of Bengal.
• He was elected by the
regional chieftains.
 Dharmapala

• Conquered Kanuj but retained its control for a very short

time.
• He revived the Nalanda university by rendering the tax of
200 nearby villages to the institution.
• Established Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur.
• Also founded Sompura Monastery. These became the
centers for Buddhist teachings.
 Devpala

• Expanded the region to Assam and Orissa after facing

threats from Western bloc.
• Staunch Buddhist.
 Revival in Mahipala’s Time

• The reign of Mahipala I brought back vitality and vigor and

gave a second lease of life to the Pala Empire.
• He succeeded in bringing back the lost territories in
northern and western Bengal and restored Pala dynastic
rule to a firmer footing.
• The weakness of Pala rule succeeded in establishing an
independent rule of Kaivarta chief Divya in northern
Bengal.
 Rampala

• Ramapala, during his long reign of over 40 years, succeed

in retrieving the position of the dynasty by recapturing
northern Bengal and also extending his empire towards
Orissa, Kamaruap and Madhyadesha of northern India.
• He gave the decadent Pala power a new lease of life.
• Once he was gone the forces of disintegration and dissent
set in, which his successors could hardly cope with.
 Dynastic Trouble

• With the death of Devpala ended the period of ascendancy

and period of stagnation followed which gradually led to
decline and disintegration until Mahipala I rejuvenated the
rule of the dynasty.
• It is quite likely that stagnation and decline came as a result
of succession problem after the reign of Devpala.
 Dynastic Trouble: Sapping Power

• The period of stagnation that followed the succession problem

continued for more than a hundred years covering the reigns
of five generations of kings.
• During the period the Pala kings lacked energy and vigor,
hardly was there any attempt at expansion, and they were not
powerful enough to check invasions from outside or uprising
from inside.
• For a time Pala empire was confined to parts of Bihar only
 Tripartite
Conflict
• The conflict among
Palas, Rastrakutas
(Deccan region),
Paritharas over the
control of Kanuj.
• Kanuj was considered
a strategically
important area for its
fertile land and trade
route.
 Glories of the Palas

• The long reign of Palas form a glorious period in the history of

ancient Bengal.
• The dynasty ruled for about four hundred years, a rarity in the
annals of dynastic history.
• Though the Pala Empire went though a lot of ups and downs,
fits of rising and stagnation, nevertheless a few dynasties in
the history of the world could managed to hold the kingdom
for so long time.
 Administration System

• The Pala copperplates bear ample testimony to their well-

organized system of administration.
• An organized system of administration prevailed from the
central to the village level.
• They inherited the administrative structure from the Guptas
and it was to their credit that they made the structure more
efficient and added many new characteristics.
• They built up an efficient structure for revenue collection.
 Administration System

• The long list of state-officials, found in the Pala

copperplates, clearly indicate that the administration was
taking care of every aspect of public life-from the ferry
ghats to the river ways, land routes, trade and commerce,
towns and ports, and law and order in the country.
• The basis of their long rule was the efficient administrative
system.
 Religious Tolerance

• The most glorious aspect of Pala rule was their policy of

public-welfare.
• The Pala rulers were Buddhists, but the majority of their
subjects were Hindus.
• Dharmapala had adopted the policy of religious toleration
as the state policy.
• He had declared that he is conversant with the precepts of
shastras and he made the casters conform to their proper
tenets.
 Religious Harmony

• The policy was followed by his successors.

• There is no doubt that Hindus received liberal patronage
from the Pala rulers.
• Brahmins occupied high official posts.
• Pala rulers granted land to temples of Hindu gods and
goddesses.
 Religious Harmony

• There is not evidence of any religious discord between the

Buddhists and the Hindus in the society.
• Religious toleration and mutual coexistence can be
identified as the characteristic of the social life of the
people in the Pala period.
 Religious Harmony Disrupted

• The tradition of religious harmony and toleration that was

created in the Pala period, was given a sudden jolt during
the period of the Senas and the ground was prepared for the
easy acceptance of Islam in the subsequent period.
 Flourishing of Buddhism

• Buddhism spread to Tibet, Java, Sumartra, and Malaysia

during the Pala period.
• The pundits from the Buddhist Viharaas of Bengal played
very significant role in the propagation and spread of
Buddhism in these countries.
 Cultivation of Arts

• The brightest aspect of Pala glories was manifest in the

field of different arts.
• Distinctive achievements are seen the arts of architecture,
terracotta, sculpture and painting.
• The Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur, a creation of the
Dharmapala, proudly announces the excellence of the
architectural art achieved in the Pala period.
• It is the largest Buddhist Vihara in the Indian subcontinent
and the plan of its central shrine was evolved in Bengal
Sompur
Bihara
 Cultivation of Arts

• In the Nalanda inscirption of Vipularsimitra it has been

described as jagtam netriakavishrama bhu (pleasing to the
eyes of the world).
• Experts believe that its architectural plan, especially the
gradually receding crucified plan of its central shrine, had
influenced the architecture of the neighboring countries like
Myanmar and Indonesia.
• A few Buddhist structures in these countries, built in the 13th
and 14th centuries seem to have followed the Paharpur
example.
 Terracotta Plaques

• The terracotta plaques

recovered from Paharpur
amply demonstrate the
excellence of the art in the
Pala period.
• These plaques, used
mainly in surface
decoration of the walls,
have been recognized as
unique creation of the
Bengal artists.
 Terracotta Plaques

• Side by side with the depiction of religious subjects, the artists

have chosen subjects from the everyday life of the people, and
their importance as sources of social history cannot be
overemphasized.
• There is no doubt that terracotta reached high water mark in
the Pala period.
 Spread of Buddhist Teaching

• Dharmapala built the Vikramshila Mahavihara (at

Patharghata in Bahgalput district of Bihar) and Odantpur
Vihara in Bihar.
• Sompura Vihara and Vikramsila Vihara were acknowledge
in the Budhhist world as two important centers of Buddhist
learning in the period between 9th and 12 centuries AD.
 Spread of Buddhist Teaching

• It may rightly be said that the fame of Bengal spread in the

then Buddhist world of the cultivation of Buddhist religion
and culture and of there knowledge in the various centers
that grew under the patronage o the Pala rulers.
• Many scholars came to these centers from far and wide.
• Buddhist pundits of Bengal contributed to the spread of
Budhhist culture; among them the name of Atish Dipankar
Shrijnan stands out most prominently.
 Sculptural Art

• Of all the arts of the period sculptural art witnessed

phenomenal development.
• The Gupta tradition of sculptural are attained a new height
under the patronage of the Pala rulers and it came to be
designated as Pala School of Sculptural art.
 Sculptural Art

• The art incorporated lot of local characteristics in Bengal

under the Palas and it continued right up to the end of the
12 the century.
• In the museums in Bangladesh and West Bengal the most
notable exhibits are the innumerable beautiful sculptures on
Rajmahal black basalt stone.
• The deities seemed to have assumed life through the
masterly caring of the sculptors.
 Earliest Vestige of Bengali
Language

• The Proto-Bengali language developed under the Pala rule.

• Charjapada, the earliest shred of Bengali language, is
deemed to have been developed during the Pala reign.
 Some important features

• Bengal language flourished.

• Great patrons of art and culture.
• Islam appeared for the first time.
• Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia.
Sen Dynasty (1097 AD-1202/04 AD)

• Samanta Sen
• Hemanta Sen
• Bijoy Sen, most important ruler from the dynasty
• Laxman Sen
• Keshab Sen
 • Sen Dynasty ruled the entire
Bengal for about 100 years.
• Bijoy Sen served as in the army of
Pala Dynasty and taking advantage
Sen Dynasty of the internal rift in the empire, he
defeated Madanpala and took over
power.
 • He brought Magadh and Mithila
under the rule.
• He had great writing flare.
Wrote Dan Sagar and Advhut
Ballal Sen Sagar.
• Many historians suggested that
he initiated Koulinya Pratha.
 • Laxman Sen came to power at
the age of 60.
• After being driven away by
Ikhtiar Muhammad Bakhtiar
Khilji, Laxman Sen took shelter
Laxman Sen in Bikrampur, Narshindi.
• He stayed there for two years
until his death and his sons
ruled parts of East Bengal from
there.
 • Ruled Bengal for little over a
century (around 100 years).
• Noted for bringing the whole of
Bengal under a single rule for
the first time in history.
Sena • Senas came from Karnata.
Dynasty • Many historical accounts
(1097-1204) suggest that Sena came from
Karnat and started to live in
Gaur area.
 • Samantasena, the head-garland of
Brahma Ksatriyas proceeded
towards Rameshvara-Setubandha
and subdued the wicked despoilers
of the Laksmi of Karnata.
• Samantasena spent his early life in
Samantasena the Karnata country and held some
power.
• But in the last days he settled
down on the bank of the Ganges.
• He came to Bengal in his old age
and lived somewhere near in the
Ganges.
 • It may be that a Karnata official in
the service of the Pala empire
gradually acquired power to set up
an independent position
• The disruption of the Pala
kingdom following the revolt of
Hemantasena Samantas probably offered him an
opportunity to carve out an
independent principality in Radha.
• Hementasena held the position of
feudatory chief in the Pala empire
and extended his support for the
protection of his overlord.
 • Bijaysena, son of Hemntasena,
laid the foundation of the
independent rule of the Senas.
• It appears from his records that he
inherited the position of a
subordinate rule under the Palas
in the Radha area.
Bijaysena • Among the fourteen Samanta
kings who helped Rampala in his
recovery of Varendra, there was
one known as Vijayaraja of
Nidravali.
• He was perhaps identical with
Vijaysena.
 • Vijaysena obtained an independent
position in Radha in recognition of
his help to Ramapala who fought
against the Kaivartas.
• He defeated the Palas and
captured the throne of Gauda
Bijaysena afterwards.
• His queen Vilasadevi was princess
of the Shura Dynasty.
• Vijaysena’s matrimonial relation
with the Shura family enabled him
to establish his political power
Radha.
 • Thus by the middle of the 12th
century AD Vijaysena
supplanted the Varmans, ousted
the Palas and succeeded in
establishing the rule of his own
Vijayasena dynasty over the whole of
Bengal.
• He had a long reign of 62 years
(c. 1098-1160 AD).
 • Vijayasena was succeeded by
his son Vallalasena.
• He had some military
achievements to his credit.
• Vallalsena’s name is connected
with the introduction to the
Vallalasena practice of Kulinism in Bengal.
• It is believed that Vallalasena
with a view to reorganizing the
social system introduced the
system of Kulinism.
Kulinism

• Through this system the ranks were bestowed upon a

very few in consideration for their sort of nobility in the
society known as Kulina.
• It is known that Kulinism was the strongest force
among the Bengali Brahmins in the 18th and 19th
centuries AD.
• Hence it is quite probable that the advocates of
Kulinism tried to give a historical basis to it and
claimed its origin from the time of the Hindu king,
Vallalasena.
Kulinism

• Brahmanas, belonging to various branches of Vedic

school and performing religious rites, had settled in
large number all over Bengal.
• The power and position Brahmanass in the society grew
considerably, and this was initially felt necessary for the
consideration of the power of the kings who came from
outside Bengal.
Kulinism

• But the growth of Brahmanas at one stage became

matters of a serious concern for the rulers.
• Hence, the promulgation of Kulinism may be
considered a fine excuse for dividing the Brahmanas
and thIt may be that a Karnata official in the service of
the Pala empire gradually acquired power to set up an
independent position and thereby weakening the r
power as a potentil challenge to the authority of the
king.
Kulinism

• In other words, this proved to be very effective method of

wooing an influential section of Brahmanical community to the
side of royal power.
• The system of Kulinims led to the practice of polygamy and
other controversial norms.
• The system lingered, diluted and distorted beyond recognition
towards the 18th and 19th centuries.
• It became a social malady.
 • It is evident from the Sena
epigraphs and tradition that
Vallasena was a great scholar
and renowned auhtor.
• He wrote the Danasagara in
Vallalsena 1168 and started writing
Abdhutasagara in 1169 but
(1160-78 could not complete it.
AD) • It is learnt from the
Adbhutasagara that in his old
age Vallasena left the
responsibility of his government
to his son Laksmansena.
 • Laxmanasena succeeded his father
Vallalasena.
• It is evident from the records of his reign
that before he came to power he defeated
the king of Gauda and Varanasi (Kasi)
and made expeditions against Kamarupa
and Kalinga.
Laxmanasena • Laxmanasena came to the throne at a
fairly old age.
• His reign was famous for remarkable
literary activities.
• He himself wrote many Sanskrit poems
and complete the Adbhutasagara, which
was started by his father.
 • His court assembled of several
renowned poets like Jayadeva, the
author Gitagovind;Sharana, Dhyoi,
the composer of Pavanduta and
probably Govardhana.
• Laksamnsena was famous for his
exceptional qualities and proverbial
Laxamansena generosity.
• Indeed his generosity even attracted
the attention of Minhaj-us-Siraj, the
author of the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, who
designated him as the great Rae of
Bengal and compared him with
Sultan Qutubuddin.
 • However he became too weak to run
the administration of his empire
towards the close of his reign.
• During this time there were signs of
disruption and disintegration within
his empire.
• Contemporary epigraphic records
Laxamansena refer to the emergence of a number of
independent chiefs in different parts
of the Sena kingdom which broke its
solidarity and pave the way of its
decline.
• However, Muhammad Bakhtiyar
Khalji, gave the final blow to the
Sena kingrom (1204 AD).
 • After the death of Laxamnasena
in 1206 AD, his two sons
Vishvaraupasena and
Keshavasena occupied the
throne one after the other.
End of Sena • No detailed account of their
Rule reign is available
• Southern and Eastern parts of
Bengal were under their
domination for a period of
nearly 25 years.
 • The rule of Sneaas in Bengal is
usually connected with the
emergence of orthodox Hinduism
in a Hindu-Buddhist society which
for long had enjoyed the peaceful
coexistence.
Sena’s • The onslaught on the Buddhists in
Legacy Bengal is believed to have started
in this period, which resulted in
large scale Buddhist migration to
the neighboring countries.
• The Sena period witnessed the
development of Sanskrit literature.
 • Vallalsena and Laxmanasena
were royal authors of Sanksrit
Sena’s texts.
Legacy • Sculptural art developed under
the patronage of the Sena kings
and courtiers.
Attack from
Khalji
Summarize