Sena dynasty
Also called: Senas of Bengal, Senas · Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "Turning Tides: The 11th and 12th Centuries"
Meaning
The Senas were the dynasty that took over Bengal after the Palas, in the late 11th and 12th centuries. Their capital was Nadiya (Nadia). The Palas had backed Buddhism. The Senas instead backed Hindu learning and Hindu religion. Their rule ended when the Turks first conquered Bengal.
Example
The poet Jayadeva, who wrote the Gitagovindam about Krishna and Radha, lived at the court of the Sena king Lakshmana Sena. In 1203–04, Bakhtiyar Khilji made a surprise attack on Nadiya. Lakshmana Sena fled, and the Turks took over much of Bengal.
Don't confuse with
- Palas: the earlier dynasty of eastern India, founded by Gopala (750 CE). The Palas backed Mahayana Buddhism and founded Vikramashila. The Senas came after them and backed Hinduism.
Related concepts
- Agnikula legend
- Paramaras
- Raja Bhoja
- Bhojeshwar temple
- Bhojshala
- Samarangana Sutradhara
- Chandela dynasty
- Khajuraho group of monuments
- Kandariya Mahadeva temple
- Chaulukya dynasty