Topic: Historical Background of Ancient Bengal

Bengal under the Palas and the Senas

Matsya-nyaya in Bengal:
The political condition of Bengal after the death of
Sasanka was one of disorder and confusion.
Hiuen T-Sang came to visit Bengal immediately after
death of Sasanka and he found Bengal divided into
five principalities, namely, Kajangal,
Pundravardhana, Karnasurvarna, Samatata and
Tamralipti. Utkal and Kangod although had been
parts of Bengal had become independent.
The Palas:
Gopala Cir. 750-770 A.D.:
The establishment of the Pala rule in Bengal during the
middle of the eighth century A.D. was landmark in the
history of Bengal. From that time it is possible to write the
complete history of Bengal on the basis of historical
materials.
His efforts were crowned with success and Bengal enjoyed
a period of peace and prosperity under him. He founded
the Pala dynasty of Bengal.
Although much is not known about his reign, it is
believed that he brought whole of Bengal under his sway.
Dharmapala 770-810 A.D.:
Dharmapala, the second ruler of the Pala dynasty, was the real
founder of the power and supremacy of the Palas. Dharmapala
to establish mastery over Aryavarta proceeded towards
Aryavarta, Vatsyaraja also advanced with his army towards
Aryavarta. In the engagement between the two, Dharmapala
was defeated. At this point of time Druba, the Rashtrakuta
king of the south, also proceeded to establish his sway over
Aryavarta and defeated Vatsyaraja completely. Vatsyaraja had
to flee for his life.
When Dhruba and Vatsyaraja were engaged in war,
Dharmapala conquered Magadha, Varanasi, and Prayag. After
defeating Vatsyaraja Dhruba proceeded against Dharmapala
and defeated him. This defeat, however, did not mean any loss
of territory to Dharmapala. Soon after when Dhruba left for
the Deccan, Dharmapala found his opportunity to conquer
Aryavarta. He waged a number of wars but no details of these
wars have been found.
 Dharmapala 770-810 A.D.:

 The Tibetan historian Taranath has specifically mentioned that the

empire of Dharmapala extended from the Bay of Bengal in the north
to Delhi, Jullundhar, and to Vindhyas to the south. Dharmapala had
deposed Indrayudh from the throne of Kanauj and placed his own
nominee Chakrayudh on it.
 From the Khalimpur inscription of Dharmapala it is known that he
had summoned a Durbar at Kanauj which was attended by kings of
Bhoja, Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Jadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara, Kira,
etc. who endorsed his setting up of Chakrayudh to the throne of
Kanauj. This arrangement, however, did not last long. Indrayudh
with the help of the Gujara King Nagabhatta II defeated Chakrayudh
and Dharmapala and recovered Kanauj.

 Dharmapala took the title of Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja
which was significant of his sovereign status. He set up his capital at
Pataliputra and thereby revived its past glory. Dharmapala did not
abide his time in warfare only; he did much for the Buddhist religion
and higher education.
 The Second or the Revived Pala Empire:
 Mahipala :
 The greatest achievement of Mahipala was the expulsion of the
Kambojas and revival of the Pala Empire. When he ascended the
throne, Chandra dynasty was ruling in East Bengal and Sur dynasty was
ruling in West Bengal. From the inscriptions found on the bases of the
Vishnu image discovered Baghaura and Ganesh image found at
Narayanpur, in Comilla, it is known that Mahipala occupied East
Bengal within two-three years of his accession.
 The North and West Bengal also came under his possession. Among the
Sur kings of West Bengal, the Adisur famous in folk tales is specially
important. On his accession to the throne Mahipala conquered the
whole of Magadha, he also conquered Tirabhukti. His empire extended
from Varanasi and Mithila to East Bengal.
 Mahipala was a patron of Buddhism. In the eleventh year of his reign a
large Buddhist temple was caused to be constructed by him at Nalanda.
Some Buddhist temples were reconstructed by Mahipala’s relations
Sthirapala and Basantapala. During his reign the architecture of Bengal
took a new turn in style.
 The Senas: Samanta Sen: Hemanta Sen:
 In the middle of the eleventh century two brothers, Samanta Sen and Hemanta Sen
established a small kingdom at Kasipuri. Kasipuri is believed to be the present
Kasiari in the Mayurbhanj district. The Senas are supposed to have come from
Karnataka in the south. The Senas were originally feudatories of the Palas but when
the Palas had become very weak after Ramapala Vijay Sen, grandson of Samanta Sen,
dislodged the Palas from power and seized the throne of Bengal. From that time the
Senas acquired an independent status and gradually began to increase their power
and territory.
 Vijay Sen, Cir. 1095-1158:
 Vijay Sen was the first independent and powerful king of the Sen Dynasty. How he
had defeated the local kings of Radha, the Varma dynasty of East Bengal and the
Palas of North Bengal is not known. He was, however, not content with defeating the
Palas, he after having conquered major part of Bengal launched upon a career of
conquest of North Bihar, Orissa and Assam.
 It is learnt from Vallal Sen Charit written by Ananda, that Vijay Sen entered into a
friendly alliance with Chodganga, king of Kalinga. He married Bilasdevi, the
daughter of the King of South Radha, which enhanced his power and prestige
considerably. Vijay Sen defeated the Yadava dynasty of East Bengal and set up a
capital Vijaypur there.
 Much of the time of Vijay Sen’s reign was consumed in warfare. From the Deopara
inscription it is learnt that Vijay Sen defeated Naya, Vira, Raghava, Bardhana and
other local rulers as also the kings of Gauda, Kalinga and Kamrupa.
 Society and Culture under the Palas and the Senas:
 That politically the PalaAge constituted a glorious chapter

of the history of Bengal, nay of India, is agreed on all

hands. Not only political field but also in social, economic,
literary and cultural activities this period registered a great
development. Under the Senas, the political supremacy of
Bengal had been somewhat diminished but in social and
cultural development this period also was almost equally
great.
 Social Conditions:
 Hiuen T-Sang describing the prosperity of Bengal and the

social habits of the Bengalees one century before the rise

of the Palas, was full of praise about the character,
courage, honesty and culture of the Bengalees. Hiuen T-
Sang was specially pleased at the amiability and love of
education among the Bengalees.
 From the literary sources of the time of the Pala and the Sena rule we
come to know that characteristics noted by the Chinese traveler were all
present among the Bengalees during the Pala and the Sena rule. From the
literary sources we come to know that the Bengalees of the Pala-Sena
period were unostentatious, easy-going and simple in their daily life and
living.
 In Sandhyakar Nandi’s Ramcharit it is mentioned that society had

persons who were living a highly moral life and others who were given to
debauchery. This is borne out in the writings of Vatsayana. The Sena King
Vallal Sen had introduced Kulinism among the Brahmins, Vaidyas and
Kayasthas in order to maintain the racial purity of these sections of the
society.
 From this it is presumed that conservatism in caste system must have

prevailed at that time and marriage between different castes was not
permissible. The society then was divided mainly into Brahmins, Baidyas,
Kayasthas and Sudras.
 Position of women was very high in society. Holding women in high

respect was the traditional aspect of the Hindu culture.

 The praise of the women of the Pala and the Sena period is found in
contemporary literature.
 The Bengalees partook of food as they do at the present day. Rice, pulses,
vegetables, fish, meat, ghee, curd, milk and various preparations from rice
used to be taken by them. Sugar and molasses used to be produced in large
quantities in Bengal at that time.
 In matter of dresses there was no ostentation. The males used dhoti and
chaddar as their dress while women used sari. Bodices and a small orna were
also used. Sandal paste and camphor were used as perfumes by women.
Wooden sandales and sandles made of hides were used by men.
 Both the males and the females used to wear ornaments made of gold and
silver. Kundala, keyur, bangles, neck-laces, mekhala, rings, nose-studs,
anklets, etc., were the ornaments of the time. Ladies of the rich families
wore ornaments with jewels-set on them. Married women used vermilion on
their forehead.
 In social and religious functions dance, songs, music, etc., were a must.
There were various religious rites performed all throughout the year as is
done today. Games of various types, chess, etc., were the pastimes of the
people.
 Bullock cart, horse, elephant, palanquin, boats, etc., provided the means of
transport at that time. The women of the rich families used to travel in boats
and palanquins.
 Economic Condition:
 During the Pala and the Sena period the Bengalees lived in villages. Agriculture was the very
basis of the economic life of the people. Small industries and cottage industries as well as trade
and commerce also were highly developed. While the men engaged in trade and commerce
used to live in cities the women of the family would live in villages.
 People living in towns did so for earning livelihood. Although by far the largest number of the
population lived in villages there was no dearth of towns and cities which were wealthy and a
large section of the population of such towns and cities were well-to-do financially. The towns
and cities had wide roads on both sides of which stood buildings.
 The royal palace would have a golden pitcher at the top of the building. In Ramcharit by
Sandhyakar Nandi there is a nice description of the Pala capital Ramabati which was studded
with temples, stupas, monasteries, gardens, ponds and swimming pools, etc. Trees and
creepers of various kinds added to the beauty of the capital city. It was not a speciality for
Ramabati. Every town and city had similar decorative trees, ponds and gardens.
 During the Pala-Sena period Bengal was famous for small and cottage industrial products.
These were exported to Ceylon, Burma, Champa, Cambodia, Java, Siam, Sumatra, China, etc.,
through the ports of Tamralipti and Saptagram. Bengal had also trade relations with other
parts of India and caravans used to travel upto Tibet, Nepal and Central Asian countries by
land.
 Fine cotton cloth produced in Bengal used to be exported to the countries of East and West at
that time. In the account of an Arabian merchant Khordadbaha we find how a dhoti made of
finest cotton yarn in Bengal could be passed through a finger ring. From Suleiman, the Arab
merchant, we come to know that Bengal used to export horns of rhinoceros to China. In
Abhidhan Rantnamala there is a reference that tin used to be raised from tin mines in Bengal.
 From the above description it becomes clear that under the Pala- Sena period agriculture,