Skip to main content

Medieval History Weekend 9: The Sena dynasty and The Pratihara Dynasty

 History Weekend

Before I dive in, first I should tell you about this page. This page holds some infamous, famous and information about the origin of the earth continents, countries and their history of survivals.

If you are new to my kingdomprincy.blogspot.com History Weekend, then check out the Ancient History Series.


The Sena dynasty

Sena dynasty, Indian dynasty ruling in Bengal in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. Their ancestors came from the south and established themselves as chieftains in southwestern Bengal early in the 11th century. 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 the king. Vijayasena (reigned c. 1095–1158), built an empire on the ruins of that of the Palas, gaining control of all Bengal and northern Bihar.


The Senas originally belonged to the Karnata country (Karnatadeshatagata) in South India, the Kanarese speaking region in modern Mysore, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh of India, and they were Brahma-Ksatriyas (those who were Brahmanas first and became Ksatriyas afterwards).


Sena rule in Bengal brought about a marked revival of orthodox Hinduism. The caste system, which had become careless because of the Buddhist influence of the Palas. It was re-established, and the Bengali system of hypergamy, the socially upward marriage of women, was reputedly founded by the Sena king Vallalasena. The last Sena king, Lakshmanasena (reigned c. 1178– c. 1205), became a great patron of literature; the poets Jayadeva and Dhoyi wrote at his court on Nadia. Lakshmanasena was expelled from Nadia in 1202 by the Turkish chief Muḥammad Bakhtyār Khaljī and died about three years later. Sena kings continued to rule in eastern Bengal for some decades, but the main political power in Bengal passed to the Muslims.


The Sena dynasty is famous for building Hindu temples and monasteries, which include the renowned Dhakeshwari Temple in what is now Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In Kashmir, the dynasty also likely built a temple knows as Sankara Gaureshwara.



The Pratihara Dynasty


Pratihara also called Gurjana Pratihara because they were related to Gurjan (today's known as Gujrat). The Gurjara-Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River. They were the protector of the north-west India region cause they resisted the Arab incursion through Sindh.


Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin in the Caliphate campaigns in India. Under Nagabhata II, the Gurjara-Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in northern India. He was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly before being succeeded by his son, Mihira Bhoja

Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire reached its peak of prosperity and power. By the time of Mahendrapala, the extent of its territory resembled that of the Gupta. Empire stretching from the border of Sindh in the west to Bengal in the east. It is stretching from the Himalayas in the north to areas past the Narmada in the south. The expansion triggered a tripartite power struggle. The Rashtrakuta and Pala empires have control of the Indian Subcontinent. During this period, Imperial Pratihara took the title of Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta (Great King of Kings of India).




Gurjara-Pratihara is known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion-style temples. The most famous, development of their temple architecture was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


In 915 A.D. the Kanauj was attacked by a Rashtrakuta king, who devastated the city leading to the weakening of the Pratihara Empire. In 1018, Kannauj then ruled by Rajyapala Pratihara was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni. The empire broke into independent Rajput states.



Other Useful Post

Dear readers, share your thoughts. Let me know in the comment.


Until my next blog post, here's wishing you lots of joy and happiness!

With love,

Princy

Thank you for reading.

Free feel to share, comment and don't forget to follow.

Now you can also follow me on social media Twitter|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|Youtube.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

History Weekend 4: The Era of Buddhism

 History Weekend Before I dive in, first I should tell you about this page. This page holds some infamous, famous and information about the origin of the earth continents, countries and their history of survivals. Disclaimer This post may contain affiliate links where at no additional price to you, I may receive a commission if you use them. I only recommend products I use, trust, and adore.   You can also check out my series on the history weekend . The Era of Buddhism Buddhism , religion and philosophy that developed from the teachings of the Buddha . (Sanskrit: “ Awakened One ”) It spread like fire across Asia . It has played a central role in the spiritual, culture, and social life. At the beginning of the 20th century, it spread to the West. Follow me on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest . He Became The Budha The Buddha was born a prince of the Sakya clan and was n...

Enlightening Diwali: Unveiling the Festival of Lights

 Greetings, Dear Readers, Diwali, the enchanting Festival of Lights, stands as one of the most majestic and revered celebrations of the year. However, the true essence and significance of this radiant festival often elude many of us. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, finds its roots in the Sanskrit words "deep" (meaning light) and "wali" (meaning row). Diwali, a cherished Hindu festival, is a glorious tribute to joy, triumph, and unity. Enveloped in a tapestry of captivating tales and ancient myths, this festival embodies the victorious return of Lord Rama to his homeland after a strenuous 14-year exile, signifying the eternal conquest of good over evil. "Diwali illuminates the triumph of righteousness over darkness." Amidst the luminous festivities, people pay their heartfelt respects to two divine deities— Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi . Lord Ganesha, revered as the Remover of Obstacles , shines for his profound wisdom and intelligence. Goddess La...

Take control of your life

Greeting Readers A smooth sea never made a  skilled sailor We all have certain ambitions in our life and willing to take action towards achieving them. That person is not out there. You create that person you want to become. I am working on myself every day. I create myself with my habits with my mindset , my interests . I am creating my story every day , and I have a chance to start a new chapter . You can let go of that you don't know what to do in life, just by accepting how you feel. Don't let society  "whatsoever they think?". Take control of your life. They don't care: How are you feeling? then why should we care? To control your life: First, you have to accept your life as your own and should have self-realization that you are the only one who can change it at any moment. I do remember I used to think that "I won't start a blog. What if no one reads it. And what if someone laughs at me?" The core truth is, there is no "if" . Take...