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On the Reign of Vijayasena

By Nalini Nath Das Gupta

Vol. 37 · No. 4December - 1961pp. 253–260English

Summary

Focusing on Vijayasena of the Sena dynasty, this article uses inscriptions from Gauda, Bhitari and Deopara alongside literary sources to reconstruct his reign. Vijayasena adopted imperial titles and claimed to have conquered Gauda after displacing the Palas, yet some seals imply that he shared control with residual Pala rulers. The article analyses regnal dates and genealogies to propose a reign around 1095–1158 CE. It argues that Vijayasena consolidated Sena authority across northern Bengal and parts of Bihar but faced resistance from local chiefs. His achievements set the stage for further expansion under Ballala Sena. The study emphasises careful cross‑reading of inscriptions to understand early medieval state formation in eastern India.

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Conclusion

Vijayasena emerges as a transitional ruler who established Sena dominance in Gauda while negotiating with residual Pala authorities and regional elites. His reign illustrates the complexities of dynastic change, highlighting incremental consolidation rather than abrupt conquest.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “The internal revolt of a number of feudatory chicfs ( milit = ananta-Samanta-cakra) against Mahipala 1I of the Pala dynasty in the third quarter of the eleventh century constitutes a striking phenomenon in ૬11૯ early medieval history of Bcngal.,”
  • “1).We may thus conclude that Divya only reaped the fruit of the revolt of the Samantas and was the murderer of Mahx'pa;la”
  • “According to the = testimony of the Deopara prasasti of Vijayasena, he has not only defeated Nanya II buc also imprisoned him along with three other chiefs, viz, Vira, Vardhana- and Raghava.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Ramacarita of Sandhyakara-Nandi
  2. IHQ., XXI, 22. 222-23
  3. History of Bengal, published by the Dacca University, Vol. I, p. 154, fn. 1
  4. Deopira prasasti
  5. Naihati copper-plate inscription of Vallalasena

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In this issue

Vol. 37 · No. 4
127–160Astronomical Evidence on the Age of the RgvedaNarendra Nath Law217–224Ahraura Inscription of AsokaS. Sankarnarayana225–239Some Unidentified Rare Sculptures from AbicchatraK. N. Sastri240–245The Later Mauryas in Indian HistoryG. S. Gai246–252A New Study of Harsa-Pulakesin WarNisar Ahmad253–260On the Reign of VijayasenaNalini Nath Das GuptaCurrent article261–278Dasarajna (Battle of the Ten Kings)C. Kunhan Raja279–286A Note on the “Pusyamitras” of the Bhitari InscriptionUpendra Thakur287–292An Appendix to the new edition of the BodhicaryavataraSujitkumar Mukhopadhyaya293–294Review: Rgyan-Drug Mchog-GnyisJitendra Nath Banerjee295–299Select Contents of Oriental Journals

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