Lakshmana Sena

Lakshmana Sena (reign: 1178–1206), also called Lakshman Sen in modern Indian languages, was the ruler from the Sena dynasty of the Bengal region on the Indian subcontinent. His rule lasted for 28 years; but was limited only to a small part of present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh. He is known for his cowardice in battle against invasions made by Bakhtiyar Khilji.

Lakshmana Sena
King of Bengal
Reign1178–1206
PredecessorBallala Sena
SuccessorVishvarupa Sena

Madhava Sena

Keshava Sena
SpouseTandra Devi
IssueVishvarupa Sena
Keshava Sena
Madhava Sena
HouseSena
FatherBallala Sena
MotherRamadevi
Sena dynasty
1070 CE–1230 CE
Samanta Sena –
Hemanta Sena (1070 – 1096)
Vijaya Sena (1095 – 1158)
Ballala Sena (1158 – 1179)
Lakshmana Sena (1179 – 1206)
Vishvarupa Sena (1206 – 1225)
Keshava Sena (1225 – 1230)

Reign

Lakshmana Sena succeeded his father Ballala Sena. The history of his reign can be reconstructed from the epigraphs of his time that include the Deopara Prashasti stone inscriptions and copper plates from his successors. Tabaqt-i-Nasiri, composed by 1260, is another source of information about his reign.

In his youth, Lakshmana Sena led military campaigns against Gauḍa, Kamarupa, Kalinga and Varanasi (under the rule of Gahadavala King Jayachandra), and helped his grandfather Vijaya Sena and father Ballala Sena to expand the borders of the Sena kingdom. However, he ascended to the throne of Bengal himself at an advanced age.

Lakshmana Sena was interested in literature and composed a number of Sanskrit poems. He completed Adbhuta Sagara, a book incompletely written by his father. He assembled some of the major figures in contemporary Sanskrit literature-- Jayadeva, Dhoyin and Sharan—as his court poets. Among his other courtiers, Sridharadasa, Halayudh Mishra and Umapati Dhara also produced important treatises and works of literature.[1] Lakshman Sena established a calendar era called Lakshmana Era that was used in Bengal and Bihar for at least 400 years.[2][3] He also founded the prominent medieval city of Lakhnauti.[3]

He was a devoted Vaishnav and took up titles like Paramavaisnava or Paramanarasingha to reflect that.[1]

After subjugating Bihar in 1200,[4] Turko-Afghan invader Bakhtiyar Khaliji's forces entered Nabadwip in Bengal. Bakhtiyar defeated Lakshmana Sena in 1203, marking the start of Muslim rule in Bengal.[5] Subsequently, Bakhtiyar went on to capture the capital and the principal city, Lakhnauti,[6] and conquered most of Bengal.[7] Lakshmana Sena fled and retreated to Bikrampur in east Bengal and continued to live as a titular king until his death in 1206.[1]

See also

References
  1. Misra, Chitta Ranjan. "Laksmanasena". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  2. F., Kielhorn (1890). "The Epoch of the Lakshmanasena Era". The Indian Antiquary, A Journal of Oriental Research. XIX.
  3. Sarkar, Anil Kumar (October 2013). "History of Bengal as Reflected in the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri of Minhaj Uddin us Siraj". TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies. 5: 31.
  4. Sarkar, Jadunath, ed. (1973) [First published 1948]. The History of Bengal. Vol. II. Patna: Academica Asiatica. p. 3. OCLC 924890. Bakhtyār led his army a second time in the direction of Bihar in the year... 1200 A.D.
  5. "District Website of Nadia". Government of West Bengal.Retrieved: 11 January 2014
  6. Sarkar, Jadunath, ed. (1973) [First published 1948]. The History of Bengal. Vol. II. Patna: Academica Asiatica. p. 8. OCLC 924890. Bakhtyār fairly completed his conquest of the Varendra tract with the ... city of Gaur before the year 599 A.H.
  7. Sen, Amulyachandra (1954). Rajagriha and Nalanda. Institute of Indology. Vol. 4. Calcutta: Calcutta Institute of Indology, Indian Publicity Society. p. 52. OCLC 28533779.


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