Lecture-3

Course-NCH101 section-01 Faculty: Dr. Talim Hossain

Topic Hindu-Buddhist Dynasties in Bengal

The Main Focuses

Pre-historical Perionds: Until Mid 4th Century AD The Gupta Dynasties: Mid 4th to late 6th century AD The Period of Sasanka and Lawlessness: Late 6th to mid 8th Cent. The Pala Dynasties: 750 1096 AD The Sena Dynasties: 1096-1223

Pre-historical Periods: Up to mid 4th Cent. AD

Difficult Construction of History
- Moderately in the pre-Muslim - Acutely in the pre-Gupta

Aryans in Bengal: 5th c.BC-5th c.AD. First settlement in Bengal- 10,000 years or more. Aryan influences affected Bengal culture. 4th cen.AD onward-Aryans domination(pol&his)
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Pre-hist. Periods: Up to mid 4th Cent. AD

Pundranagar/Mahasthangarh bears testimony of Maurya rule in 3rd c. BC- earliest urban settlement in Bengal Fine cotton fabric in Vanga in 3rd c.BC. Pick in 16th & 17th AD Fall of Maurya- 2nd BC and Rise of Gupta in 4th c. AD. Obscure in between. First 2 cent. BC- capital at Gange- trade with China and Vanga was a maritime country.
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The Gupta Dynasties: mid 4th-late 6th c.AD

The Gupta dynasty ruled India from 320 to 550 AD. The important kings were: Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta, Buddhagupta Main features: - Earliest instance of self governtment - Golden Age of Indian history - Bengal became part of All India empire. - Gupta monarch embraced Brahmanism and also patronized Buddhism and Jainism.
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The Gupta Dynasties: mid 4th-late 6th c.AD

- Inspired religion, education, sculpture art, mathematics, Sanskrit literature, drama etc. - Advancement of medicine, astronomy etc.

The Period of Sasanka and Lawlessness: Late 6th to mid 8th Cent.
Ruled approx. between 600 and 625 AD in Gauda, the territory between the river Padma and Bardhaman region. Anti Buddhist. First time aggressive in establishing supremacy over Northern India. After his death till the Palas the period was full of chaos and confusion (matsyanyay). Successive foreign invasions destroyed equilibrium. Everyone was king in their own house. Paved ways for the Palas.
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The Pala Dynasties: 750 1096 AD

Gopala founded the dyanasty. 18 generations ruled Bengal for almost 4 cent. Important kings were: Dharmapala, Devapala, Mohipala, Rampala. Important features:
Put an end to matsyanyayan Leaders surrendered voluntarily Example of subordinating private interest to public interest.
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The Pala Dynasties: 750 1096 AD

Attained over-lasting peace and was a glorious chapter. Empire expended beyond Bengal and Bihar up to Kanuj. The Palas were Buddhist. Samapura Mahabihara at Paharpur (Naogaon dist) is a monumental architecture of Dharmapala (largest in subcontinent and 2nd in the world). First time force in North Indian politics.
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The Pala Dynasties: 750 1096 AD

Stable govt. and sound administrative structure. Land based agriculture Trade and commerce were not important because of decline of port. Religious tolerance between Hindus and Buddhists. Brahmins posted in high state positions. Achievements in the field of arts (terracotta art).

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The Pala Dynasties: 750 1096 AD

In the Southeastern Bengal:
From break of Gupta to Senas never assimilated in the political system of North and Northwestern Bengal. But time to time there were attempts. By 1st half of 6th cent. Vanga was an Independent kingdom. Bikrampur was the capital. Moinamati rose under the Buddhist rulers (Deva rulers). Harikela and then Chandra rulers for 150 years and then the Varmana up to 1150 AD. They were Hindu. Sea trade emerged in their time.
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The Sena Dynasties: 1096-1223

Vijayasena founded Sena dynasty. Grabbed power from Ramapala. Defeated Varmans from the Southeastern Bengal (Vanga) and the ousted Palas from the Northern and Western Bengal. Important kings: Vijayasena, Vallalasena, Laksmanasena, Visvarupasena, Kesavasena. Ikhtiaruddin Md. Bin Bakhtiar Khalji (first Muslim) put an end to Senas in 1204 (in part of western and Northwestern Bengal) from Laksmanasena. His two sons ruled for sometime. Vikrampura- capital of Chandras and Varmans continued to be capital of Sena as well.
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The Sena Dynasties: 1096-1223

The Senas Rule:
They were Hindus. Period of revival of Hinduism Vallalasena- an orthodox Hindu, established social order with caste rigidity. Decline of Buddhism in Bengal ascrived to this change. It was not Islam which overcame Buddhism but of nearer origin (Hinduism). This enmity helped the cause of Islam in Bengal. 12th cent. Witnessed unprecedented flourishing of Sanskrit literary activities and sculpture art as well.

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