2. The Chronology of the Sena Kings. 
By R. C. Masumpar, M.A., Px.D. 
_ The chronology of the Sena kings has formed the subject 
of a keen and protracted discussion for a long time past. 
earlier views on this very 'important question possess at present 
but an academic interest and have been summarised by 
Mr. N. Basu in J.A.8.B. Vol. LXV, part I, pp. 16 ff. The 
determination of the true epoch of the Laksmanasena era by 
Dr. Kielhorn! has placed the question on an altogether new 
basis, and the theories that are at present held on the subject 
may be broadly divided into two classes. 
1. That the initial date of the era, 1118-19 A.D, is the date 
of the accession of Laksmanasena, the grandson of Vijayasena, 
the founder of the greatness of the dynasty. 
2, That Laksmanasena ascended the throne long after the 
initial date of the era which commemorates either his birth or 
the accession of one of his predecessors. 
date of Laksmanasena is thus the crucial point, and 
before we proceed further we must examine the validity of the 
contention that the epoch of the Laksmanasena era must be the 
date of his accession. 
Mr. R. D. Banerji, the staunchest and the most consistent 
supporter of this theory, states his case in the following 
words?: ‘‘None of the Indian eras, now known, seem to have 
been started by one king and adopted and renamed by any one 
of his successors.”’ The evident implication, of course, is that 
the era which is associated with the name of Laksmanasena 
must have been started by him 
- Tt is no use discussing the general principle laid down by 
Mr. Banerji, for the truth of the matter seems to be that the 
esav: Visva- 
made to any era. Asa matter of fact not a single instance of 
the official use of this era has been discovered as yet and it seems 
to have been almost unknown in the home provinces of the 
Senas. These considerations are decidedly against the assump- 
tion that the era was ever formally started by any king of 
the Sena dynasty. It cannot thus be maintained, from 
general considerations alone, that the initial date of the era is 
the date of Laksmanasena’s accession. 
1 Ind. Ant., 1890, p. | ff. 
2 J.A.8,B., Vol, IX, p. 277. 
