<P> The founder of the Sena rule was Samantasena who described himself as a Kshatriya of Karnata (Karnataka). He himself stated that he fought the outlaws of Karnata and later turned an ascetic . The inscriptions of the Sena kings mention them as Brahma - Kshatriyas or Kshatriyas . Otherwise, sources have identified them with the Vaidya as well as the Ambashtha caste or sub-caste, considered as a mixed caste, being born of Brahmin father and Vaishya mother, and they married with and were identified with the Bengali Vaidyas (commonly known as Baidyas in Bengal) in Vaidya Kula - panjikas (family - tree accounts). </P> <P> Sena Dynasty had ruled Bengal for little over a century (c 1097--1225). The emergence of the dynasty, which supplanted the Palas in Bengal towards the close of 11th century A.D., had constituted a significant epoch in the history of ancient India . Taking advantage of the revolt of Samantachakra in Varendra during the reign of Mahipala II, Vijayasena, founder of the Sena dynasty, gradually consolidated his position in western Bengal and ultimately assumed an independent position during the reign of Madanapala . One important aspect of Sena rule in Bengal is that the whole territory of Bengal was brought under a single rule for the first time . It is likely impossible to provide definite information to the question as to how the family entered Bengal . The Sena records also are amazingly silent about this . </P> <P> The Sena kings claim in their own inscriptions that they are Brahma - Kshatriyas . Their remote ancestor was one Virasena, whose name was supposed to have been mentioned in Puranas . The "Deopara Inscription" of the Senas also traces the Sena ancestry from Virasena . Since there are no authentic records available still, a keen controversy prevails among scholars regarding origin of the Senas . </P> <P> Like the origin of the Senas, their early history or circumstances, which led them to concentrate in Bengal is also still unknown . It has been presumed by historians that the Senas came to Bengal on the eve of the invading army led by the Chalukya kings Vikramaditya VI and Someswara III . Some scholars have also suggested that when Rajendra Chola's army had invaded Bengal, the Senas had accompanied them . According to some other historians, a few Karnataka officials, who were subordinate to the Pala kings, had established their independent kingdom in the region of Radha, taking advantage of the weakness of the Pala powers . Those Karnataka chiefs might have arrived in Bengal in wake of the Chalukya invasion and had settled into a kingdom of their own . According to historians Samantasena was such a chief who had established his independent kingdom in the Radha region of Bengal . </P>

Which dynasty described itself as the brahma kshatriya