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HARSHAVARDHAN
POST GUPTA
Background of Harsha
• After the decline of Gupta Empire, a number of Kingdoms appeared in the North India:
• Maukhari Dynasty in the core Ganga Valley Region.
• Harshavardhana’s ancestors (Pushyabhutis) in western U.P., eastern Punjab with their capitals
at Kannauj and Thaneswar (Panipat-Topara).
• Further east, Shashank (7th century CE) ruled over Bengal (Gauda).
• In South, after Vakatakas who were contemporaries of Guptas, Chalukyas of Badami ruled over Deccan and
further South was the Kingdom of Pallavas of Kanchi.

Introduction
• Harsha, also called Harshavardhana, (born c. 590 CE—died c. 647), was a ruler of a large empire in northern
India from 606 to 647 CE.
• Harsha’s reign seemed to mark a transition from the ancient to the medieval period, when decentralized
regional empires continually struggled for hegemony.

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• He was the last ruler of the Vardhana Empire, the last great empire in ancient India before the Islamic
Invasion.
• After the fall of great Gupta Empire in the middle of the 6th century CE, under whom India saw its own
golden age, it was Harshavardhana who unified most of northern India and ruled for four decades from his
capital Kanyakubja.

History and Extent

• The Pushyabhuti dynasty, also known as the Vardhana dynasty, came into prominence after the decline of
the Gupta Empire.
• He was succeeded by his elder son, Rajyavardhana.
• After his brother’s death, at the age of 16, Harshavardhana became the undisputed ruler of
Thaneshwar (modern-day Haryana).
• Being one of the largest Indian empires of the 7th Century CE, it covered the entire North and North-
western India.
• In the east, his empire extended till Kamarupa and ran all the way down to the Narmada River.
• It is said that his empire was spread across the present day states of Orissa, Bengal, Punjab and the
whole of Indo-Gangetic plain.
• The Vardhana Empire consisted of two distinctive types of territories: areas directly under Harsha’s
rule such as Central Provinces, Gujarat, Bengal, Kalinga, Rajputana, and
• The states and kingdoms which had become feudatories under him including Jalandhar, Kashmir, Nepal,
Sind, Kamarupa (modern-day Assam).

Administration and the Empire

• It is said that Harshavardhana’s empire reminded many of the great Gupta Empire, as his administration
was similar to that of the administration of the Gupta Empire.
• There was no slavery in his empire and people were free to lead their life according to their wish.
• His empire also took good care of the poor by building rest houses that provided all the amenities required.
• In many texts, Harshavardhana has been described as a noble emperor who made sure all his subjects
stayed happy.
• He did not impose heavy taxes on his people and the economy was somewhat self-sufficient.
• His capital Kannauj (in present day Uttar Pradesh) attracted many artists, poets, religious leaders and
scholars who traveled from far and wide.
• He also maintained cordial relations with the Chinese. He even sent an Indian mission to China, establishing
a diplomatic relationship between India and China.
• The famous Chinese monk and traveler Hieun-Tsang spent eight years in his empire.
• During the course of his rule, Harshavardhana built a strong army.
• Historical records suggest that he had 100,000 strong cavalry, 50,000 infantry and 60,000 elephants
during the peak of his reign.
• Further, during Harsha’s reign, there was paucity of coins in most parts of North India. This fact suggests
that the economy was feudal in nature.
• Independent rulers, collectively known as ‘Mahasamantas,’ paid tribute to Harshavardhana and also
helped him by supplying military reinforcements.
• This played an important role in the expansion of Harshavardhana’s empire.
• The ‘sreshti’ (Chief Banker or Merchant), the ‘sarthavaha’ (Leader of Merchant Caravans),
‘prathamakulika’ (Chief Craftsman), and the ‘kayashthas’ (head of the scribes) were other important officers
of administration.
• Maintenance of Public Records is an important feature of Harsha rule.

Art and Education

• Harsha was a patron of both art and education. He himself was an author and wrote three Sanskrit plays,
• Nagananda, Ratnavali, Priyadarshika. One-fourth of his revenue went for patronizing scholars.
• Further, Hiuen Tsang gives a quite vivid description of the famous Nalanda University which was at
its zenith during Harsha’s reign.

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• Nalanda had around 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

• The curriculum included Vedas, Buddhism, philosophy, logic, urban planning, medicine, law,
astronomy, etc
• Also, a famous Indian writer and poet named Banabhatta served as the ‘Asthana Kavi’ (primary poet of the
kingdom) in the court of Harshavardhana.

Society and Religion

• Caste system was prevalent among Hindus. They were divided into four castes or varna:
• Brahmana, Vaishya, Kshariya and Shudra, which among them had their own subcastes.
• The status of women declined as compared to the liberal era of earlier times.
• Satipratha (widow immolation) was common, and widow remarriage was not allowed in higher
castes.
• Harsha was a worshiper of Shiva in the beginning but later became a Mahayana Buddhist.
• Yet, he was tolerant of other faiths.
• With a view to popularize and propagate the doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism, Harsha arranged at
Kanyakubja a great assembly which was presided over by Hiuen Tsang, in 643 CE.
• Also, every five years religious ceremonies were celebrated at the ancient city of Allahabad.
• Here, he held the ceremony of Dana, or giving, which lasted for three months. During this, most of the
wealth accumulated in the last five years was exhausted.

Death and Legacy

• Harsha’s empire marked the beginning of feudalism in India.
• Land was granted in villages, which made the local landlords powerful.
• This led to the weakening of the empire and gave rise to local feuds. Harsha had to be in constant
movement to keep things in order.
• After ruling over most parts of North India for more than 40 years, Harsha died in 647 C.E.
• Since he did not have any heirs his empire collapsed and disintegrated rapidly into small states.
• The demise of King Harshavardhana marked the end of the mighty Vardhana dynasty.

Q) The ruler of which of the following dynasties invaded Malaya to free its trade with China?
(a) Pallava
(b) (b) Rashtrakuta
(c) (c) Chalukya
(d) (d) Chola

Q) Who was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty?

(a) Pulakesin- I
(b) (b) Kirtivarman
(c) (c) Narasimhava
(d) (d) Mangalesa

Q) Ravikirti was the court poet of which Chalukya ruler?

(a) Bhima II
(b) (b) Kirtivarman II
(c) (c) Pulakeshin II
(d) (d) Vikramaditya II

Q) During the reign of which of the following rulers, the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang came to India?
(a) Harshvardhan
(b) (b) Samudragupta
(c) (c) Ashoka
(d) (d) Chandragupta II

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Q) Who among the following defeated Harshavardhana when he invaded the Chalukya kingdom in the Deccan?
(a) Mangalesha
(b) (b) Pulakesin II
(c) (c) Vikramaditya I
(d) (d) Kirtivarman I

Q) The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kannauj, composed in Sanskrit by his court
poet,_______.
(a) Kamban
(b) (b) Jinsena
(c) (c) Banabhatta
(d) (d) Dandin

Ashoka’s Edicts
► Most of these edicts are written in Prakrit in Brahmi script.
► Some are also written in Greek, Kharosthi and Aramaic scripts.
► The language depended on the location of the edict.
► James Princep was a European scholar who deciphered the edicts of the Ashoka.

Major Rock Edicts

► Major Rock Edicts are 14 separate Edicts which are explained significantly. All the major Rock Edicts contain
the almost same information.
► Major Rock Edicts are found at 10 different places. They are
► Girnar (near Junagadh), Gujarat
► Shahbazgarhi, Pakistan (Kharosthi script)
► Yerragudi, Kurnool district, AP
► Dhauli, near Bhubaneswar, Odisha
► Jaugada, Ganjam dist, Odisha
► Sopara, Maharashtra
► Kalsi (near Dehradun), Uttarakhand
► Sannati, Gulbarga, Karnataka
► Kandhara Greek inscription, Afghanistan

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There were 14 Major Rock Edicts

► Major Rock Edict 1: Prohibits animal slaughter and bans festive gatherings (killing of animal Ban).
► Major Rock Edict 2: Care for man and animals (describes about Chola, Pandyas, Satyapura and Keralputra
kingdoms of South India).
► Major Rock Edict 5: Talks about
Dhammamahamtras and treating slaves
right.
► Major Rock Edict 7: Tolerance of all
religions.
► Major Rock Edic 13: Mentions victory over
Kalinga.
► Ashoka uses his name only in four of
these places namely:
► Maski (KR),
► Gujjara (MP),
► Nettur (AP),
► Udegolam, Karnataka.

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Edict: Ashokan Inscription Details

► Pillar Edict I: Ashoka’s principle of protecting his people. All officer follow Dhamma.
► Pillar Edict II: Talking about Dhamma in Detail.
► Pillar Edict III: Avoiding practices of cruelty, sin, harshness, pride and anger among his subjects.
► Pillar Edict IV: Responsibilities of the Rajukas.
► Pillar Edict V: List of animals and birds that should not be killed on certain days. Another list which mentions
animals that should never be killed.
► Pillar Edict VI: Dhamma policy of the state.
► Pillar Edict VII: Works done by Ashoka for Dhamma Policy (Only in Delhi)

Other Pillar Inscriptions:

► Rummindei Pillar Inscription: Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini and exemption of Lumbini from tax.
► Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription: It was originally located at Kapilvastu. It mentions that Ashoka increased the
height of stupa of Buddha Konakamana to its double size.

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