Eternal India Encyclopedia

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HARSHA OF KANAUJ c. 580 647 A.D.

Overview * One of the great rulers of India. * The empire was built by Harshavardhana who ruled it from 606-647 A.D. * The visit of Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang (630 and 644 A.D.). * Chief source of information is the writings of Hieun-Tsang and Banabhatta, supple- mented by epigraphic and numismatic evi- dences. Advent The kingdom of Thaneshwar (eastern Punjab) was founded by Pushpabhuti; but the real founder was supposed to be Prabhakar- vardhana (father of Harsha); by his conquests he attained the position of an emperor and left for Harsha, a great kingdom with solid founda- tion. Harsha occupied the throne after the death of his brother Rajyavardhana in 606 A.D.

with Pulakesin II (620 A.D.) a powerful king of Badami Chalukyas. Hiuen-Tsang says that Harsha himself guided the troops to fight against Pulakesin II but the superior war tactics of Pulakesin II resulted in the defeat of Harsha on the banks of river Narmada; "Pulakesin II guarded the passes on the Narmada so effectually that Harsha was constrained to retire discomfited and to accept that river as his frontier". (V.A. Smith); he also carried on war against king of Valabhi and Sind; the exact extent of his empire cannot be determined owing to conflicting claims of records. It is possible that it “comprised... the whole of the United Provinces, larger part of Bihar and Bengal, Orissa, parts of Punjab, Rajaputana, central and western India”. (Dr. R.K. Mookerji); maintained good relations with China, sent an envoy to Chinese court in 641 A.D. Received two Chinese missions (643, 646 A.D.) Harsha was the devotee of Siva, Surya and Buddha. He summoned a religious assembly at Kanauj in 643 A.D. presided over by Hiuen-Tsang a Chinese travellor and religious scholar; another assembly was convened at Prayaga; he was a man of letters, had in his court Banabhatta, who wrote Harshacharita in praise of Harsha and Kadambari. He himself wrote Ratnavali, Priyadarsika and Nagananda\ the Nalanda University flourished during his reign. He held debates in his court in which his widowed sister, whom he had rescued from the funeral pyre when her husband was killed in battle, took a prominent part. Impact As a consequence of Harsha's wars, he was able to consolidate his empire and became the last great Hindu emperor of North India. In his later years he began to favour the Mahay- ana form of Buddhism.

Friends : The king of Assam (Kamrup). Foes : Sasanka of Bengal, Pulakesin II of Badami. Strengths * Religious toleration - the practice of Hindu and Buddhist faiths. * The strong and powerful personality of Ha- rsha. Achievements * The kingdom of Kanauj was founded de- spite strong resistance from the powers ruling northern India. * Carving of North Indian empire consisting of the 5 kingdoms by Harshavardhana. * Progress of literature and art. Administration * King was the pivot of administration; a lot of self-government was allowed to the people; the King was assisted by a council of ministers; a well-organised secretariat at the capital existed, Army was headed by a Commander-in-Chief; the superior civil service was manned by kumaramatyas. * The provinces were divided into Bhuktis. Weakness * The political unity of northern India achieved under Harsha could not be main- tained after his death. * Absence of powerful successor to the After the death of Harsha, one Arjuna usurped the throne and humiliated the Chinese mission under Wang-Hiuen-Tse; later the same mission with Tibetian help defeated him and the history of Kanauj after his defeat is not known. throne. Decline

Chronology * Adityavardhana(c. 580) * Prabhakaravardhana (580-605) * Rajyavardhana (605-606) * Harshavardhana (606-647) * Hiuen-Tsang in India (630-644) * Harsha's envoy to China (641)

* Chinese mission to Harsha's court (643) * Second Chinese mission to India (646)

Wars * The defeat of Hunas, the king of Sindhu, the Gurjaras, the Latas, and the Malwas by Prabhakaravardhana. * Conflict between Rajyavardhana and Sas- anka of Bengal and the death of the former. * Capture of Magadha and Orissa by Harsha. * Harsha's war against Pulakesin II of Cha- lukyas and the defeat of Harsha. * Harsha's battle against the king of Valabhi and Sind. Harshavardhana 606-647 A.D. Harshavardhana was the son of Prabhakaravardhana who belonged to the Pushpabhuti dynasty, later called the Vardhana dynasty; he came to the throne after the death of his brother Rajyavardhana in a battle. He made Kanauj his capital, he was a great warrior and conqueror; the Harshacharita of Banabhata and the writings of Hiuen-T sang are the main sources of information. It is possible that he defeated Sasanka of Bengal in 637 A.D.; later Harsha conquered Magadha and proceeded up to Kongoda; captured Orissa. The significant event of Harsha's period was his conflict