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  • Acheivement of Harshavardhana

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    1. Harshavardhana was a powerful ruler who united much of northern India in the early 7th century CE after the decline of the Gupta Empire. He came to power after his brother was killed by another ruler. 2. Harshavardhana's first acts were to rescue his imprisoned sister and defeat the rulers responsible for his brother's death. He then expanded his empire across northern India through military conquests. 3. At the height of his power, Harshavardhana's empire stretched from Bengal in the east to Punjab in the west, though he was defeated by the Chalukyan ruler Pulikeshin II after trying to expand into southern India. He established

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    1. Harshavardhana was a powerful ruler who united much of northern India in the early 7th century CE after the decline of the Gupta Empire. He came to power after his brother was killed by another ruler. 2. Harshavardhana's first acts were to rescue his imprisoned sister and defeat the rulers responsible for his brother's death. He then expanded his empire across northern India through military conquests. 3. At the height of his power, Harshavardhana's empire stretched from Bengal in the east to Punjab in the west, though he was defeated by the Chalukyan ruler Pulikeshin II after trying to expand into southern India. He established

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    581 views3 pages

    Acheivement of Harshavardhana

    Uploaded by

    Rabi kr. roy 80
    1. Harshavardhana was a powerful ruler who united much of northern India in the early 7th century CE after the decline of the Gupta Empire. He came to power after his brother was killed by another ruler. 2. Harshavardhana's first acts were to rescue his imprisoned sister and defeat the rulers responsible for his brother's death. He then expanded his empire across northern India through military conquests. 3. At the height of his power, Harshavardhana's empire stretched from Bengal in the east to Punjab in the west, though he was defeated by the Chalukyan ruler Pulikeshin II after trying to expand into southern India. He established

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    of 3

    1. Harshavardhana (606-647 C.

    E): Harshavardhana was the


    greatest ruler of the Vardhanas. He came to power in 606 C.E.
    Prabhakara Vardhana and Yashomathi were his parents. He
    had an elder brother Rajavardhana and a younger sister
    Rajyashri. Prabhakara Vardhana was succeeded by
    Rajavardhana. Yashomathi pained by the death of her
    husband, committed Sati in 605 C.E. Devagupta of Malwa
    killed Rajyashri’s husband Gruhavarma and imprisoned her at
    Kanauj. Rajavardhana who went to get her released, was
    killed by Shashanka of Gaudadesha. Harshavardhana came to
    power under such painful circumstances.
    2. Immediate tasks and conquests : The immediate task of
    Harsha was twofold One to crush his enemies and the other to
    save his sister from the enemy’s prison. King Shashanka of
    Bengal was responsible for the murder of Harsha’s brother
    and even for imprisoning Rajyashri. Harsha marched against
    Shashanka and won a diplomatic victory by concluding a
    treaty of friendship with Bhaskaravarma of Kamarupa, then
    attacked Shashanka and took revenge. Harsha’s first act was
    to rescue Rajyashri. She had escaped from prison (Kanauj)
    and went towards the Vindhya forests. Harsha searched for
    her with great difficulty, saved her and brought her back to
    Kanauj. Rajyashri did not agree to rule Kanauj. Harsha was
    compel led to accept that and he united the Kingdoms of
    Thaneshwar and Kanauj. Later he shifted his capital to
    Kanauj. Later, he defeated Devagupta of Malwa and annexed
    his Kingdom. By 612 C.E., he achieved complete control over
    the five sindus of Punjab, Kanauj, Goudadcsha, Mithila,
    Orissa, and other places and annexed them to his Kingdom. 3.
    Annexation of North India: HaVshavardhana won Orissa,
    Magadha, Vodra, Ganjam, and Bengal. Later he defeated the
    ruler of Nepal and received tributes from him. He established
    his supremacy by defeating most of the north Indian
    Kingdoms. In commemoration of these achievements, he took
    the title‘Uttarapatheshwara’.
    4. War with Pulikcshi – II : After the northern campaign,
    Harsha turned his attention towards south. However, he
    received resistance from the Chalukyan ruler, Pulikeshi – II
    when he tried to extend his Empire in the south. Armies of the
    two Emperors met on the banks of Narmada, in 634 C.E. In
    the battle of Narmada, Harshavardhana was defeated.
    Pulikeshi – II won the battle and took the title
    ‘Parameshwara’. As a result, the river Narmada became the
    boundary line of both the Empires. Aihole inscription says,
    that Harsha’s harsha” (happiness) flew away, seeing his war
    elephants falling in the battlefield.
    5. Extent of the Kingdom: Harsha exchanged Ambassadors
    with China. The credit for uniting north India after the Guptas,
    goes to Harshavardhana. His Empire extended from Bengal
    and Orissa in the east, Punjab in the west, Himalayas in the
    north and Narmada river in the south. Harsha was a devotee of
    Lord Shiva and called himself ‘Parama Maheshwara’. Later,
    he embraced Buddhism due to the influence of Hieun Tsang.
    He built stupas at a few prominent places of Buddhism. He
    conducted a Buddhist council at Kanauj for a religious debate
    in 643 C.E. 3000 Buddhist monks, 1000 scholars, 20 Kings,
    3000 brahmins and Jains attended the conference. A golden
    statue of Buddha, as well as that of the King, were installed in
    the Auditorium. Hieun Tsang explained the philosophy of
    Mahayana in this council. Harshavardhana organised the
    Mahamoksha Parishat, at Prayag in 643 C.E. Hieun Tsang
    was invited to it and a procession of Buddha’s idol along with
    that of Shiva and Surya was taken out.
    7. Literature: Harsha was an able administrator, patron of
    literature and cared for the welfare of his people. He wrote the
    following dramas:- Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyadarshika
    in Sanskrit. He patronised the famous poet Biinabhatta, author
    of Harshacharite. The celebrated Chinese pilgrim and scholar
    Hieun Tsang adorned his court. Nalanda University, which
    was established by Kumara Gupta, spread Mahayana Buddhist
    Philosophy and received the patronage and reached the zenith
    of its glory, during the reign of Harshavardhan .

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