Vardhan Dynasty

Harsh Vardhan, his achievements and

contribution towards Buddhism
• Harshavardhana (590–647 AD) was a Buddhist
Jat emperor who ruled Northern India for over
forty years. He was the grandson of king
Pushyamitra of Thanesar and son of
Prabhakaravardhana. At the height of his
power his kingdom spanned the Punjab,
Bengal, Orissa and the entire Gangetic plain
North of the Narmada River.
• He ruled from 606-647 AD. He ascended the
throne after his elder brother Rajya Vardhana
got murdered by Sasanka, King of Gauda. At
this time he was just 16 years of age. After his
accession to the throne he merged the two
kingdoms of Thanesar and Kannauj and
shifted his capital to Kannauj.
• After the downfall of the Gupta Empire in the
middle of the sixth century C.E., North India
reverted back to small republics and small
monarchial states. Harsha united the small
republics from Punjab to Central India, and
they, at an assembly, crowned Harsha king in
April 606 AD.
• As regards Harshavardhana's reign, we have
ample sources of information at our disposal.
Dr. V.A. Smith writes, "When all sources are
utilized, our knowledge of the events of the
reign of Harsha far surpasses in precision that
which we possess respecting any other Indian
King, except Chandragupta Mauraya and
Ashoka."
 (A) Literary Sources

• "Harshacharita" Of Bana
• The important source of Harsha's reign is
"Harsha charita ". It was written by
Banabhatta. He was a writer of great repute in
the history of classical Sanskrit, who wrote on
Harsha as his court-poet from his personal and
intimate knowledge of his life, rule, and has
given to Sanskrit, one of its very few
biographical works.
• Its first chapter is devoted to the life and family of
the author himself. The second, third and fourth
chapters deal with the ancestors of Harsha and
the history of the house of Thaneswar.
• The sixth and seventh chapters deal with the
wars and conquests of Harsha. The last chapter
gives a description of the various religious sects
living in the forests of the Yindhyas.
• A study of Harshacharita revealed us the idea
of the social, religious, economic and political
life of the people of India in the time of
Harsha. It is true that sometimes Banabhatta
has gone to extremes while praising his patron
but it cannot be denied that the book gives us
a lot of useful information.
 "Si-Yu-Ki" Of Huein-Tsang

• Huein-Tsang also known as Yuan-Chwang, the

greatest of all the Chinese pilgrims to come to
India has left an extremely interesting record
of the court of Harsha as well as of the life of
the Indian people. Huein-Tsang's "Si-Yu-Ki" is
our principal source of information about the
Harsha.
• He travelled in India from 630 A.D. to 644 A.D.
Huein-Tsang gives copious information on the
political, religious, educational, material,
judicial and moral condition of the people of
contemporary India.
 Harsha's Own Writings

• King Harshavardhana is said to have

composed three great dramas- "Ratnavali",
"Nagananda "and "Priyadarshika" in Sanskrit
language.
• The 'Ratnavali' and 'Priyadarshika' deals with
love and court intrigues and may rightly be-
called "Comedies of Harsha". "Nagananda" is
a most useful play. It tells us much about the
charity and magnanimity of Harshavardhana.
 (B) Epigraphic Sources

• Sonpat Copper-Seal Inscription

• "Sonpat Copper Seal Inscription" helps us in
solving the Chronological difficulties about the
reign of Harshavardhana such as - about the
year 590'A.D. queen Yosovati or Yasomati gave
birth to Harsha in the month Jyaistha, on the
twelfth day of the dark fortnight.
• The Banskhera Plate Inscription
• The Banskhera plate inscription of the year 628
A.D. gives us a facsimile of the signature of
Harshavardhana which shows that the King
Harshavardhana was an expert Calligraphist.
• Coins
• The coins of Harsha form a reliable source of
information of his reign. From the coins, we learn
of the important dates, conditions of India, social
as well as political.
• The Madhuban Copper-Plate Inscription
• The most important inscriptions on Harsha's reign
is the Madhuban Copper Plate Inscription, dated
631 A.D. It traces the genealogy of
Harshavardhana upto four generations.
• The Nalanda Seal, the Aihol Inscription of
Pulakesin:
• These inscriptions help us in getting some useful
information on Harsha and his reign.
 Early Life
• Harshavardhana was the second son of
Prabakaravardhana, the first important king of
Pushyabhuti dynasty with its capital at
Thaneswar.
• In 606 A.D. Harshavardhana ascended his
ancestral throne of Thaneswar, consequent upon
the death of his elder brother Rajya-vardhana
Harshavardhana was born to the king
Prabhakaravardhana and the Queen Yasomati or
Yasovati about the year 590 A.D.
• Harsha had an elder brother named
Rajyavardhana and a younger sister Rajyasri.
No detailed account of the education of the
children is given Harshavardhana anywhere.
• Rajyasri was married to Grahavarmana, King
of Kanauj. He was the last ruler of Kanauj
belonging to the Maukhari royal dynasty.
• After the death of Prabhakaravardhana, his
eldest son Rajyavardhana became the King of
Thaneswar. But the young princes were never
at peace and calamity came in battalion.
• He received the most shocking news from
Samvadaka, the most royal servant of princess
Rajyasri that the Malava or Malwa King named
Devagupta had invaded Kanauj, murdered
Grahavarmana and took away his queen
Rajyasri as prisoner to Malava or Malwa.
• He instantly led an army with 'Bhandi' as a
General for an attack upon Malwa or Malva
and instructed his younger brother Harsha to
stay at Thaneswar.
• However, very soon he was destined to meet a
more serious calamity when he received
shocking news from Kutala a chief officer of
Cavalry, that though the Emperor
Rajyavardhana inflicted a crushing defeat
upon King Devagupta of Malwa or Malava but
he was treacherously killed by the king of
Gauda (West Bengal) named 'Sasanka'
 Conquests of Harshavardhana

• Harshavardhana now succeeded his brother at

Thaneswar. His first act was naturally to rescue
his sister and avenge the death of his brother and
brother-in-law and was quite successful in both.
• According to Banabhatta Harshavardhana
decided to launch campaigns of "Digvijaya" by
"subjugating the four quarters". He sent an
ultimatum to all the Kings to either surrender or
give battle.
• As Harshavardhana was marching against
Sasanka, king Bhaskaravarmana of Kamrupa
made an overture to him to make common
cause against Sasanka. Harshavardhana
readily embraced this overture.
• As he was advancing, he received the message
from his minister Bhandi that Rajyasri had
escaped from the prison and was in the forest
of Vindhya. Harshavardhana asked Bhandi to
command the army against Sasanka and he
himself went in search of his sister in Vindhya
Mountains.
• He came to the rescue of his sister, when she
was about to take a plunge in the river to
commit suicide. This narration of Banabhatta
is an exaggeration, since it was not possible
for Rajyasri to go to Vindhya which was very
far.
• It is highly dramatic for Harshavardhana to
arrive at the appropriate moment to save his
sister's life.
• After rescuing Rajyasri, Harshavardhana
thought of uniting two kingdoms of Kanauj
and Thaneswar because Grahavarmana, the
last king of Kanauj and husband of Rajyasri
had left no male issue.
• Accordingly, in 606 A.D. Kanauj and Thaneswar
were united into one kingdom and
Harshavardhana became its ruler and
assumed family title of "Vardhana." This
amalgamation of two states increased the
military resources of Harshavardhana
• Harshavardhana's old "Commander-in- Chief,
advised him "to end the system which might
breed treachery and trouble, the system of
petty warring States." As a result he collected
a huge force of 5000 elephants, 20,000 cavalry
and 50,000 infantry and set out on his career
of conquest.
 Conquest of Bengal
• First, he decided to avenge the death of his
brother which has taken place at the hands of
Sasank, king of Bengal. Therefore, he sent a
big expedition probably under his general
Bhandi against Sasank. The details of war are
not known. Sasank was probably defeated.
But the victory of Harshavardhana was not
decisive.
• Later on, Harshavardhana made an alliance
with king Bhaskaravarman of Kamrupa, to
make joint war against Sasank. Though, this
alliance was that Sasank defeated but was not
completely crushed.
• After this defeat, Sasank began to negotiate
with Pulakesin-II, the Chalukya king of Deccan,
against Harshavardhana. Thus, the Bengal
ruler continued to be a source of trouble for
Harshavardhana throughout his reign till the
death of Sasartka.
 Conquest of the Five Indies
• According to Huein-Tsang, Harshavardhana spent
five years and a half of his reign in conquering the
"Five Indies". From 606 to 612 A.D. he conquered
the five states in Northern India viz, 'Svarasta'or
'Punjab', "Kanyakubja" or 'Kannauj', 'Gonda' or
'Bengal', 'Mithua' or 'Bihar' and 'Utkala' or
'modern Orissa' or in the words of Huein Tsang
"he went from East to West, subduing all who
were not obedient, the elephants were not
harnessed, nor the soldiers un helmeted."
 Conquest of Valabhi or Gujarat

• Prabhakaravardhana, the father of

Harshavardhana had faced a host of enemies
consisting of "Lata" or Gujarat, "Malava" or
Malwa and Gujaras. Harshavardhana had to
face the legacy of their hostility. The kingdom
of Valabhi in Gujarat was a formidable power.
It appears that there was a war between
Harshavardhana and the king of Valabhi.
• We do not have any detail of events of that
war. Although in first encounter
Harshavardhana mauled the king of Valabhi
but the situation was saved on account of the
help given to the king Valabhi by Dadda-II,
Gurjara king of Broach recovered his position.
Perhaps Dhruvasena-I or Dhruvabhatta.
• The hostilities ended in the marriage of
Harshavardhana's daughter with Dhruvasena
II or Dhruvabhatta. After that Valabhi became
a subordinate ally of Harshavardhana.
 War with Pulakesin-II
• Pulakesin-II the Vatapi, had design to become
the lord paramount of the South. The old
enemies of Thaneswar-"Lata" or Gujarat,
"Malavas" or Malwa and "Gurjaras" made
common cause with Pulakesin-II and became
his feudatories. This resulted in
Harshavardhana's war with Pulakesin- II.
• According to Huein Tsang Harshavardhana, in
order to smash Pulakesin, raised a vast army
from the five Indies and personally conducted
the campaign against Pulakesin-II. However,
he was unable to defeat Pulakesin-II.
• It was claimed that Pulakesin-H acquired the
title of "Parmeshwar" "by defeating
Harshavardhana, the warlike lord of all the
regions of the North." The poet Ravikirti in the
Aihole inscription of 634 A.D. indicates that
the battle was fought somewhere between
the Vindhya and the "Reva" or "Narmada".
• There are many other inscriptions in which
Pulakesin-H is described as defeating Shri
Harsha, the Lord of the whole Northern India.
The view of Dr. V. A. Smith was that Pulakesin-
II "guarded the passes on the Narmada so
effectively that Harshavardhana was
constrained to retire discomfited and to
accept that river as his frontier.
 Campaigns of Sind, Nepal and
Kashmir
• Banabhatta refers to that Harshavardhana had
also said to have subdued Sind and a land of
snowy mountains probably Nepal and
Kashmir. But historians doubt the accuracy of
this statement. But it is well-known that Sind
was hostile to Prabhakar Varmana and it is
possible that Harshavardhana might have led
a campaign against it.
• However the account of Huein-Tsang shows
that Sind was a strong and independent
kingdom when he visited it. This proves that
Harshavardhana was not successful against
the Sind. Probably the states of Nepal and
Kashmir were outside the empire of
Harshavardhana.
 Kamrupa
• Harshavardhana made an alliance with
Baskaravarmana, the ruler of Kamrupa. This was
done to create a second front against Sasank, the
powerful enemy of Harshavardhana.
• But in this alliance an equal position was not
conceded to Bhaskaravarmana, as it revealed
from the fact that the Raja of Kamrupa was
present in Harshavardhan's "Kanauj Assembly"
with 20,000 elephants and presents.
• Thus, it seems that Harshavardhana not only
made an alliance with the ruler of Kamrupa
but also made him to acknowledge his
suzerainty. Probably, Bhaskaravarmana got
possession of this territory after the death of
Harshavardhana.
 Conquest of Ganjam
• The modern Ganjam district was a small
independent State in the seventh century. It
was then known as Kongoda. Harshavardhana
had tried several times to conquer it but for
some reason or other failed to annex it.
• In 643 A.D. Harshavardhana led a huge
expedition and conquered Ganjam.
• This was his last conquest. After its conquest,
a Mahayana Conference was held in Orissa
and Buddhist scholars from Nalanda were
invited to it. It was after the Conference that
Harshavardhana offered to Jayasena, the
Buddhist scholar, the revenue of eighty large
towns of Orissa."
 Relations with Asiatic Powers
• Harshavardhana also maintained very cordial
relations with the great Asiatic powers like
Persia and China. From Tara Nath's account we
find the Harsha exchanged gifts with Persian
emperor. In 641 A.D. Harshavardhana sent a
"Brahmana" envoy to the court of Chinese
emperor.
• In 643 A.D., a Chinese mission came along
with reply Ma-Twanlin gives the detailed
description, "Siladitya assumed the title of
king of Magadha and sent an ambassador with
a letter to the emperor.
• The emperor sent 'Liang- lioai-king' as an
envoy with a royal patent of Siladitya with an
invitation to him to submit, Siladitya was full
of astonishment and asked his officers
whether any Chinese envoy ever came to this
country since time immemorial, "Never, they
replied in one voice.
• There upon the king went out, received the
imperial decree with bending Knees, and
placed it on his head". In 643 A.D. a second
Chinese mission came to India under 'Li-y-
Piao' and Wang-Huein-tse. This mission
brought the reply of the Chinese emperor and
its members were received with great respect
and honour. Wang-Huein-tse was sent back to
India immediately after his arrival in China.
• This mission was probably sent after the
receipt of the letter which Harshavardhana
had sent through Huein-Tsang. Wang-Huein-
tse left for India in 646 A.D. along with Tsiang-
Cheujenn. Unfortunately, Harshavardhana was
dead before the arrival of the third Chinese
mission. In this way, these missions reveal that
Harshavardhana also had diplomatic relations
with China.
 Extent of Harsha's Empire
• Harshavardhana had a vast empire. It
stretched from the Brahmaputra delta in East
to Kathiawar in the West and North -Western
Punjab in North-West to the Narmada River in
the South which included the Eastern Punjab,
Malava or Malwa, Kanauj, Bihar, Bengal and
Orissa.
• Sind, Nepal and Kashmir (according to
Banabhatta) were the Controversial territories
because no other contemporary or near-
contemporary chroniclers have indicated that
these territories were the part of
Harshavardhana's kingdom. Hence these were
shown as the controversial territories in the
map
• Thus in brief, Harshavardhana was the master
of the whole of the Northern India except its
Northwestern regions. He changed his capital
from Thaneswar to Kanauj. This he had to do
because his Empire included a greater portion
of Eastern India, which could not be easily
governed from Thaneswar.
• Harsha was a secular ruler and respected all
the religions and faiths. In his early life he
used to be a sun-worshipper but later he
became the follower of Shaivism and
Buddhism. According to the Chinese pilgrim
Xuanzang, who visited the kingdom of Harsha
in 636 AD, Harsha built many Buddhist Stupas.
He was also a great patron of the Nalanda
University. He was the first to establish the
Sino-Indian diplomatic relationships.
• He was a good scholar and a noted author. He
wrote three plays in Sanskrit namely Ratnavali,
Priyadarsika and Nagananda. We can find
well-documented record of his reign in the
work of his court poet Banabhatta. Bana
wrote Harsha Charita, the first historical poetic
work in Sanskrit language.
• Work of the Chinese traveler, Xuanzang also
provides a deep insight into the life during
Harshavardhana's rule.

He ruled India for almost forty years, and died

in 647 AD, leaving behind no heir to the
throne. After his death his empire
disintegrated.
 Administration of Harsha

• After the fall of the Gupta Empire there

prevailed a state of chaos and confusion in
India. It was Harshavardhan who removed this
state of chaos and confusion, and built up a
vast empire, which included almost the entire
of northern India.
• According to Hiuen Tsang people were happy
and prosperous during his reign and the
administration was quite efficient. Harsha was
a popular king. For the welfare of the people
he had constructed roads, opened schools and
got planted trees on both the sides of the
road.
• Harsha's administration was based on the
traditional administrative system. It can be said
that his administrative system was like that of the
Guptas.
• King: King occupied the highest position in the
administration, king used to adopt the titles of
Parm-bhattarak, Parmeshwara, Paramdevata,
Maharajadhiraja, etc. The king was autocrat and
absolutely enjoyed the supreme position in the
state.
• But the kings were always eater to wing
popularity and hence never misused their
unlimited powers in the field of liberality and
charity no king can equal him much less
surpass him the king appointed Samantas and
other officers, he was the highest judicial
authority on the earth and king was
considered equal to god.
• Bana has described Harsha as the incarnation
of all the gods. He led the army in the
battlefield Harsha made a tour of the whole
country for the welfare of the people. Like
Ashoka, he was ever prepared to work for the
good and welfare of the people.
• Officers: There were several ministers to help
Harsha in the administration. They were called
Sachiva or Amatya.
• The chief Sachiva of Harsha was Bhandi and
Sandhivigrahak was Avami. Sighavad was his
Senapti. Skanda Gupta was also one of the
ministers who were the Senapati of elephants
wing of army. It can be learnt from Madhuban
inscription that governor was called
Rajasthaniya, vishayapati i.e. head of the district,
and Uparika i.e. head of the province.
• Kumaramatya were other officers.
• There were other officers like:-
• Mahasandhivigradhikrita i.e. minister of war and
peace.
• Mahabaladhikrita i.e. officer in supreme
command in the area.
• Baladhikari i.e. senapati or commander
• Brihadavavara i.e. head cavalry officer.
• Katuka i.e. commandant of the elephant force.
• Pathi i.e. superintendent of soldiers barracks.
• Chata-bhata i.e. irregular and regular soldiers.
• Yama-cetis i.e. women watchers at night.
• Duta i.e. ambassador.
• Rajasthaniya i.e. foreign secretary.
• Kumaramatya i.e. counsellor of the prince.
• Uparika i.e. official title of the governor of province.
• Visahyapati i.e. the head of a visya or modern district.
• Daussadhanika i.e. suprintendent of villages
• Bhogika or Bhogapati i.e. one responsible for the
collection of state produce.
• Mahapratihara i.e. chief warden, Mimansak i.e. justice,
• Akshapattalika
• Dutuka i.e. keepers of the records.
• Army: Harsha had built up a vast empire. The
safety and security of such an empire needed
a big army. It is due to this reason that Harsha
had paid his special attention to the
maintenance of this huge and strong army.
The basis of recruitment in the army was
bravery and merit. The profession of a soldier
had become hereditary. The son of a soldier
also joined the army as a soldier.
• According to Hiuentsang, Harsha's army
consisted of 6,000 elephants and 1,00,000
cavalry. There were also a large number of
camels in his army. The Samantas and the
friendly kings also provided bands of soldiers.
For example Kamrupa king had met Harsha
along with 2000 elephants. According to Bana,
Harsha received a large number of elephants
in gifts from Samanta kings. Horses were
purchased from Sindh, Afghanistan and Persia.
• Infantry, cavalry and elephants were the three
main branches of Harsha's army. The use of
chariots was not prevalent. Some of the
inscriptions of that time make mention of
naval forces also but it is not know much
about them. Mahasandhivigrahadhikrita was
the chief officer of the military department.
• He was entitled to make war and also settled
peace. Mahabaladhikrita was the officer who
organized the army. The officers known as
Baladhikrita, Senapati, Patasvapati,
Katukapati etc. worked under the
subordination of Mahabaladhikrita.
• Police department: The police department of Harsha
was very efficient. It worked like modern police
department. The names of the officers of this
department are somewhat similar to the officers of the
Gupta period.
• Dandapashika.
• Dandika.
• Cruiurodvaranika, and
• Yama-cheti.
• Intelligence department: There was fine system of
spies who turned throughout the state and secretly
detected the crimes.
• Provincial administration: The Empire of Harsha
was divided into several provinces, which were
known as Bhukti. These Bhuktis were further
divided into visayas i.e. districts and visayas were
divided into several Pathakas i.e. tehsils. Village
was the smallest unit of administration; the
provincial ruler or head of the province was also
called something. The visaya was called
visayapati. There were Dandika or Jrodvaranika,
Dandapasika. etc. to help the rulers of province
and district.
• Village administration: The head of the village
was called gramika. An official called
Mahattar was appointed to look after the
village. He used to be either some salaried
officer or some respectable man. Bana has
referred to an officer called Agraharika who
probably looked after the lands given in
charity.
• Akshapata-lika was like the modern Patavari.
However, Gramika and Asthakula adhikari
were the chief officers of the village
administration. According to Dr. Basaka
Asthakuladhikaran was empowered to inspect
as many as eight small departments.
• Crime and punishment: Punishment were
severe and very strict in Harsha's reign. Like
Mauryan period severe punishment were
awarded to criminals. As compared to Gupta
period there were more cases of crimes.
Roads and rivers etc. were not safe to travel.
Yuan Chwang himself was robbed twice.
Persons who committed crime against the
king were sentenced of life imprisonment.
• According to Hiuen Tsang, "For offences
against social morality and disloyal and
unofficial conduct, the punishment is to cut
off the nose, or an ear or a hand, or a foot or
to banish the offender to another country or
into the wilderness. Minor offences were dealt
with fines. Ordeal by fire, water, weighing
were the instruments to determine the
innocence or guilt of a person."
• Sources of income:
• Following were the main sources of income
• (1) Udranga i.e. a type of land revenue.
• (2) Uparikara i.e. taxes besides the regular fines.
• (3) Hirenya i.e. gold, and
• (4) Ordinances.
• Goods of daily requirements were also taxes.
Taxes were levied on the sale of the goods.
Money was also realized by imposing fines.
• The ferries and barriers stations were also subject
to taxation and fetched a lot of state revenue.
The rate of land tax was one-sixth of the total
produce. Mines and buried treasures were
considered as the property of the king.
• Consequently it can be seen that Harsha's reign
was significant from the point of view of
administration. The officials, it appears, were not
paid salaries in cash. Instead, they were given
land as payment for their services.
 Religion and Literature

• The Banskhera, Nalanda and Sonepat

Inscriptions of Harsha describe him as a
worshipper of Siva. Harsha was a tolerant
ruler and supported all faiths - Buddhism,
Hinduism, Jainism. Early in his life he himself
followed the Vedic religion, which included
Sun Worship before he converted to
Buddhism. His sister Rajyashri followed
Buddhism.
• When he became a Buddhist he convened a
conference at Kanauj. Here the doctrines of
Mahayana were propagated with utmost
precision. This assembly, according to Hiuen-
tsang, was attended by eithteen kings and
three thousand monks and continued for
eighteen days.
• Another such event during Harsha's reign was
the Quinquennial distribution ceremony at
Prayaga. Harsha performed five such
ceremonies in his last thirty years. He used to
distribute all the treasures accumulated
during the last five years in these ceremonies.
• According to the Chinese Pilgrim Hsuan Tsang
who Harsha built numerous Stupas in the
name of Buddha. Hsuan Tsang entered a a
grand competition orgranized by Harsha and
won the theological debate. Harsha also
became a patron of art and literature. He
made numerous endowments to the
University at Nalanda.
• Two seals of Harsha have been found in
Nalanda in the course of the excavations. All
these favours and donations of the great
emperor were crowned by the construction of
a lofty wall enclosing all the buildings of the
university to defend the institution from any
other possible attack. In 643 he held a
Buddhist convocation at Kanauj which was
reputedly attended by 20 kings and thousands
of pilgrims.
• Harsha was a noted author on his own merit.
He wrote three Sanskrit plays – Nagananda,
Ratnavali and Priyadarsika.
• Adopted Buddhism, A great religious
performer, Patronage of Buddhist scholars,
patronage to Buddhist universities, Buddhist
assemblies