Harshavardhan (606-647 AD)

Sources for Harsha's Period

King Harshavardhan was one of the most efficient rulers who unified the north of India into one single segment after the decline of the Gupta Empire. He ruled India for a time period of forty years. He was also known as simply Harsha. His father was Prabhakar Vardhan and his brother was the king of Thanesar, Rajyavardhan. Harshavardhan unified the whole of northern India that includes central, western and parts of Deccan plateau. Read the life history of Harsha Vardhana in this short biography.

Prabhakar Vardhan was the initial ruler of the Vardhan dynasty and established his capital at Thanesar located in Kurukshetra. His elder son, Rajyavardhan succeeded him after his death. However, he too was killed in a battle against Devagupta, a ruler who had killed his sister's husband. The throne could not remain empty, so everyone decided to appoint young Harshavardhan as the king. Thus, Harsha became the ruler at the tender age of 16! Even at this young age, he proved himself to be an able ruler and gained fame and fortune at a very young age.

He first stopped his sister from committing the Sati, a ritual where the wife is supposed to die along with her deceased husband in the pyre. He then merged the kingdoms of Kannauj and Thanesar and made Kannauj his capital city. He was an efficient warrior and won many battles against different rulers. He spread his territory rapidly across the Gangetic plain conquering the states of Haryana, Kannauj, Bengal, Gujarat and Bihar. He also conquered some parts of Orissa.

There are many written evidences of the reign of Harsha. These were compiled by the poets Hieun Tsang and Bana. When Harsha came to power, Bana composed it by the name of Harshacharita. The Buddhist pilgrim Hieun Tsang also wrote a full description about the empire of Harshavardhan. He was a very learned man and also wrote three famous plays named Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika. Harshavardhan was probably the last empire builder of ancient India. The mighty emperor breathed his last in 647 A.D. and his empire died with him.

Early life of Harsha

Harsha was the second son of Prabhakaravardhana, the first king of Pushyabhuti dynasty with its capital at Thanesvar. Pushyabhutis were the feudatories of the Guptas but had assumed independence after the Huna

invasions. Harsha was a great warrior and a conqueror and fought against many powers. In his first expedition he drove away Sasanka from Kannuj who had occupied it after killing his elder brother. It appears that there was a war between Harsha and the king of Valabhi. His hostilities with Valabhis ended through matrimonial alliance. Upon consolidating his position in the north Harsha led an expedition to the south. But he was defeated by King Pulakesin II of Chalukya dynasty. However Harsha was successful in his eastern campaign.

In the east the empire extended right up to the Brahmaputra. A Chinese account mentions him as the king of Magadha in 641 AD, the king of Kamarupa, Bhaskaravarman was his ally in his campaign of Bengal and other parts of eastern India. According to Bana, his empire included the states of Kashmir, Sindh and Nepal. It included the states of eastern Punjab, UP, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Saurashtra, Kanyakubja etc. He maintained cordial relationship with China and Persia. Harsha was a great scholar and authored several dramas and books. He profusely encouraged learning and patronised the learned persons. The Nalanda University was the great seat of learning which came to forefront under his patronage. His court was adorned with scholars like Bana, Matanaga, Divakara, ayasena, Bharti hari. He reigned for about 41 years and died in the beginning of 647AD.

Administration

Harsha shifted his capital from Thaneswar Kanauj. He was not only a successful warrior, but also a capable administrator. He looked after the welfare of his people. He closely watched the activities of his officials and ministers: He visited the different parts of his kingdom in disguise to get first hand information from his subjects. The farmers paid one sixth of their produce as taxes to the Government. There was no forced labor. Punishments were light and there was no death penalty. Hospitals were well maintained. Excellent roads were provided with rest houses. Tue needy travelers were given food and medical care, Harsha was also generous. He gave all his personal wealth and belongings in charity during the Prayag Assembly which was held once in five years. During Harsha’s reign, Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, visited India. He stayed for about fourteen years in India; He traveled almost all parts of North India. He also visited Kanchipuram in the South. He visited the courts of Harsha, the Chalukya rulers and the Pallava kings He was called as the ‘Prince of Pilgrims’. Hiuen Tsang wrote a book called Siyuki which means My Experiences. It is also known as Records of the Western World. It is the main source of information about Harsha’s conquests, religion, administration and the conditions of the people. Harsha’s seal is also another important source to know the reign of Harsha.

Important Officials of the empire

1. Maha Sandhi-Vigrahadhikrit- Office to decide about war and peace

2. Mahabaladhikrit- The highest official of the army

3. Baladhikrit- The commanders

4. Vrihadashwar- Head of cavalry

5. Chat Bhat- Salary holder and non salary holders of royal service

6. Katuk-head of Elephant brigade

7. Doot Rajastuaniya- Foreign Minister

8. Uparik Maharaj- Provincial head

9. Ayuktak- Ordinary servant or officer

Economy under Harsha

The nature of the economy under Harsha became increasingly more feudal and self-sufficient. The decline of trade and commerce went on unabated under Harsha. This is evident from the decline of trade centers, paucity of coins and almost complete disappearance of guilds of traders and merchants. The decline of

trade and commerce affected the handicrafts and other industries for want of demand. This decline affected even agriculture though indirectly. When trade was flourishing a great part of the merchandise consisted of food stuffs and also most of the raw materials for handicrafts and industries came from agricultural production.

But now there was a lack of large-scale demand for agricultural goods. So the agriculturist now began to produce only that much which was required to meet his own needs and those of the locality but not for the market, both internal and external. This naturally led to the rise of a self-sufficient village economy in which all the needs of the village were met from within and also marked by an increasing dependence on agriculture.

Society

This period witnessed the ascendancy of varnasrama-dharma and it became an indispensable cornerstone of the Brahmanical social structure. Hiuen Tsang writes about the existence of four varnas or orders in Indai. Bana characterised Harsha as one who carried out all rules for the varnas and asramas. The first varna Brhamins continued to enjoy a very high and respectable position in the society and the glorification of gifts to them by the other three varnas

became a distinct feature of Brahmanism. Despite the existence of some Sudra kings, the Kshatriya kings were in overwhelming majority. The third varna Vaishyas formed the class of traders according to Hiuen Tsang. The fourth varna Sudras comprised the agriculturists according to Hiuen Tsang. Both Bana and Hiuen Tsang talk about the existence of many sub castes such as the class of vernacular poets, class of bards, class of betel bearers and so on.

The rise of those sub castes was due to the social violation in the code of marriages and general ethics and also different occupations. Hiuen Tsang takes note of many outcastes and untouchables such as butchers, fishermen, executioners and scavengers who were segregated and were not allowed to mix with the people of the higher varnas and had habitations marked by distinguishing sigh. The position of women seems to have suffered a further decline during this period. The institution of svayamvara declined and there is no instance of its practice in the contemporary literature. Remarriage of widows was not permitted particularly among the higher varnas. The evil system of dowry according to Bana was quite common. There were few examples of practice of committing sati.

Religion

Brahmanisim which reasserted itself under the Guptas got further strengthened during this period. Its gradual ascendancy brought about the decline of Buddhism despite the patronage given to it by Harsha which is evident from the account of Hiuen Tsang. But Jainism did not undergo any major changes and it made neither progress nor any decay. Saivism became the main theistic system of this period. But Vaishnavism which was popular during the age of the Guptas was gradually declining during these period. The Vedic ceremonies and rituals once again came to be regarded as inseparable and integral constituents of Brahmanisim and the people practised them on a larger scale.

Interesting facts about Harsha

· At the end of every five years, Harsha used to celebrate a solemn festival in Prayaga named as Prayaga festival.

· Harsha was also known as Siladitya.

· Hieun Tsang wrote book si-yu-ki in which he has mentioned Harsha and his reign.