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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 sures 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 becalled "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 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 t 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 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 PulakesinII "guarded the es 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 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 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-yPiao' and Wang-Huein-tse. This mission brought the reply of the Chinese emperor and its 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-Hueintse left for India in 646 A.D. along with TsiangCheujenn. 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 nearcontemporary 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.

istration 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 istration 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 istration was based on the traditional istrative system. It can be said that his istrative system was like that of the Guptas. • King: King occupied the highest position in the istration, 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 sur 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 istration. 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 ed 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 istration: 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 istration; 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 istration: 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 istration. 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 istration. 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 ed 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 Hiuentsang, 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