Harshavardhana was a northern Indian ruler who reigned from 606 to 647 CE. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty and is regarded as one of the most important Indian monarchs of the seventh century AD. He established a vast empire that stretched from northern and northwestern India to the Narmada River in the south. Kannauj was his capital. His reforms and policies were benevolent and always focused on improving his people's peace and prosperity. This article will explain to you about Harshavardhana (606 CE – 647 CE) which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Harshavardhana – Background

• In 590 AD, Harshavardhana was born to King Prabhakaravardhana of Sthaneshwar (Thanesar, Haryana).
• He was a Pushyabhuti, commonly known as the Vardhana dynasty.
• He was a Hindu who converted to Mahayana Buddhism.
• Durgavati was his wife. He has two boys and a daughter.
• His daughter married a Vallabhi monarch, but his sons were murdered by his own minister.
• Following the death of Prabhakara Vardhana, his elder son Rajyavardhana came to the throne.
• Harsha had a sister named Rajyashri, who was married to Kannauj's King Grahavarman.
• The Gauda monarch, Sasanka, slew Grahavarman and imprisoned Rajyashri.
• This compelled Rajyavardhana to confront Sasanka. However, Sasanka murdered Rajyavardhana.
• This resulted in Harshavardhana, a 16-year-old, ascending to Thanesar's throne in 606 AD.
• He promised to avenge his brother's death while also saving his sister.
• For this, he formed an alliance with Kamarupa King Bhaskaravarman. Harsha and Bhaskaravarman go out to confront Sasanka. Sasanka eventually fled for Bengal, and Harsha became the ruler of Kannauj as well.
• The Harshacharita, a prose biography authored by Banabhatta, court poet of King Harshavardhana, and the chronicle of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang are two primary sources of knowledge about the Pushyabhuti kingdom.
• In his writings, Chinese Buddhist traveller Xuanzang commended King Harshavardhana's actions.

Harshavardhana's Reign

• One of his first moves was to rush to Kanyakubja and save his sister, who was about to commit sati. Kanauj was eventually taken over by the Pushyabhutis.
• Harsha was successful in uniting many of them under his authority. Punjab and central India were under his power.
• He conquered Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha after Sasanka's death.
• In Gujarat, he also vanquished the Vallabhi king. (The Vallabhi monarch and Harsha reached an agreement through the marriage of Harsha's daughter and the Vallabhi king Dhruvabhata.)
• Harsha's attempts to conquer areas to the south, however, were thwarted when the Chalukya monarch, Pulakesin II, defeated him in 618-619 A.D.
• The Narmada River became Harsha's southern territorial border as a result of this.
• The Vardhana Empire was divided into two types of territories:
  • those directly under Harsha's rule, such as the Central Provinces, Gujarat, Bengal, Kalinga, and Rajputana, and
  • those that had become feudatories under him, such as Jalandhar, Kashmir, Nepal, Sind, and Kamarupa (modern-day Assam).
• Harsha had complete control over the feudatories. Harsha's reign saw the birth of feudalism in India.
• During Harsha's reign, Hiuen Tsang visited India. He has painted a glowing picture of King Harsha and his realm. He compliments him on his generosity and justice.
• Harsha was a generous supporter of the arts.
• He was a skilled writer in his own right. He is known for his Sanskrit writings Ratnavali, Priyadarshika, and Nagananda.
• Banabhatta was his court poet, and he wrote the Harshacharita, which describes Harsha's life and actions.
• Harsha gave liberally to Nalanda University.
• He had an excellent tax structure. A quarter of the taxes collected were spent for charitable and cultural causes.
• Harsha was a capable military conqueror and administrator.
• Before the Muslim invasions, Harsha was the last ruler to preside over a wide realm in India.

Harshavardhana - Administration

• Harshavardhana's dominion is said to have reminded people of the famous Gupta dominion, as his administration was similar to that of the Gupta Empire.
• There was no slavery in his dominion, and people were free to live their lives as they pleased.
• His empire also took care of the needy by constructing rest houses with all the necessary amenities.
• Harshavardhana is depicted in numerous books as a noble emperor who ensured the happiness of all his subjects.
• He did not levy high taxes on his subjects, and the economy was somewhat self-sufficient.
• His capital, Kannauj (in modern-day Uttar Pradesh), drew artists, poets, religious leaders, and philosophers from all over the world.
• Important officers of Harsha’s administration include:
  • Sreshti (Chief Banker or Merchant)
  • Sarthavaha (Leader of Merchant Caravans)
  • Prathama kulika (Chief Craftsman)
  • Kayasthas (Head of the scribes)
• Bana describes forest guardians called vanapalas. A sarva-palli-pati officer is mentioned (chief of all the villages).
• Inscriptions describe dues such as bhaga, bhoga, kara, and hiranya—terms familiar from previous inscriptions.
• He also kept friendly contacts with the Chinese. He even dispatched an Indian embassy to China, establishing a diplomatic ties between the two countries.
• Xuanzang, a famous Chinese monk and traveler, spent eight years in his empire.
• Harshavardhana amassed a formidable army throughout his reign.
• During the height of his reign, he is said to have had 100,000 cavalry, 50,000 infantry, and 60,000 elephants.
• Furthermore, most of North India was devoid of currency during Harsha's rule. This indicates that the economy was feudal in nature.
• Independent monarchs, known together as 'Mahasamantas,' paid tribute to Harshavardhana and also assisted him by providing military reinforcements. This was critical to the expansion of Harshavardhana's dominion.
• The Banskhera and Madhuban inscriptions mention the king's victorious camp, which includes boats, elephants, and horses.
• During Harsha's reign, trade and commerce had decreased. This is evidenced by the loss of commercial centres, a decrease in the quantity of coinage, and the sluggish activity of merchant guilds.
• When compared to the Gupta period's economy, there was a dramatic economic fall.

Harshavardhana - Military Conquests

• Harsha's most notable military expedition was against Western Chalukya monarch Pulakesin II.
• The specifics of this campaign can be found in both Hiuen Tsang's chronicles and Pulakesin II inscriptions.
• Harsha marched against the Chalukya monarch in order to expand his dominion south of the Narmada river. Pulakesin defeated Harsha and earned the title of Paramesvara as a result.
• Nepal had accepted Harsha's rule. Harsha took control of Kashmir, and the ruler paid tribute to him.
• He also maintained friendly connections with Assam's monarch, Bhaskaravarman.
• Harsha's last military operation was a triumph against the kingdom of Kalinga in Orissa which cemented his dominance over all of north India.
• He had direct influence over contemporary Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Orissa, as well as outlying states such as Kashmir, Sind, Valabhi, and Kamarupa.

Harshavardhana - Society

• The society was divided into four classes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vysya, and Sudra.
• Brahmins were the most favored members of society, and rulers granted them land grants.
• Women's standing has fallen since the liberal era of former times.
• Sati was prevalent, and widow remarriage was forbidden in upper castes.
• Swyamvara (the institution of choosing her spouse) has decreased.
• Hiuen Tsang discusses three methods of burying the dead: cremation, river burial, and exposure in the forests.

Harshavardhana - Religion

• According to inscriptions, the early Pushyabhuti monarchs were Surya worshipers.
• Rajyavardhana was a Buddhist devotee.
• Harshavardhana appears to have been a Shiva devotee who was also interested in Buddhism. Nonetheless, he was accepting of various faiths.
• In order to disseminate and spread Mahayana Buddhist beliefs, Harsha convened a large assembly in Kanyakubja in 643 CE, presided over by Hiuen Tsang.
• Shramanas, Brahmanas, and sectarian devotees are said to have been invited to this magnificent meeting.
• Various subordinate rulers were also present, including those of Assam and Valabhi.
• In addition, religious events were held every five years in the ancient city of Allahabad. He held the Dana ceremony, or gifting ceremony, here for three months.
• During this time, the majority of the wealth amassed during the previous five years was depleted.

Harshavardhana - Education and Arts

• Harsha supported both art and education.
• He was also an author, having written three Sanskrit dramas, Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarshika.
• The Nagananda tells the story of the bodhisattva Jimutavahana, while Ratnavali and Priyadarshika are love comedies.
• The wording of the Banskhera and Madhuban inscriptions might have been written by the monarch himself.
• The inscription at Banskhera has the king's signature and demonstrates his calligraphic abilities. According to Bana, the monarch was a skilled lute player.
• Furthermore, Hiuen Tsang describes the prestigious Nalanda University, which was at its peak during Harsha's reign.
• Nalanda was home to over 10,000 pupils and 2,000 professors.
• Vedas, Buddhism, philosophy, logic, urban planning, medicine, law, astronomy, and other subjects were covered in the curriculum.
• In addition, in the court of Harshavardhana, a famous Indian writer and poet named Banabhatta functioned as the 'Asthana Kavi' (chief poet of the realm).

Decline of Harshavardhana

• Harsha died in 647 CE, having reigned for 41 years.
• His dominion fell quickly after his death since he died without successors.
• Harshavardhan, an effective military leader and skilled administrator, died without heir in 647 CE and is regarded as the last Hindu King to dominate a substantial area of North India.
• Following Harsha's death in 648 CE, there was a period of political turmoil until the advent of Yashovarman in 715-45 CE.
• Following that, a number of families vied for control of Kanauj.
• The tripartite battle between the Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Gurjara-Pratiharas was a prominent component of the period’s political history.
• As a result, his death marked the end of the Pushyabhuti dynasty and the beginning of Muslim hegemony over North India.

Pushyabhuti dynasty

• 'Pushyabhuti' founded the Pushyabhuti Dynasty in Thaneshwar (District Ambala, Haryana).
• The Pushyabhuti Dynasty ruled over Thanesar or Sthaneshwar (Thanesar was its capital).
• During the sixth and seventh centuries, the Pushyabhuti dynasty, also known as the Vardhana dynasty, governed areas of northern India.
• The dynasty reached its pinnacle under its last monarch, Harshavardhana, whose Empire included most of north and northwestern India, reaching as far east as Kamarupa and as far south as the Narmada River.
• According to Xuanzang's writings and an 8th-century Buddhist treatise, the Arya-manjushri-mula-kalpa, the dynasty belonged to the Vaishya caste.

Conclusion

King Harshavardhana was the son of Prabhakar Vardhana, the Pushyabhuti or Vardhana Dynasty's founder. He is regarded as one of the most powerful monarchs of the seventh century. On the death of his brother, Rajyavardhana, he ascended the thrones of Thaneshwar and Kannauj and cemented his reign in northern India. Chinese Buddhist traveler Xuanzang praised King Harshavardhana's actions in his writings.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which religion did Harshavardhana adopt later in his life?

A. Shaivism
B. Jainism
C. Mahayana Buddhism
D. Vaishnavism

2. Who among the following was a foreign traveler who visited the court of Harsha?

A. Megasthenes
B. Ibn Battuta
C. Fa Hien
D. Xuanzang

3. Which of the following plays is attributed to Harshavardhana?

A. Shakuntala
B. Nagananda
C. Mudrarakshasa
D. Mrichchhakatika

4. Harshavardhana's capital was located at which of the following places?

A. Pataliputra
B. Kannauj
C. Delhi
D. Ujjain

5. Which ruler did Harsha defeat to expand his empire in Bengal?

A. Sasanka
B. Pulakeshin II
C. Narasimhavarman
D. Mahendravarman I

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the contributions of Harshavardhana to the cultural and religious development of India.

Answer: Harshavardhana was a significant patron of art, culture, and religion in ancient India. His conversion to Mahayana Buddhism and patronage of Buddhist scholars like Xuanzang promoted the spread of Buddhism in North India. He organized religious assemblies, such as the famous one at Kannauj, which attracted scholars from across India and abroad. Harsha also contributed to Sanskrit literature, writing plays like Ratnavali, Nagananda, and Priyadarshika. His reign fostered cultural exchanges and diplomatic relations with neighboring countries like China.

Q2: Analyze the administrative system of Harshavardhana and compare it with that of the Gupta dynasty.

Answer: Harshavardhana's administrative system was largely modeled on the Gupta administration. He maintained a feudal structure, with provincial governors and feudal lords assisting in governance. Harsha’s empire was divided into provinces (Bhuktis), which were further subdivided into districts (Vishayas). The king’s court was a center of power, where he exercised direct control over the core regions. However, like the Guptas, the central control over peripheral areas was weaker. Harsha also maintained a standing army, unlike the Guptas, who relied heavily on feudal levies during wars.

Q3: Evaluate the political significance of Harshavardhana’s reign in the context of early medieval India.

Answer: Harshavardhana's reign was politically significant as it marked the consolidation of power in northern India after the disintegration of the Gupta Empire. Harsha unified large parts of North India, including Punjab, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, establishing a stable political order. His defeat by Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas limited his ambitions in southern India, but his influence in the north was unchallenged. His reign also laid the foundation for future political interactions between India and neighboring regions, including China, as evidenced by the diplomatic exchanges recorded by Xuanzang.

Previous Year Questions on Harshavardhana (606 CE – 647 CE)

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2016

Question: Which of the following foreign travelers visited the court of Harshavardhana?
A. Fa Hien
B. Al-Masudi
C. Xuanzang
D. Marco Polo

Answer: C

Explanation: Xuanzang, a Chinese traveler, visited the court of Harshavardhana and provided a detailed account of the political and religious conditions of his reign.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2018 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the achievements of Harshavardhana in consolidating North India under his rule and his contributions to Indian culture and religion.

Explanation: Harshavardhana's rule saw the unification of much of North India, bringing political stability after the decline of the Guptas. His support for Buddhism, hosting of religious assemblies like the one at Kannauj, and his literary contributions through Sanskrit plays highlight his cultural contributions. He also maintained diplomatic ties with foreign powers, especially China. His reign represents a transitional period in Indian history, influencing both the political landscape and cultural development of medieval India.