King Harshavardhan, a prominent name among the most powerful emperors in the history of India. He was also known as Harsha and was the son of Prabhakar Vardhana, who founded the Vardhana/ Pushyabhuti dynasty. Candidates can check other NCERT Notes on Ancient History of India for the UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains Exam.

Harshavardhan ruled during the 7th century AD and was competent enough to build a tremendously extensive empire that extended from North and Northwest India to Narmada in the South. He was a generous king who cared for the peace and prosperity of his men.

This article will guide you to learn about all the important facts of King Harshavardhan and his empire and prepare for the forthcoming UPSC examination.

Facts about Harshavardhan (Reign: 606 A.D. to 647 A.D.)

• King Harshavardhan was born in 590 A.D. to Prabhakar Vardhana, the founder of the Vardhana Dynasty.
• He was born Hindu but started embracing the Mahayana Buddhism religion later in his life.
• He got married to Durgavati.
• King Harshavardhan was a father of two sons and a girl.
• Both his sons were killed by his own ministers.
• His daughter got married to the King of Vallabhi.
• Xuanzang, a Chinese Buddhist traveller, enormously praised the deeds of King Harshavardhan in his writings.

• Harshavardhan was a very generous man and an accomplished writer who was credited with a few Sanskrit works like the Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarshika.
• He was a wise and capable administrator and a military conqueror.
• He truly supported Nalanda University.
• King Harshavardhan was officially the last king to rule such a vast empire before the Muslims invaded parts of the country.

The Ascension of King Harsha

• After the death of Harsha's father, Prabhakar Vardhana, the throne of Thanesar was ascended by his elder son Rajyavardhana.
• Prabhakar's daughter Rajyashri was married to the Makuhari king, Grahavarman. The Gauda King Sasanka incapacitated and killed King Grahavarman and took Rajyashri as a prisoner.
• The capture of Rajyashri prompted King Rajyavardhana to fight against Sasanka. Unfortunately, Rajyavardhana was defeated and was killed by Sasanka.
• This led to the ascension of Harshavardhan over the throne of Thanesar, (present-day Haryana) at the age of 16 years old in 606 A.D.
• King Harshavardhan could not tolerate such an affront on his family and vowed to avenge the murder of Rajyavardhana and rescue his sister Rajyashri.
• He forged an alliance with the King of Kamarupa called Bhaskaravarman to defeat the Gauda King Sasanka.
• King Harshavardhan and Bhaskaravarman marched against the treacherous King, which led Sasanka to leave for Bengal. Harsha then finally became the king of Kannauj as well.

King Harshavardhan's Empire

• After obtaining control over Kannauj, Harshavardhan united the two kingdoms of Thanesar and Kannauj.
• Harsha then moved the capital of his kingdom from Thanesar to Kannauj.
• North India later got divided into several small kingdoms after the fall of the Guptas.
• King Harshavardhan managed to unite most of the kingdoms under his command.
• He also annexed the kingdoms of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha after the death of Sasanka.
• Harshavardhan defeated the Vallabhi King of Gujrat and both signed a truce by accepting the marriage proposal between Harsha's daughter and King Dhruva Bhatta.
• Harsha's dream of capturing the South territories, however, remained unsuccessful as he was defeated by Pulakesin II, the Chalukya King in 618-619A.D. And his defeat marked the limit of his territories in the South up to the Narmada River.

Feudalism in India

It was during the reign of King Harshavardhan (606-647 A.D.) when feudalism was introduced in India. Harshavardhan ruled over two different types of territories. The first category holds those territories that were directly under the control of Harsha's command. The second type of territory includes the ones that were feudatories.

• The direct territories of Harsha include the territory of Rajputana, Bengal, Gujrat, Kalinga, and the Central Provinces.
• The feudatory territories include Kashmir, Sind, Nepal, and Jalandhar.

The Death of King Harshavardhan

King Harshavardhan died in 647 A.D. after ruling for 41 long years. Since both his sons were killed by the ministers, Harsha died without any true heir to the throne. This made Arjuna, one of the chief ministers, ascend the throne of Harsha's kingdom. But soon in 648 A.D., the kingdom was attacked by the Tibetians and Arjuna was incapacitated and was captured as a prisoner. This led to the fall of King Harsha's empire.

To get more information and study materials on Ancient History for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains exam, candidates can check NCERT Ancient History Notes right here.

FAQs

Question. Who was King Harshavardhana and when did he rule?

Question. What were the major achievements of King Harshavardhana?

Question. How did King Harshavardhana contribute to literature and culture?

Question. What was the significance of the Buddhist council organized by King Harshavardhana?

Question. What were the major challenges faced by King Harshavardhana during his reign?

MCQs

1. Who was the chief scholar in the court of King Harshavardhana?

A) Kalidasa

B) Bānabhaṭṭa

C) Aryadeva

D) Charaka

2. Where was the capital of King Harshavardhana's empire?

A) Pataliputra

B) Kannauj

C) Ujjain

D) Delhi

3. What religion did King Harshavardhana predominantly support?

A) Jainism

B) Buddhism

C) Hinduism

D) Zoroastrianism

4. What was the primary aim of the Buddhist council organized by Harsha at Kannauj?

A) To promote Hinduism

B) To discuss Buddhist teachings

C) To conquer new territories

D) To create a new Buddhist sect

5. Who wrote the biography of King Harshavardhana?

A) Kalidasa

B) Bānabhaṭṭa

C) Kalhana

D) Vishnu Sharma

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the political and cultural significance of King Harshavardhana’s reign in ancient India.

Answer: King Harshavardhana’s reign marked a golden period in the political and cultural history of northern India. Politically, Harsha successfully expanded his empire through military conquests, consolidating territories in Malwa, Bihar, and Punjab, and engaging in conflicts with other regional powers like the Chalukyas. His administrative policies were marked by efficiency and the promotion of justice, which helped strengthen his rule. Culturally, Harsha was a great patron of arts, literature, and religion. His court attracted renowned scholars, including Bānabhaṭṭa and Aryadeva, and he actively supported the development of Sanskrit literature. Harsha’s religious tolerance allowed for the flourishing of both Buddhism and Hinduism, contributing to the growth of a more inclusive cultural environment. The Buddhist council he organized at Kannauj in 643 CE stands as one of the significant moments in the history of Buddhism in India. Thus, Harsha’s reign played a pivotal role in shaping India’s political landscape and cultural legacy.

Q2: Discuss the factors leading to the decline of King Harshavardhana's empire after his death.

Answer: The decline of King Harshavardhana's empire can be attributed to several factors:

• Succession Issues: After Harsha’s death, there was no clear heir to the throne, leading to succession disputes and infighting among his successors, which weakened the empire.
• Regional Challenges: Harsha's empire was vast, and the loss of control over the Deccan and other regions to emerging powers like the Rashtrakutas contributed to its decline.
• Internal Strife: The empire faced challenges from within, including tensions between different religious groups and regional autonomy demands.
• Invasion Threats: The weakening of the central authority made Harsha's empire vulnerable to external invasions, contributing further to its downfall.

Q3: Analyze the role of King Harshavardhana in the promotion of religious tolerance in his empire.

Answer: King Harshavardhana is often celebrated for his role in promoting religious tolerance during his reign. He practiced a policy of religious inclusivity, supporting both Hinduism and Buddhism, while fostering respect for other faiths. He made Buddhism the state religion and organized a Buddhist council in 643 CE at Kannauj to promote the teachings of Mahayanism. However, he also supported the construction of Hindu temples and patronized Sanskrit literature, which reflected his reverence for Hindu culture. His policies allowed religious communities to thrive without fear of persecution, contributing to a culturally pluralistic society. Harsha’s reign thus exemplified the importance of religious tolerance and cooperation in maintaining a stable and prosperous empire.

Previous Year Questions on King Harshavardhana

1. UPSC 2021

Question: Discuss the political and cultural contributions of King Harshavardhana.

Answer: This question required an exploration of King Harsha's contributions to both politics and culture in ancient India, focusing on his military achievements, cultural patronage, and efforts to promote religious tolerance and social welfare.

2. UPSC 2019

Question: Examine the role of King Harshavardhana in the promotion of Buddhism in India.

Answer: The question required a detailed analysis of King Harsha’s role in promoting Buddhism, particularly through his patronage of the Mahayanist movement, his organization of the Buddhist council in Kannauj, and his broader religious policies that facilitated the spread of Buddhism.