Harsha

Harsha
Maharajadhiraja

Coin of Harshavardhana, circa 606-647 CE.[1]
Ruler of North India
Reign c. 606 – c. 647 CE
Predecessor Rajyavardhana
Successor Yashovarman
Born 590 CE
Died 647 CE
Dynasty Pushyabhuti (Vardhana)
Father Prabhakarvardhana
Religion Buddhism

Harsha (c. 590–647 CE), also known as Harshavardhana, was an Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to 647 CE. He was a member of the Pushyabhuti dynasty; and was the son of Prabhakarvardhana who defeated the Alchon Huna invaders,[2] and the younger brother of Rajyavardhana, a king of Thanesar, present-day Haryana. At the height of Harsha's power, his Empire covered much of North and Northwestern India, extended East till Kamarupa, and South until Narmada River; and eventually made Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh state) his capital, and ruled till 647 CE.[3] Harsha was defeated by the south Indian Emperor Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty when Harsha tried to expand his Empire into the southern peninsula of India.[4]

The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide.[3] During this time, Harsha converted to Buddhism from Surya worship.[5] Harsha studied in the University of Nalanda. The Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.[3] His biography Harshacharita ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet Banabhatta, describes his association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and the palace with a two-storied Dhavalagriha (white mansion).[6][5]

Origins

Palace ruins at "Harsh ka tila" mound area spread over 1 km

After the downfall of the Gupta Empire in the middle of the 6th century, North India was split into several independent kingdoms. The northern and western regions of India passed into the hands of a dozen or more feudatory states. Prabhakara Vardhana, the ruler of Sthanvisvara, who belonged to the Pushyabhuti family, extended his control over neighbouring states. Prabhakar Vardhan was the first king of the Vardhana dynasty with his capital at Thaneswar. After Prabhakar Vardhan's death in 605, his eldest son, Rajya Vardhana, ascended the throne. Harsha Vardhana was Rajya Vardhana's younger brother. This period of kings from the same line has been referred to as the Vardhana dynasty in many publications.[7][8][9] [10]

According to major evidences, Harsha, like the Guptas, was of the Vaishya Varna.[11] The Chinese traveler Xuanzang mentions an emperor named Shiladitya, who had been claimed to be Harsha.[12] Xuanzang mentions that this king belonged to "Fei-she". This word is generally restored as "Vaishya" (a varna or social class).[13]

Ascension

Territorial reach of Harsha.

Rajya Vardhana’s and Harsha’s sister Rajyashri had been married to the Maukhari king, Grahavarman. This king, some years later, had been defeated and killed by king Devagupta of Malwa and after his death Rajyashri had been cast into prison by the victor. Harsha's brother, Rajya Vardhana, then the king at Thanesar, could not stand this affront on his family, marched against Devagupta and defeated him. But it so happened at this moment that Shashanka, king of Gauda in Eastern Bengal, entered Magadha as a friend of Rajyavardhana, but in secret alliance with the Malwa king. Accordingly, Sasanka treacherously murdered Rajyavardhana.[14] On hearing about the murder of his brother, Harsha resolved at once to march against the treacherous king of Gauda and killed Shashanka in a battle. Harsha ascended the throne at the age of 16.

Reign

As North India reverted to small republics and small monarchical states ruled by Gupta rulers after the fall of the prior Gupta Empire, Harsha united the small republics from Punjab to central India, and their representatives crowned him king at an assembly in April 606 giving him the title of Maharaja. Harsha adopted Buddhism[5] and established the Empire of Harsha which brought all of northern India under his control.[3] The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a center of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha, and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.[3]

Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha on the banks of Narmada in the winter of 618-619 A.D.[15][16]

Author

Harsha is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyadarsika.[17] While some believe (e.g., Mammata in Kavyaprakasha) that it was Bana, Harsha's court poet who wrote the plays as a paid commission, Wendy Doniger is "persuaded, however, that king Harsha really wrote the plays ... himself."[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ CNG Coins
  2. ↑ India: History, Religion, Vision and Contribution to the World, by Alexander P. Varghese p.26
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania by Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda p.507
  4. ↑ Ancient India by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p.274
  5. 1 2 3 "Harsha". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sthanvishvara (historical region, India)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Harsha Charitra by Banabhatt
  8. ↑ Legislative Elite in India: A Study in Political Socialization by Prabhu Datta Sharma, Publ. Legislators 1984, p32
  9. ↑ Revival of Buddhism in Modern India by Deodas Liluji Ramteke, Publ Deep & Deep, 1983, p19
  10. ↑ Some Aspects of Ancient Indian History and Culture by Upendra Thakur, Publ. Abhinav Publications, 1974,
  11. ↑ Chandra Mauli Mani (2005). A Journey Through India's Past. Northern Book Centre. p. 91. ISBN 978-81-7211-194-6.
  12. ↑ Wendy Doniger (2006). Ratnāvalī. New York University Press. p. 15.
  13. ↑ Shankar Goyal (2006). Harsha, a multidisciplinary political study. Kusumanjali. p. 122.
  14. ↑ "Harsha (Indian emperor)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Pulakeshin's victory over Harsha was in 618 AD". The Hindu. 25 April 2016. p. 9.
  16. ↑ "Study unravels nuances of classical Indian history". The Times of India". Pune. 23 April 2016. p. 3.
  17. 1 2 Harsha (2006). "The Lady of the Jewel Necklace" and "The Lady who Shows Her Love". Translated by Wendy Doniger. New York University Press. p. 18.

Further reading

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