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Harsha or Harshavardhana (हर्षवर्धन) or "Harsha vardhan" (590–647) was an Indian emperor who ruled Northern India for over forty years. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Summer - Maurice agrees to Khosrau's entreaties and agrees to restart the war with Persia For the Canadian area code see Area code 416/647. Events By Place Asia A stone tower Astronomical India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country He was the son of Prabhakar Vardhan and younger brother of Rajyavardhan, a king of Thanesar. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thanesar ( Hindi: थानेसर is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar river At the height of his power his kingdom spanned the Punjab, Bengal, Orissa and the entire Indo-Gangetic plain North of the Narmada River. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. The Indo-Gangetic Plain also known as the Northern plains and the North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, The Narmada नर्मदा Gujarati નર્મદા or Nerbudda (Narbada is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent

Harsha's empire at its greatest extent
Harsha's empire at its greatest extent

After the downfall of the Gupta Empire in the middle of the sixth century C. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C E. , North India reverted back to small republics and small monarchical states. Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula Harsha united the small republics from Punjab to Central India, and they, at an assembly, crowned Harsha king in April 606 AD when he was merely 16 years old. The Central India Agency was a political unit of British India, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state Events By Place Europe Cearl becomes king of Mercia. Asia Shashanka [1]

Contents

Harshavardhana's Ancestors

The origin of the Harsha's ancestors is obscure and little is known about them. [2] According to Banabhatta, they were descended from a certain Pushpabhuti who founded the kingdom of Sthaneshwar or modern Thanesar, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre and one of the 51 Shaktipeeth's, now a small town in the vicinity of the newly created Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana north of Delhi. Bāṇabhaṭṭa, also known as Bāṇa, was a Sanskrit scholar of 7th century India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thanesar ( Hindi: थानेसर is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar river The Shakti Peethas ( holy places of cosmic power) are places of worship consecrated to the goddess ' Shakti ', the female principal of Hinduism Kurukshetra ( Hindi: कुरुक्षेत्र is the name of a City in Kurukshetra District of the Indian state of Haryana हरियाणा Haryana (हरियाणा Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ hərɪjaːɳaː is a state in northern India. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population The name Pushpabhuti is the key to Harsha's origins and the relevant reference point is an inscription dated 181 AD and found at Gunda in the state of Gujarat. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. That inscription mentions a general of Rudrasimha I or Rudrasingh by the name Rudrabhuti. [3] Rudradaman I, an ancestor of Rudrasimha I had conquered the Yaudheya, who were the original masters of Haryana. Rudradaman I (r 130 - 150) was the Saka ruler of Malwa, a member of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty Yaudheya or Yaudheya Gana was an ancient tribal confederation who lived in the area between the Indus river and the Ganges river. Haryana (हरियाणा Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ hərɪjaːɳaː is a state in northern India.

The famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk, Xuanzang, states that Harsha was a 吙舍 feishe or of the Vaishya caste[4] but makes no comment about his family's origins. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler The Hindu varna (class System, a Vaishya ( Sanskrit वैश्य vaiśya) is a member of the third of the four classes of traditional [5]

According to Alexander Cunningham in 1871 Xuanzang must have mistaken the Vaisa for Bais Rajput. Sir Alexander Cunningham ( 23 January 1814 &ndash 28 November 1893) was a British Archaeologist and Army Kulgotra- Bais, vansh- Suryavansh, Rishigotra- Bharadwaj, Pravar -35 Branch of kulgotra Present name of the Branch [6] As Thomas Watters has pointed out this is most unlikely as Xuanzang, "had ample opportunities for learning the antecedents of the royal family, and he must have had some ground for his assertion. "[7] Moreover, Xuanzang had an expert knowledge of Sanskrit and the caste system, which he discusses, in some detail in his book. He mentions that rulers traditionally belonged to the Kshatriya caste and his specific mention that Harsha was a feishe was probably because this was an uncommon occurrence. [8][9]

However, upon his formal coronation ceremony, Harsha took the title Rajputra. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India [10]

Vardhan Dynasty

After the downfall of the Gupta Empire in the middle of the sixth century CE, North India was split into several independent kingdoms. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C The Huns had established their supremacy over the Punjab and parts of central India. The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c The northern and western regions of India passed into the hands of a dozen or more feudatory states.

Prabhakar Vardhan, 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. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thanesar ( Hindi: थानेसर is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar river

After Prabhakar Vardhan’s death in 606 CE, his eldest son, Rajya Vardhan, ascended the throne. Harsha Vardhana was Rajya Vardhan’s younger brother.

Harsha's Ascension

Rajya Vardhan’s and Harsha’s sister Rajyasri had been married to the Maukhari king, Grahavarman. This king, some years later, had been defeated and killed by king Deva Gupta of Malwa and after his death Rajyasri had been cast into prison by the victor. Harsha's brother, Rajya Vardhan, then the king at Thanesar, could not stand this affront on his family, marched against Deva Gupta and defeated him. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thanesar ( Hindi: थानेसर is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar river But it so happened at this moment that Sasanka, king of Gauda in Eastern Bengal, entered Magadha as a friend of Rajya Vardhana, but in secret alliance with the Malwa king. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. Accordingly, Sasanka treacherously murdered Rajya Vardhan.

On hearing about the murder of his brother, Harsha resolved at once to march against the treacherous king of Gauda and killed Deva Gupta in a battle. Harsha ascended the throne at the age of 16.

Harsha's Wars

Though quite a young man when he came to power, Harsha proved himself a great conqueror and an able administrator. After his accession, Harsha united the two kingdoms of Thanesar and Kannauj and transferred his capital from Thanesar to Kannauj. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thanesar ( Hindi: थानेसर is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar river WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kannauj ( Hindi कन्नौज Urdu: کنوج) also spelt Kanauj, Harsha defeated Shashanka, the ruler of Bengal. Shashanka (শশাঙ্ক Shôshangko) Shashanka the first important king of ancient Bengal, occupies a prominent place in history of the region Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang . He also brought Bengal, Bihar and Orissa under his control. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. He conquered Dhruvasena of Gujarat and gave his own daughter in marriage to him. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. He also conquered Ganjam, a part of the modern Orissa State. Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal.

Harsha's ambition of extending his power to the Deccan and Southern India were stopped by Pulakeshi II, the Chalukya king of Vatapi in Northern Karnataka. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pulakesi II (ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ ಪುಲಿಕೇಶಿ (610 - 642 CE is the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Badami (ಬದಾಮಿ formerly known as Vatapi, is a Taluk in the Bagalkot District Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India Pulakeshi defeated Harsha's army on the banks of the river Narmada in 620 AD. The Narmada नर्मदा Gujarati નર્મદા or Nerbudda (Narbada is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent A truce was agreed upon and the river Narmada was marked as the southern boundary of Harsha's kingdom.

Patron of Buddhism and Literature

Harsha's father, Prabhākara was, apparently a sun-worshipper, his brother followed Hinayana Buddhism while, according to Bana, Harsha himself was a Mahayana Buddhist. "Sun god" redirects here For the Ramsey Lewis album see Sun Goddess (album. Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Harsha was a tolerant ruler and supported all faiths - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Early in his life, he seems to have been a follower of Sun Worship, becoming a patron of Shaivism and Buddhism later on. Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices [11]

His sister Rajyashri's conversion to Buddhism presumably had a positive effect on his support to the religion. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices His approach to religion is evident in his celebrated play Nagananda. The play's theme is based on the Jataka tale of the Bodhisattva Jimutavahana, but Harasha introduces the Goddess Gauri, Shiva's consort, as the saviour of Jimutavahana, a feature not found in the Jataka. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta Gauri may refer to Gauri (raga The Hindu Deity Parvati Gauri Khan - Indian film producer Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva The Jātaka Tales ( Sanskrit जातक and Pali, Malay: jetaka Lao: satok refer to a voluminous body of Folklore -like literature

According to the Chinese Pilgrim Xuanzang, who visited his kingdom in 636 CE, Harsha built numerous stupas in the name of Buddha. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler Events By Place Byzantine Empire August 20 — Battle of Yarmuk: Khalid ibn al-Walid 's victory against the Xuanzang entered a grand competition organized by Harsha and won the theological debate. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler Harsha also became a patron of art and literature. He made numerous endowments to the University at Nalanda. Nālandā is the name of an ancient University in Bihar, India. Two seals of Harsha have been found in Nalanda in the course of the excavations. Nālandā is the name of an ancient University in Bihar, India. 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. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kannauj ( Hindi कन्नौज Urdu: کنوج) also spelt Kanauj, [12]

In 641, following Xuanzang's visit, Harsha sent a mission to China which established the first diplomatic relations between China and India. Events By Place Europe Chindaswinth deposes Tulga, and becomes king of the Visigoths. The Chinese responded by sending an embassy consisting of Li Yibiao and Wang Xuanze, who probably traveled through Tibet and whose journey is commemorated in inscriptions at Rajagriha - modern Rajgir, and Bodhgaya. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya (Hindi बोधगया is a city in Gaya district in the

Harsha was a noted author on his own merit. He wrote three Sanskrit plays – Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarsika. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Nagananda ( Joy of the Serpents) is a Sanskrit play attributed to king Harsha ( 606 C Ratnavali is a Sanskrit drama about a beautiful princess named Ratnavali and a great king named Udayana Priyadarsika is a Sanskrit play attributed to king Harsha ( 606 C His reign is comparatively well documented, thanks to his court poet Bana and Xuanzang. Bāṇabhaṭṭa, also known as Bāṇa, was a Sanskrit scholar of 7th century India. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler Bana composed an account of Harsha's rise to power in Harsha Charitha, the first historical poetic work in Sanskrit language. Harshacharita ( IAST:Harṣacarita Sanskrit: हर्षचरित "The Deeds of Harṣa" is the Biography of Indian Emperor Harsha Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Xuanzang wrote a full description of his travels in India. [13]

After Harsha

Harsha died in the year 647 AD. He ruled for 41 years. After Harsha's death, apparently without any heirs, his empire died with him. The kingdom disintegrated rapidly into small states. The succeeding period is very obscure and badly documented, but it marks the culmination of a process that had begun with the invasion of the Huns in the last years of the Gupta Empire.

Neither Bana's nor Huan Tsang's account gives any details of this period. A few tantalising glimpses are offered in some ancient Chinese and Tibetan Books. The one in the Tibetan book The White Annals[14] tells that Harsha had sent an envoy to the Chinese Emperor, who in turn sent a Chinese one(named in the Chinese sources as Wang Xuance) with a convoy of thirty horsemen. Wang Xuance ( fl 7th century) was a Tang Dynasty guard officer and diplomat When they reached India they found that Harsha was dead and his minister Arjuna had usurped the throne. Arjuna is said to have been persecuting the Buddhists and attacked the envoy who had to flee to Tibet. The Tibetan king decided to avenge the insult to the Chinese emperor and sent the envoy back with an army that finally managed to defeat and take Arjuna and his family as prisoners, and sent them back as prisoners to the Chinese emperor. Historians have not yet managed to unravel what the facts were from these meagre accounts.

References

  1. ^ RN Kundra & SS Bawa, History of Ancient and Meddieval India
  2. ^ Mahajan, V. D. Ancient India. 8th Edition. 1978, Chand & Company, New Delhi, p. 498.
  3. ^ Page 21, The tribes and castes of Bombay, By Reginald Edward Enthoven, Published 1990 by Asian Educational Services, ISBN 8120606302
  4. ^ Grand dictionnaire Ricci de la langue chinoise. 7 volumes. Instituts Ricci (Paris – Taipei). Desclée de Brouwer. 2001. Vol. II, p. 578.
  5. ^ Watters, Thomas. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India. Two volumes. 1904-1905, Royal Asiatic Society, London. One volume reprint: Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1973, pp. 343-345.
  6. ^ Cunningham, Alexander. The Ancient Geography of India: The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang. 1871, Thübner and Co. Reprint by Elbiron Classics. 2003. , p. 377.
  7. ^ Watters, Thomas. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India. Two volumes. 1904-1905, Royal Asiatic Society, London. One volume reprint: Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1973, pp. 344-345.
  8. ^ Watters, Thomas. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India. Two volumes. 1904-1905, Royal Asiatic Society, London. One volume reprint: Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1973, p. 168.
  9. ^ Li, Rongxi. The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions. Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 1996, pp. 58-59.
  10. ^ Encyclopaedia of Indian Events and Dates by Satya Bikash Bhattacherje, Sterling Publ. 1995, p12
  11. ^ Drekmeier, Charles. 1962. Kingship and Community in Early India. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. ISBN 0-8047-0114-8, p. 187
  12. ^ Watters, Thomas. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India. Two volumes. 1904-1905, Royal Asiatic Society, London. One volume reprint: Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1973, pp. 343-344.
  13. ^ Beal, Samuel, Si-Yu-Ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World, by Hiuen Tsiang. 2 vols. , 1884, Translated by Samuel Beal. London. 1884. Reprint: Delhi. Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. 1969.
  14. ^ Deb-Ther-Dkar-Po, The White Annals, Tibetan Freedom Press, Darjeeling, 1964
Middle kingdoms of India
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(Persian rule)
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Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India from the 2nd century BC since the decline of the Maurya Empire, and the corresponding Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. According to tradition the Shishunaga dynasty founded the Magadha Empire in 684 BC, whose capital was Rajagriha, later Pataliputra, near the The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Kalinga was a Kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military For other uses of the term Sunga see Sunga (disambiguation The Sunga Empire (or Shunga Empire) is a Magadha The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas ( 35 - 405) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India ( Saurashtra The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bengal and Bihar regions from the 8th to The Solanki (from Chalukya, an ancient Indian dynasty are a Hindu clan who ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th The Sena dynasty ( Bengali সেন Shen) ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation History In early Tamil literature the great Chera rulers are referred to as Cheral Kuttuvan Irumporai Kollipurai and Athan The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar ( Identification Kalabhras The identification of the Kalabhras is difficult The Kadamba Dynasty ( Kannada:ಕದಂಬರು (345 - 525 CE was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ( Sanskrit: राष्ट्रकूट rāṣṭrakūṭa, Kannada: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ was a royal The Western Chalukya Empire ( Kannada: ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ) ruled most of the western Deccan, South The Hoysala Empire ( Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ ( pronunciation: in Kannada was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of In ancient times trade between India and Greece flourished with Silk, Spices and Gold being traded The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Indo-Iranian Sakas ( Scythians) who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, The Indo-Parthian Kingdom was established during the 1st century by Gondophares, and at its greatest extent extended into areas that are in present-day Afghanistan The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 The Indo-Sassanids, Kushano-Sassanids or Kushanshas (also Indo-Sassanians) were a branch of the Sassanid Persians who established their There are two different theories regarding the Kidarite kingdom either it is created in the second half of the 4th c The Huna (also known as Indo-Hephthalites or Alchon) as they were known in South Asia, seem to have been part of the Hephthalite group who The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from the 11th to the 17th centuries though earlier Muslim conquests made limited inroads into the region beginning For a town in Bareilly District India see Shahi Uttar Pradesh. During the late Middle Ages, several Islamic Empires were established in South Asia.
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