Harshavardhana [606-647 AD]: A Comprehensive Guide for UPSC PSC Exam

Harshavardhana at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Reign	606 – 647 AD
Predecessor	Rajyavardhana (King of Thanesar)
Successor	Arunasva (King of Kannauj)
Born	4 June 590 CE, possibly in Sthanvishvara, Kingdom of Thanesar (modern-day Haryana)
Died	647 CE (aged 56-57), possibly in Kanyakubja, Empire of Kannauj (modern-day Uttar Pradesh)
Dynasty	Pushyabhuti
Father	Prabhakarvardhana
Religion	– Shaivism (early life), – Buddhism (later life, according to Xuanzang)
Capital	Kannauj
Notable Titles	Prince Shiladitya (early reign), Emperor Harsha
Empire Spread	From Nepal in the north to Narmada River in the south, and Assam to Gujarat
Significant Diplomatic Relations	Relations with China (Tang Dynasty) and the King of Kamrup (Bhaskarvarman)
Cultural Patronage	Supporter of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism; organized religious assemblies
Patron of Literature	Banabhatta, author of Harshacharita and Kadambari
Festivals	Quinquennial (every five years) festival at Prayag, charity-focused assemblies at Kannauj
Famous Visitors	Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) lived at his court for 8 years
Major Confrontation	Defeated by Pulakeshin II (Chalukya dynasty) on the banks of Narmada River

Sources

Harshacharita	biography of Harshavardhana written by Banabhatta.
Great Tang Records on the Western Regions	written by Hiuen Tsang gives details about his journey throughout India.
Arya-Manjusri-Mulakalpa	A 7-8th century Buddhist text.
Harsha’s writings	Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda.

Important Facts about Harshavardhana

• Harshavardhana’s Reign (606–647 AD):
  • Harshavardhana ascended the throne of Thaneswar in 606 AD, marking the beginning of the “Harsha Era.”
  • For the first six years (606-612), he ruled under the name Prince Shiladitya.
  • Harsha unified small kingdoms from Punjab to Central India, which had reverted to small states after the fall of the Gupta Empire.

• Military and Diplomatic Relations:
  • In 618-619 AD, Harsha attempted to invade the Chalukya Empire but was resisted by Pulakeshin II on the banks of the Narmada River.
  • A treaty was made between Harsha and Pulakeshin II, designating the Narmada River as the border between their empires.
  • Harsha’s empire stretched from Nepal to the Narmada River and from Assam in the east to Gujarat in the west.
  • He maintained friendly relations with Bhaskarvarman, the king of Kamrup (Assam).
  • In 641 AD, Harsha sent an envoy to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty in China, establishing diplomatic relations. Chinese envoys visited his court three times.

• Cultural and Religious Influence:
  • Harsha made Kannauj his capital and was known for his devotion to public welfare, spending most of the state’s income on the well-being of his people.
  • Every five years, he donated his wealth to a grand charitable event.
  • In 643 AD, he organized a Great Assembly at Kannauj, attended by 20 kings and numerous priests and sages of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths.
  • The Chinese traveller Hiuen Sang (Xuanzang) mentions this event and Harsha’s promotion of Mahayana Buddhism during the assembly.
  • Harsha was a great patron of learning, setting aside one-fourth of the income from royal lands to support scholars.

• Notable Scholars and Writings: Banabhatta, a renowned poet in Harsha’s court, wrote the famous works Harshacharita and Kadambari, detailing Harsha’s life and reign.

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Administration

Administrative Divisions:

• Empire Divided into Bhuktis:
  • The empire was divided into Bhuktis (provinces), which were the primary administrative units.
  • Each Bhukti was governed by officials known as Kumaramatyas, appointed directly by the emperor.
• Subdivisions of Bhuktis:
  • Bhuktis were further divided into Bisayas (districts).
  • Each Bisaya was composed of villages, forming the lowest administrative unit.

Key Officials:

• Kumaramatyas:
  • At the top of the non-military royal servants, Kumaramatyas were responsible for overseeing provincial administration.
  • Many higher-level officials, including ministers, were selected from the ranks of Kumaramatyas.
• Central and Provincial Officials: Apart from the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Army Chief, other significant officials included:
  • Head of the Elephant Army: In charge of managing war elephants.
  • Custodian of Documents: Responsible for maintaining important state documents.
  • Uparik: A provincial-level administrator.
  • Bishaypati: An official overseeing the district (Bisaya).

Justice System:

• Stricter Penal Code: The justice system under Harsha was stricter compared to the Gupta period.
• Severe Punishments: For instance, mistreatment or abuse of parents was considered a crime and was punishable by law.

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Taxation

• “Bhaga“, i.e. one-sixth of the harvest.
• “Hiranya“, i.e. tax received from farmers and traders in cash.
• “Bali” was a form of additional tax.

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Harsha’s Religious Beliefs

• Ancestral Faith: Harsha’s ancestors were Sun worshippers.
• Shaivism:
  • In the early years of his reign, Harsha followed Shaivism (devotee of Shiva).
  • Inscriptions and land grants describe him as Parama-maheshvara (supreme devotee of Shiva).
  • His court poet Banabhatta also referred to him as a Shaivite.
• Transition to Buddhism:
  • Later in life, Harsha was drawn to Buddhism.
  • He convened an annual conference of Buddhist monks to discuss religious matters.
  • According to Hiuen Tsang, Harsha:
    • Banned animal slaughter for food.
    • Built monasteries at sites visited by Gautama Buddha.
• Kannauj Religious Festival:
  • Harsha organized a 21-day religious festival in Kannauj.
  • During the festival, Harsha and his subordinate kings performed daily rituals in front of a life-sized golden statue of the Buddha.

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Assembly in Prayag

• Harsha’s Quinquennial Festival at Prayag:
  • Location: Held at Prayag (modern-day Prayagraj) at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
  • The festival was celebrated every five years and involved religious worship, charity, and donations to various groups.
• Festival Schedule:
  • Day 1: Worship of a Buddha image.
  • Day 2: Worship of the Sun.
  • Day 3: Worship of Shiva.
  • Day 4: Gifts were given to Buddhist monks.
  • Next 20 days: Gifts were distributed to Brahmins.
  • Next 10 days: Gifts were given to Jains and other religious groups.
  • Next 10 days: Alms were given to beggars.
  • Next 1 month: Charity was extended to the poor, orphans, and destitute.
• Special Event: After the Great Assembly of Kannauj in 643 AD, Harsha invited the Chinese traveller Hiuen Sang to attend the sixth quinquennial festival at Prayag.

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Harshacharita: Biography of Emperor Harsha

• Author: Banabhatta (also known as Bana), wrote the Harshacharita in the 7th century CE. He was a Sanskrit writer and Court Poet (Asthana Kavi) of Emperor Harsha.
• Significance:
  • Harshacharita is regarded as the first historical biography in the Sanskrit language.
  • Though the biography praises Harsha extensively, it is not considered an unbiased account since Banabhatta received royal patronage from the emperor.
• Contents:
  • The Harshacharita is divided into eight chapters (ucchvasas).
  • The book focuses on the ancestry, life and deeds of Emperor Harsha.
  • The work describes rural India, its natural environment, and the vitality of life during Harsha’s reign.
• Translations: The work was translated into English by Edward Byles Cowell and Frederick William Thomas in 1897.

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Harshavardhana UPSC PSC MCQs

Who founded the Vardhan dynasty (Pushyabhuti dynasty) in Thaneshwar?
(a) Rajyavardhan
(b) Adityavardhan
(c) Pushyabhutivardhan
(d) Naravardhan

• Correct Answer: (c)

Emperor Harsha had shifted his capital from Thaneshwar to:
[UPPSC (Pre) 1992]
(a) Prayag
(b) Delhi
(c) Kannauj
(d) Rajagriha

• Correct Answer: (c)

Harshavardhana organised two great religious conventions in:
[UPUDA/LDA (Pre) 2001]
(a) Kannauj and Prayag
(b) Prayag and Thaneshwar
(c) Thaneshwar and Vallabhi
(d) Vallabhi and Prayag

• Correct Answer: (a)

The place in Uttar Pradesh where Harshavardhana organised the Buddha mega convention:
[UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2004]
(a) Kashi
(b) Prayag
(c) Ayodhya
(d) Sarnath

• Correct Answer: (b)

Information regarding Harsha’s time is contained in the books of:
[UPPSC (Pre) 1995]
(a) Harisena
(b) Kalhan
(c) Kalidasa
(d) None of these

• Correct Answer: (b)

Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada River by:
[IAS (Pre) 2003]
(a) Pulakeshin-I
(b) Pulakeshin-II
(c) Vikramaditya-I
(d) Vikramaditya-II

• Correct Answer: (b)

Which one of the following inscriptions mentions Pulakeshin-II’s military success against Harshavardhana?
[CDS 2010]
(a) Allahabad Pillar Inscription
(b) Aihole Inscription
(c) Damodarpur Copper-Plate Inscription
(d) Bilsad Inscription

• Correct Answer: (b)

Which of the following universities was patronised by Harsha?
(a) Takshila
(b) Vikramshila
(c) Nalanda
(d) Magadh

• Correct Answer: (c)

Who oriented Harsha towards Buddhism?
(a) Mahakashyap
(b) Hiuen-Tsang
(c) Nagasena
(d) Diwakar Mitra

• Correct Answer: (b)

Which ruler of Bengal was the contemporary of Harsha?
[RRB 2005]
(a) Shashank
(b) Dhruvsen
(c) Pulakeshin-II
(d) Bhaskar Verma

• Correct Answer: (a)

King Harshavardhana ascended the throne of Thanesar and Kannauj on the death of which brother?
[SSC CGL 2019]
(a) Indravardhana
(b) Suryavardhana
(c) Rajyavardhana
(d) Chandravardhana

• Correct Answer: (c)

Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.
Reason (R): He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.
Codes:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true

• Correct Answer: (c)

In whose reign did the Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang visit India?
[UPPSC 2012]
(a) Chandragupta-II
(b) Harsha
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Chandragupta-I

• Correct Answer: (b)

Chinese traveller Hieun-Tsang studied at which University?
[BPSC (Pre) 2003, UPPSC (Pre) 1995]
(a) Taxila
(b) Vikramshila
(c) Magadh
(d) Nalanda

• Correct Answer: (d)

Who sent Hiuen-Tsang as an emissary to the court of Harsha?
[UPPSC (Pre) 2007]
(a) Taai-Sunga
(b) Tung-Kuaan
(c) Ku-Yen-Vu
(d) None of the above

• Correct Answer: (a)

The Chinese traveller who visited Bhinmal was:
[RAS/RTS (Pre) 2007]
(a) Fa-hien
(b) Sangyun
(c) Hiuen-Tsang
(d) I-Tsing

• Correct Answer: (c)

The major reason behind remembering Hiuen-Tsang is:
[RAS/RTS (Pre) 1992]
(a) Respect for Harsha
(b) Study in Nalanda
(c) Trust in Buddhas
(d) Composition of Sei-Yu-Kei

• Correct Answer: (d)

During Hiuen-Tsang’s tour in India, the most famous city for the production of cotton clothes was:
[BPSC (Pre) 1996]
(a) Varanasi
(b) Mathura
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Kanchi

• Correct Answer: (b)

Hiuen-Tsang, hailed as the prince of pilgrims, visited India during the reign of which king?
[SSC CGL 2019]
(a) Ashoka
(b) Vishnugupta
(c) Samudragupta
(d) Harsha

• Correct Answer: (d)

Chinese writers mention India by which name?
[UPPSC (Pre) 2013]
(a) Fo-Kwo-Ki
(b) Yin-tu
(c) Si-Yu-Ki
(d) Sikia-Pono

• Correct Answer: (b)

Consider the following statements:
I. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
II. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[IAS (Pre) 2004]
(a) Only I
(b) Only II
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

• Correct Answer: (d)

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen-Tsang), who visited India, recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery.
II. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water, and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
III. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[IAS (Pre) 2013]
(a) Only I
(b) II and III
(c) II and III
(d) All of these

• Correct Answer: (c)

Poet Bana was an inhabitant of:
[BPSC (Pre) 1996]
(a) Pataliputra
(b) Thaneshwar
(c) Bhojpur
(d) None of the above

• Correct Answer: (d)

Who has written the ‘Harshacharita’?
[BPSC (Pre) 2005]
(a) Aryabhatta
(b) Banabhatta
(c) Vishnugupta
(d) Parimalgupta

• Correct Answer: (b)

Banabhatta was the court poet of?
[SSC 1997]
(a) Vikramaditya
(b) Kumaragupta
(c) Harshavardhana
(d) Kanishka

• Correct Answer: (c)

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