Harsha
The year 605 marked the death of Prabhakaravardhana, king of Thanesar. His eldest son Rajyavardhana ascended the throne immediately after his father passed away. Harshavardhana was only sixteen years old when he inherited power following a series of betrayals. King Devagupta of Malwa had defeated and killed Grahavarman, the husband of Harsha's sister Rajyashri. This act left Rajyashri imprisoned in the forests of Magadha. Rajyavardhana marched against Devagupta to rescue her but fell victim to a secret alliance with Shashanka, the King of Gauda. Shashanka murdered Rajyavardhana while pretending to be an ally. Harsha resolved to march against the treacherous King of Gauda to avenge his brother. He rescued his sister just as she prepared to immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre. This event set the stage for his coronation as emperor at an assembly in April 606.
Harshavardhana united small republics from Punjab to central India under his rule. Representatives crowned him emperor with the title Maharajadhiraja during that spring assembly. The empire eventually covered much of northern and northwestern India up to the Narmada River. In the winter of 618, 619, Pulakeshin II repelled an invasion led by Harsha on the banks of the Narmada. The Chalukya Emperor successfully defended his territory against the northern forces. A treaty followed this defeat, designating the Narmada River as the border between their empires. Xuanzang described how Harsha was unable to prevail upon or subjugate Pulakeshin despite marching with confidence. Historians date some conquests to 606, 612 CE based on Chinese accounts, though wars continued for several more years. While he ruled most of northern India, he did not control the entire subcontinent. The southern boundary remained fixed at the Narmada River after the battle.
Kanyakubja served as the imperial capital of Harshavardhana when the Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited. This city became a centre of cosmopolitanism attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide. Bana described a defensive wall, a moat and the palace with a two-storied Dhavalagriha known as the white mansion. The peace and prosperity that prevailed made the court a hub for diverse cultural exchange. Scholars gathered there to discuss philosophy and religion under the protection of the emperor. Religious visitors found hospitality in well-maintained hospices built along highways across India. The annual assembly brought global scholars together to share knowledge and receive charitable alms. Every five years, Harsha held a great assembly called Moksha where these gatherings reached their peak intensity. The physical layout of the capital reflected the power and stability of his reign during this period.
Xuanzang wrote a very favourable account of Harsha, referring to him as Shiladitya. He praised the emperor's justice and generosity throughout his detailed records. The Chinese traveller observed that Harsha banned animal slaughter for food within his territories. He erected several thousand 100-feet high stupas on the banks of the Ganges river. Monasteries were built at places visited by Gautama Buddha according to Xuanzang's observations. A 21-day religious festival organized by Harsha in Kanyakubja featured daily rituals before a life-sized golden statue of the Buddha. Subordinate kings performed these rituals alongside the emperor during the festival. Tang Taizong sent Wang Xuance to India in response to an ambassador from Harsha arriving in China. Wang discovered Harsha had died when he arrived in 648. The new king Aluonashun attacked Wang and his thirty mounted subordinates shortly after arrival. This incident led to a joint expedition involving over seven thousand Nepalese infantry and twelve hundred Tibetan infantry attacking Indian state on June 16. Two thousand prisoners were taken from Magadha by the forces under Wang Xuance.
Harshavardhana was eclectic in his religious views and practices throughout his reign. His seals describe his ancestors as worshippers of the Hindu sun god Surya. His elder brother Rajyavardhana is described as a Buddhist while Harsha himself appears as a Shaivite Hindu. Land grant inscriptions describe him as Parama-maheshvara, meaning supreme devotee of Shiva. Court poet Bana also describes him as a Shaivite Hindu in his writings. Xuanzang states that Harsha patronised scholars of all religions not just Buddhist monks. Some historians believe his conversion to Buddhism happened only in the later part of his life if at all. S. R. Goyal and S. V. Sohoni argue that Harsha was personally a Shaivite Hindu. His patronage of Buddhists misled Xuanzang to portray him as a Buddhist according to these scholars. The play Nāgānanda tells the story of the Bodhisattva Jīmūtavāhavana with an invocatory verse dedicated to Buddha. Shiva's consort Gauri plays an important role in the play raising the hero to life using her divine power.
Harsha is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyadarsika. Mammata in Kavyaprakasha suggests Dhāvaka wrote the plays as a paid commission instead. Wendy Doniger remains persuaded that king Harsha really wrote the plays himself. These works hold significant cultural importance within the literary tradition of ancient India. The play Nāgānanda preserves verses separately in Tibetan translation known as the Mārajit-stotra. Two verses together with a third are preserved separately in that foreign language version. A 1926 Indian silent film titled Samrat Shiladitya about the emperor was directed by Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani. This cinematic adaptation brought the historical figure to modern audiences decades after his death. The debate over authorship continues among scholars studying the texts today. Cultural significance extends beyond mere entertainment into religious and philosophical expression during that era.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Harshavardhana become emperor of Kannauj?
Harshavardhana was crowned emperor at an assembly in April 606. This coronation followed the death of his brother Rajyavardhana and the rescue of his sister Rajyashri from imprisonment.
What was the southern boundary of Harsha's empire?
The Narmada River served as the fixed southern boundary of Harshavardhana's empire after the winter battle of 618 or 619. Pulakeshin II successfully repelled Harsha's invasion on the banks of this river, establishing it as the border between their empires.
Who visited Kanyakubja during the reign of Harshavardhana?
The Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited Kanyakubja when it served as the imperial capital of Harshavardhana. He described the city as a cosmopolitan centre attracting scholars, artists, and religious visitors from far and wide.
Did Harshavardhana convert to Buddhism during his life?
Some historians believe Harshavardhana converted to Buddhism only in the later part of his life if at all. S. R. Goyal and S. V. Sohoni argue that he remained personally a Shaivite Hindu throughout his reign despite patronizing Buddhist monks.
Which Sanskrit plays are attributed to Harshavardhana?
Harshavardhana is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays named Ratnavali, Nagananda, and Priyadarsika. Wendy Doniger remains persuaded that King Harsha wrote these works himself while other scholars suggest Dhāvaka authored them as a paid commission.