Pushyabhutis of Thaneshwar

Pushyabhutis of Thaneshwar (500 - 647 A.D.)

The Pushyabhuti dynasty emerged as a significant ruling family after the Gupta Empire’s fall.

The capital of the Pushyabhutis was Thanesar, located near Kurukshetra in Haryana.

Key sources of information about the Pushyabhuti dynasty include the Harshacharita (biography of Harsha) and Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang’s travelogues.

Prabhakar Vardhana (mid-6th century CE):

He was a skilled military general and established marital alliances with the Maukharis of Kannauj.

He fought against the Gurjaras and the Huns and established his authority as far as Malwa and Gujarat.

After Prabhakar Vardhana’s death, his elder son Rajya Vardhana succeeded him as king however he was treacherously killed by Shashanka, the king of Gauda (Bengal and Bihar).

Harshvardhan (606-647 A.D.):

He was known as “Harsha” and also called the last great Hindu emperor of north India. He has been described as the “lord of the north” (sakalauttarapathanatha). He assumed the title of “Siladitya” as noted in the travel records of Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang).

• Religion: Originally a Shaiva, he also supported Buddhism and made generous donations to Buddhists.

• Madhuban Copper Plate Inscriptions of 632 A.D. record a gift of land to two Brahmans.

• Origin: Succeeded his brother Rajya Vardhana (605-606 CE) after Rajya Vardhana left governance to campaign against Devagupta of Malwa and Shashanka of Gauda (Bengal), he defeated Devagupta but was killed by Shashanka, who also occupied Kannauj. Harsha ascended the throne at the age of sixteen and proved to be a skilled warrior and administrator and brought Kannauj under the sovereignty of Pushyabhutis.

• Geographical Spread: He controlled the five regions: Punjab, Kannauj, Bengal, Orissa, and Mithila. His feudatories included Kashmir, Nepal and Valabhi. The southern boundary of the empire was the Narmada.

• He defeated Shashanka of Bengal to control Kongoda in Orissa.

• Nausasi copper plate inscription mentions how he defeated Vallabhi king Dhruvasena II and ruler of Sindh. Harsha’s daughter was married to Dhruvsena II.

• Harsha Vardhana’s sister, Rajyashri, was married to Grahavarmana of Maukharis of Kannauj.

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Other feudatories were Kamrupa’s king Bhaskaravarman,Dhruvabhatta, Purnavarman, and Udita.

• Forest tribes of Vindhyas paid tribute to Harsha and supported him militarily.

Harshavardhana Empire

• Capital: Harsha shifted his capital from Thanesar to Kanauj. Kanauj was located in the rich agricultural region of the western Ganges Plain.

• Conflict with Pulakesin II: The Aihole inscription (634 A.D.) mentions that Harsha was defeated by Pulakeshin II, the Western Chalukyan king of Badami, on the banks of the Narmada River. However, some Chinese records suggest that this victory was short-lived, as Harsha soon defeated Pulakeshin II. After the war, a truce was reached, and Harsha ruled peacefully for the next 30 years to the north of the Narmada River, while Pulakeshin II continued to control the Deccan region.

• Harsha introduced the Harsha Samvat calendar after his conquest of Nepal.

• The Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang, known as the "Prince of Travelers" and the author of Si-Yu-Ki, visited India between 629–644 CE. He formed a close friendship with

Harsha and provided a detailed account of Kannauj’s beauty, grandeur, and prosperity.

• After Harsha’s death, his kingdom quickly fragmented into smaller states.

Harsha’s relations with China:

• Harsh had diplomatic relations with the Chinese.

• T’ang Emperor sent three embassies to his court in 643 A.D. and again in 647 A.D.

• The last embassy, under Wang-hiuen-tse, visited India in 647 CE, after Harsha’s passing.

Harshvardhan’s administration

It was similar to the Guptas but more feudal and decentralized.

Council of Ministers:

• The emperor was assisted by a Council of Ministers

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(Mantri Parishad) in his duties. The council played an important role in the selection of the king as well as in framing the foreign policy of the empire.

• The prime minister was of the most important position in the Council of Ministers.

• Avanti - Minister for Foreign Relations and War,

• Simhananda - Commander-in-Chief,

• Kuntala - Chief Cavalry Officer,

• Skandagupta – Chief Commandant of Elephant Force,

• Dirghadhvajas - Royal Messengers,

• Banu - Keeper of Records,

• Mahaprathihara - Chief of the Palace Guard,

• Sarvagata - Secret Service Department.

Administrative Hierarchy was divided into the following

levels:

• Bhukti – Province,

• Vaishyas – District,

• Pathaka - Sub division of Vaishyas,

• Grama – Village.

Justice System:

• Criminal law was more severe than Gupta’s age.

• Banishment and cutting of the limbs were usual punishments. Trial by ordeal was in practice.

• According to Hieun Tsang, perfect law and order prevailed throughout the empire, as the law-enforcing agencies were strong.

• Corporal punishment for serious offenses was in practice.

• However, the death penalty was usually avoided. Offenses against social morality and defiance of the law were punished by maiming.

• Harsha traveled across the kingdom frequently to ensure his familiarity with his people. He was accessible to people and kept a closer watch on his tributary rulers.

Army:

• Harsha had a substantial army, supplemented by forces from feudatories when needed.

• Military power shifted to skandhavaras or military camps under Harsha’s rule.

• He paid great attention to the discipline and strength of the army. The army consisted of elephants, cavalry and infantry.

• Horses were imported.

• Ordinary soldiers were known as Chatas and Bhatas.

• The cavalry officers were called Brihadisvaras.

• Infantry officers were known as Baladhikritas and Mahabaladhikritas.

• Hieun Tsang mentions the four divisions (chaturanga) of Harsha’s army.

Revenue Administration:

• Bhaga, Hiranya, and Bali were the three kinds of tax collected during Harsha’s reign.

• Bhaga was the land tax paid in kind. One-sixth of the produce was collected as land revenue.

• Hiranya was the tax paid by farmers and merchants in cash.

• The crown land and its revenues were divided into four

parts.

• Part I - for carrying out the affairs of the state,

• Part II - for paying the ministers and officers of the crown,

• Part III - for rewarding men of letters,

• Part IV - for charity to religious institutions.

• Land grants:

• Land grants to priests for special services continued during Harsha’s rule. These grants had privileges similar to Brahmadeya lands.

• Land grants to officers by charters, possibly in lieu of salary, likely began with Harsha.

• Harsha issued fewer coins during his reign.

Religious Policy of Harsha

• Harsha was a worshipper of Shiva but later converted to Buddhism.

• He converted to Mahayana Buddhism under the influence of Hieun Tsang and Rajyasri.

• Harsha summoned two Buddhist assemblies: one at

Kannauj and the other at Prayag.

• In 643 CE, a grand assembly was held in Kannauj, attended by representatives of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.

• Hsuan Tsang and others delivered discourses on Mahayana doctrines during the assembly.

• The event was also attended by subordinate kings, including those from Vallabhi and Assam.

Prayag Assembly

• Harsha convened quinquennial assemblies known as Mahamoksha Parishad at Prayag.

• During these, he distributed his wealth among Buddhists, Vedic scholars and the poor people. Harsha offered fabulous gifts to the Buddhist monks on all four days of the assemblage.

• It was an important event during Harsha’s reign. It used to be organised every 5th year.

• It was related to Buddhism. Shiva and Vishnu deities were also revered in this assembly.

• Hiuen Tsang took part in these events and noted that the principles of Buddhism had significantly influenced Hindu society. He observed that people enjoyed complete freedom in their religious practices.

• Social harmony prevailed among the followers of

various creeds. Harsha treated the Vedic scholars and the Buddhist bhikkhus alike and distributed charities equally to them.

• Harsha made huge charities after the assembly.

Hieun Tsang’s Description of Harsha’s Empire Women:

• Sati was prevalent. Yasomatidevi, wife of Prabhakara

Vardhana, immolated herself after the death of her husband.

• Women wore purdah. Hieun Tsang, however, added that the purdah system was not followed among the higher class.

Societal System:

• The caste system was much more rigid and was firmly established in Hindu society. According to Hieun Tsang, the occupations of the four divisions of society continued to be in practice as in the previous times.

• The butchers, fishermen, dancers and sweepers were asked to stay outside the city.

• Even though the caste system was rigid, there was no social conflict among the various sections of society.

Cities and Towns:

• Hiuen Tsang provides detailed descriptions of the structure, aesthetics, and safety measures of India's cities, towns, and villages. He viewed India as a land of countless villages, numerous towns, and large cities, similar to China. He noted that Pataliputra had lost its prominence, with Kanauj rising to take its place.

• He describes the grandeur of Kanauj, highlighting its impressive structures, beautiful gardens, and a museum filled with rare collections.

• Hiuen Tsang also points out the refined appearance of Kanauj's residents, their luxurious clothing, and their deep appreciation for learning and the arts.

• According to Hiuen Tsang, most towns were surrounded by outer walls with inner gates. While the walls were wide and high, the streets and lanes were narrow.

• • Residential houses featured wooden balconies coated with lime mortar, and the floors were smeared with cow dung for purity and hygiene.

• Large mansions, public buildings, Buddhist monasteries, and viharas were grand, multi-storeyed structures made from kiln-fired bricks, red sandstone, and marble.

• Harsha commissioned the construction of numerous viharas, monasteries, and stupas along the banks of the Ganges.

• He also established charitable institutions to accommodate travelers and provide care for the sick and poor. Free hospitals and rest houses (dharmasalas) were built in every town to offer shelter to travelers and outsiders.

• Hospitals were set up to provide medical treatment free of charge.

Lifestyle:

• The life pattern of the people of India during the rule of Harsha is known from the accounts of Hieun Tsang.

• People lived a simple life. They dressed in colorful cotton and silk clothes. The art of weaving fine cloth had reached perfection.

• Both men and women adorned themselves with gold and silver ornaments. The king wore extraordinary ornaments.

Art during Harshvardhan:

• The art of the Harsha period mostly followed the Gupta style.

• Hiuen Tsang also speaks of a copper statue of Buddha

with eight feet in height.

• The brick temple of Lakshmana at Sirpur, Chattisgarh dedicated to Vishnu with its rich architecture is assigned to the period of Harsha.

• Dating c 625-650, a large inscription records that it was built by Vasata, the window of the Somavanshi King, Harsha Guptha during the reign of their son Mahashivagupta Balarjuna(c 595-655 BC).

Inscriptions of Harsha

• The Madhuban plates speak much on the family of Harsha.

• Sonepat plates discloses the names and reign of many kings of the dynasty.

• The Bankkhera inscription confirms that Harsh was an efficient ruler and artsman.

Literary Contribution of Harshvardhan:

• Accomplished writers at Harsha’s court:

• Banabhatta (author of Harshacharita, Kadambari and

Parvatiparinay).

• Mayura (author of Mayurashataka and Suryashataka).

• Renowned grammarian Bhartrihari (author of

Vakapadiya).

• Matanga Divakara.

• Harsha was a significant patron of arts and learning. Notable achievements and talents of Harsha:

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• He wrote three dramas: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali (both romantic comedies), and Nagananda (based on Bodhisattva Jimutavahana).

• Authored a work on grammar and two Sutra works.

• Composed inscriptions Madhuban and Banskhera, showcasing his calligraphic skills.

• Proficient flute player.

• Established a large monastery at Nalanda.

• Brahmagupta was a legendary mathematician who lived in the reign of Harsha. He composed Brahmasiddhant which was later translated into Arabic by Al-Fazri.

Educational Contribution of Harshvardhan:

• Nalanda University was prominent.

• Harsha donated 100 villages to Nalanda University to maintain its expenses.

• Hieun Tsang also spent some time at Nalanda University.

Nalanda University:

• Hieun Tsang recorded the fame of Nalanda University.

• Shilabhadra, a reputed Buddhist scholar, who probably hailed from Assam, was the head of the University during the visit of Hieun Tsang.