HARSHA Period ( 606-647 AD)

HARSHA Period ( 606-647 AD)

SOURCES

•Harshacharita written by Banabhatta(Court Poet Of Harsha).

•Travel Acounts of Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who Visited India in 7th Century AD

•Dramas Written by Harshavardhana: Ratnavali, Nagananda, Priyardardasika

•Madhubhen Plate Inscription and Sonpat inscription (Provide Choronological Information of Harsha Period)

Early Life OF Harsha Period 

•Founder : Pushyabhuti

•Pushyabhuti’s were feudatories of Guptas

•They were called themselved Vardhanas.

•First Important King : Prabhakarvardhana

Prabhakarvardhana

•His Capital : At Thaneshwar

•Assumed two titles : Maharajadhiraj and Parambhattaraka

•Have two Sons : Rajyavardhana(Elder) And Harsha Vardhana

RajyaVardhan

•Successor of His father Prabhakarvardhana

•His Sistor Married to Maukhari Ruler Grihavarman

•Ruler of Malwa- Devagupta in League with Sasanka (Ruler of Kannauj) - Murdered Grihavarman.

•On Hearing this news ,Rajyavardhana Marched against Ruler to Malwa.

•While he was returning from Malwa , Sasanka Murdered Him.

HarshaVardhan

•Drove out Sasanka From Kannauj.

•Made Kannauj his new Capital.

•Fought against Dhruvsena II Ruler Of Valabhi and defeated him.

•Harsha was Defeated by Pulkeshin II – Western Chalukya Ruler during his Military Campaign

•Aihole Inscription Mentions About this defeat of Harsha by Pulkeshin II

•Pulkeshin II assumed the title of Paramswara

•Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang Visited India During his Reign .

More Important Points

•Archive Of Harsha Period is Known as Niloputi.

•Nalanda University Founder – Kumaragupta I During Gupta Period

•Dharmapala – Head of Nalanda University.

•Kannauj Assembly : This was organized by Harshavardhan to Honour Hiuen Tsang (Violence broke out)

•Bartihari – Poet and philospher in the court of Harsha.