Post Gupta - Pushyabhutis Dynasty

 Post Gupta

• Huns - Modern Punjab, Rajasthan & Malwa).
• Maithriyas – Sourashtra (Gujarat), Capital: valabhi.
• Agra & Oudh – Indepandent & Sovereign by Maukharis.
• Vakatakas – Recover their position in Western Deccan.
• Thaneswar - lying north of Delhi between Sutlej and Yamuna, was formed into an independent state by Pushyabhutis. Rose to prominence under Harsha.

I. Pushyabhutis

• Founder of the Pushyabhuti or Vardhana dynasty.
• He served as a military general under the imperial Guptas and rose to power after the fall of the Guptas.
• Accession of Prabakara Vardhana (580–605 CE), Pushyabhuti family became strong and powerful.
• Fought against Gurjaras & Huns establish authority in Malwa & Gujarat.
• He gave his daughter Rajyasri in marriage to the Maukhari king, Grahavarman, of Kanauj, make kanuj his ally.
• Rajavardhana (605-606 CE), elder son of varthana. He is murded by Sasanka, the Gauda ruler of Bengal.
• So Harsha-vardhana becoming the king of Thanesar.
• Harsha shifted his capital from Thanesar to Kanauj.
• A reluctant Harsha accepted the throne on the advice of Avalokitesvara Bodhisatva with the title of Rajputra and Siladitya.

Harshavardhana

• His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography, the Harshacharita in Sanskrit.
• Xuan Zang, spent lot of time in harsha’s Court & left detail account of him.

Harsha’s Military Conquests

• Rajyasri who had fled to Vindhya mountains to escape from the evil design of Deva Gupta of Malwa to covet her. Harsha Succeeded and save his Sister.
• Rajyasri took to Buddhism & Convert Harsha to Buddhism.
• He successfully subjugated the Gauda Empire (Magatha, Gouda, Odra & Kongoda).
• The hostilities between Harsha and the Maitrakas ended in the marriage of Dhruvabhatta with the daughter of Harsha. Soon, Valabhi became a subordinate ally of Harsha.
• Tried to cross the Narmada to march into the Deccan, but was stopped by a ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty, Pulakeshin II (After victory over Harsha, Pulakeshin assumed title “Parameswara”)

Extent of Harsha’s Empire

• His feudatories included those of Jalandhar (in the Punjab), Kashmir, Nepal and Valabhi. Sasanka of Bengal remained hostile to him.
• Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Kanauj, Malwa, Odisha, the Punjab, Kashmir, Nepal and Sindh
• The kingdom disintegrated into small states after his death.

Relation with China

• Cordial relations
• T’ang emperor, Tai Tsung, sent an embassy to his court in 643 and again in 647 CE.
• On Second occasion, Chinesh ambassador found that Harsha had recently died.
• The king who had usurped the throne was taken to China as a prisoner.

Administration

• No centralised authority.
• Some were mahasamantas, allied to the king but of a subordinate status. Others were independent maharajas but acknowledged feudatories of Harsha.

Council of Ministers

• Council of ministers (Mantri Parishad) in his duties.
• 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.

Revenue Administration

• Taxes
• 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.
• There is no reference to the tax Bali.
• Land was divided into 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

Administration of Justice

• Criminal law, Mimamsakas were appointed to dispense justice. Punishments – Corporl punishment, Banishment, Life Imprisonment and the cutting of limbs (maiming). But death penalty was usually avoided.
• Law enforcing agencies were strong.
• Hieun tsang (Prince of Pilgrims) – [630 – 643 CE] – visit ilgrims, collect sacred texts and took back to China.
• Si-Yu-Ki provides detailed information about the social, economic, religious and cultural conditions during the reign of Harsha.

Administration of Army

• Hieun Tsang mentions the four divisions (chaturanga) of Harsha’s army.
• Chatas & Bhatas - Ordinary soldiers.
• Brihadisvaras – Cavalry officers.
• Baladhikritas and Mahabaladhikritas – Infantry officers.
• Elephants.

Division of the Empire

• Each province was divided into Bhuktis. And each Bhukti was divided into several Vishayas. They were like the districts. Each vishaya was further divided into Pathakas. Each such area was divided into several villages
• {Provinces → Bhuktis → Vishayas (District) → Pathakas →Several Village}.
• Harsha Charita, number of officials who took care of the local administration.
• Bhogapathi, ayuktha, pratpalaka-purusha and the like looked after the local administration.

Cities & Towns

• Hieun Tsand describes, Aesthetics Structure.
• Pataliputra lost its prominence and its place was taken by Kanauj.
• Outer wall and Inner gates, Street & lanes were narrow.
• Big mansions, Public buildings. Buddhist monasteries & viharas.
• Built of kiln-fired bricks, red sandstone and marble.
• Built charitable institutions, free hospitals and rest houses (Dharmasalas).

Religious Policy

• Workship of Siva up to 631 CE. Follow Buddhism influence of his sister Rajyasri.
• Subscribed to the Mahayana school of thoughts.
• Two Buddhist Assemblies (643 CE) – Kanauj & Prayag.
• golden statue of Buddha was consecrated in a monastery and a small statue of Buddha (three feet) was brought out in a procession.

Buddhist Assembly at Prayag

• Harsha convened quinquennial assemblies known as Mahamoksha Parishad at Prayag.
• Distribute his wealth to people Buddhist, Vedic scholars & Poor people.
• Hieun tsang observed principles of Buddhism had deeply permeated the Hindu Society.
• Treated the Vedic scholars and the Buddhist bikshus alike and distributed charities equally to them.

Caste System

• Four division of society.
• Even though cast system was rigid, there is no social conflict among the various sections.

Status of Women

• Women wore purdah, purdah system was not followed among the higher class. (Rajyasri did not wear).
• Sati was in practice.

Lifestyle

• Simple lifestyle, wear gold and silver ornaments.
• Dietary Habits
• Mostly vegetarian. Use of onion and garlic is rare.
• Beef and meat of certain animals were forbidden.

Education

• Religious literature (vedas taught orally - Sanskrit) – imparted in the monasteries.
• Wandering bhikshus and sadhus were well known for their wisdom and culture.

Patron of Art & Literature

• State spent a quarter of its revenue.
• Bana, the author of Harshacharita and Kadambari, was a court poet of Harsha.
• Plays he wrote such as Priyadarsika, Rathnavali and Nagananda.
• Nalanda University reached its utmost fame during this period.

Nalanda University

• Students & Scholars stay and studied in the university.
• Shilabhadra, Buddhist scholar – Head of the university.
• Dharmapala, Chandrapala, Shilabhadra, Bhadrihari, Jayasena, Devakara and Matanga were important teachers.