Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

• How is the Vardhana dynasty called = Pushyabhuti dynasty.
• The capital of the Vardhana or Pushyabhuti dynasty rulers = Thaneshwaram.
• Who did Pushyabhuti serve as the army commander for? = The Guptas.
• After the fall of the Gupta Empire, Pushyabhuti seized power.
• Prabhakaravardhana’s son = Rajavardhana.
• Rajavardhana’s sister = Rajyashri.
• The husband of Rajyashri, the king of Kannasi.
• The king of Kannasi was killed by the Gauda dynasty king “Sasangar” from Bengal.

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• Sashankar also killed Rajavardhana in the battle.
• Rajavardhana’s younger brother, Harsha, took over as the king of Thaneswaram and the king of Kannasi.
• Harsha shifted his capital from Thaneswaram to Kannauj.
• The greatest king of the Vardhana dynasty was Harsha.
• Total reign of Harsha = 41 years.
• Harsha, who conquered the northern Indian regions, was unable to conquer the southern Indian regions.
• The person who stopped Harsha’s invasion of South India was = Chalukya king Pulikesi II.
• Year of death of Harsha = 647
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Harsha Life Events

• The founder of the Pushyabhuti dynasty = King Pushyabhuti
• The greatest king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty = Harsha .
• Harsha was the second son of the Thaneswar king Prabhakaravardhana.
• Harshar is considered to be the last great Hindu emperor of India.
• Harsha moved his capital from Thaneswaram to “Kannoshi”.
• He himself bestowed the title “Rajputra Silathithiya”.
• The author of the book “Harshacharitam” which tells the history of Harsha = Banabhatta.
• Hiuen Tsang visited the Buddhist conference held by Harsha in the city of Prayag.
• Hiuen Tsang stayed in Harsha’s court for eight years.
• Book written by Hiuen Tsang = Chi-Yu-Ki
• The so-called “Prince of Travelers” = Hiuen Tsang.
• The person called “modern Sakyamuni” = Hiuen Tsang.
• Books written by Banabhatta = Harshacharitam, Kadambari.
• The name of Harsha’s southern invasion = Dakshinavarti.
• The one who stopped Harsha’s Dakshinavarti = Pulikesi II.
• In 634 AD, the Chalukya king Pulikesi II defeated Harsha. Pulikesi assumed the title “Parameshwara” for his victory over Harsha.
• Harsher smoothly handled trade relations with China.
• Books written by Harsha = Nagananda, Ratnavali, Priyadarsika.
• Books written by Parthrihari = Nidhi Sadaka, Sringar Sadaka, Vairagya Sadaka.
• Harsha, who initially followed Shaivism, later converted to Buddhism.
• He held two large Buddhist conferences, one in the city of “Khannosi” and the other in the city of “Prayag” (Allahabad).
• He bequeathed a huge amount of wealth to Nalanda University.
• Harshar donated the revenue of 200 villages for the use of Nalanda University.
• Hiuen Tsang said about Harsher’s Prayag Buddhist Council = “The council at Prayag has achieved a record of charity that no king of any era has ever surpassed.”
• Harsha died in 647 AD.
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Harsha’s administration

• The taxes in force during Harsha’s reign were three (Baga, Hiranya, Pali).
• Punishments were severe during the reign of Harsha.
• Those who broke the laws and those who plotted against the king were given the death penalty.
• Harsha initially worshipped Shiva.
• Those who converted Harsha to Buddhism = Harsha’s sister Rajyashri, Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang.
• The Buddhist sect followed by Harsha = Mahayana Buddhism.
• Harsha treated Hindu monks and Buddhist monks equally.
• The last king to follow Buddhism in India = Harsha.
• Harsha banned the killing of animals for food.
• Harsher was known for his religious tolerance.
• Harsha worshipped the images of “Buddha, Shiva, and the Sun” simultaneously.
• Harsha convened two Buddhist councils. They were,
  1. One in the Kannauj
  2. Another one is in Prayagraj.
• Books written by Harsha = Ratnavali, Nagananda, Priyadarshika.
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Kannauj Prayag Buddhist Council

• Number of kings who attended the Kannauj Buddhist Council meeting = 20.
• At the Kannauj Council ceremony, a three-foot-tall statue of Pathar was carried in a procession.
• At the four-day Prayagraj Council, Harsha presented untold gifts to Buddhist monks.
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Hiuen Tsang

• The place where Harsher first met the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang = “Gajankala” near Rajmahal (Jharkhand).
• When Hiuen Tsang arrived at Nalanda University, he recorded that more than 10,000 students and monks were staying and studying there.
• The one called “Prince of Holy Pilgrims” = Hiuen Tsang.
• Hiuen Tsang visited the Buddhist conference held by Harsha in the city of Prayag.
• Hiuen Tsang stayed in Harsha’s court for eight years.
• The so-called “Prince of Travelers” = Hiuen Tsang.
• The person called “modern Sakyamuni” = Hiuen Tsang.
• During whose reign did Hiuen Tsang come to India = During the reign of Harsha.
• The book of Hiuen Tsang = Chi-Yu-Ki.
• Hiuen Tsang’s travel notes are useful for understanding Indian history during the reign of Harsha.
• Hiuen Tsang mentions in his book that Harsha, although a Buddhist, attended the great Kumbh Mela festival held in Prayagraj.
• Hiuen Tsang said about Harsher’s Prayag Buddhist Council = “The council at Prayag has achieved a record of charity that no king of any era has ever surpassed.”
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor

Additional information

• The king associated with the “Allahabad Pillar Inscription” = Samudragupta I.
• The king associated with the Udayagiri cave inscription = Chandragupta II.
• The king associated with the Mathura rock inscription = Chandragupta II.
• The king associated with the Pitari Pillar Inscription = Skandagupta.
• The Chinese traveler who visited during the reign of Chandragupta II was Fahien.
• The Chinese traveler who visited Harsha’s court = Hiuen Tsang.
• Harsha The Last Great Hindu Emperor