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| image = Harshavardhana Circa AD 606-647.jpg | | image = Harshavardhana Circa AD 606-647.jpg | ||
| image_size = 300px | | image_size = 300px | ||
| caption = Coin of Harshavardhana, | | caption = Coin of Harshavardhana, {{Circa|606–647 CE}}.<ref>[https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=261204 Research Coins: Electronic Auction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502151716/https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=261204 |date=2 May 2019 }} ''cngcoins.com''. Retrieved 27 July 2021</ref> | ||
| succession = [[Pushyabhuti dynasty|Pushyabhuti Emperor]] | | succession = [[Pushyabhuti dynasty|Pushyabhuti Emperor]] | ||
| reign = {{circa|606|647 CE}} | | reign = {{circa|606|647 CE}} | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
| mother = [[Yasomati]] | | mother = [[Yasomati]] | ||
| signature = Autograph of King Harsha.jpg | | signature = Autograph of King Harsha.jpg | ||
| religion = [[ | | religion = [[Hinduism]]<br />[[Buddhism]] (according to [[Xuanzang]]) | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[File:Map of the Pushyabhutis.png|thumb|Empire of Harsha, 7th century CE India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=146, map XIV.2 (d)|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=183}}</ref>]] | [[File:Map of the Pushyabhutis.png|thumb|Empire of Harsha, 7th century CE India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=146, map XIV.2 (d) |isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=183 |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224144259/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=183 |url-status=live }}</ref>]] | ||
'''Harshavardhana''' ([[IAST]] Harṣa-vardhana; | '''Harshavardhana''' ([[IAST]] Harṣa-vardhana; {{Circa|590}}–647 CE) was a [[Pushyabhuti dynasty|Pushyabhuti]] emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He was the son of [[Prabhakaravardhana]] who had defeated the [[Alchon Huns|Alchon Hun]] invaders,<ref>India: History, Religion, Vision and Contribution to the World, by Alexander P. Varghese p.26</ref> and the younger brother of [[Rajyavardhana]], a king of [[Thanesar]], present-day [[Haryana]]. | ||
At the height of Harsha's power, his territory covered much of north and northwestern India, with the [[Narmada River]] as its southern boundary. He eventually made [[Kannauj|Kanauj]] (in present [[Uttar Pradesh]] state) his capital, and ruled till 647 CE.<ref name="Historic Places p.507">International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania by Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda p.507</ref> Harsha was defeated by the Emperor [[Pulakeshin II]] of the [[Chalukya dynasty]] in the [[Battle of Narmada]], when he tried to expand his empire into the southern peninsula of India.<ref>Ancient India by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p.274</ref> | At the height of Harsha's power, his territory covered much of north and northwestern India, with the [[Narmada River]] as its southern boundary. He eventually made [[Kannauj|Kanauj]] (in present [[Uttar Pradesh]] state) his capital, and ruled till 647 CE.<ref name="Historic Places p.507">International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania by Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda p.507</ref> Harsha was defeated by the Emperor [[Pulakeshin II]] of the [[Chalukya dynasty]] in the [[Battle of Narmada]], when he tried to expand his empire into the southern peninsula of India.<ref>Ancient India by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p.274</ref> | ||
The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> The Chinese traveller [[Xuanzang]] visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very favourable account of him (as [[Shiladitya]]), praising his justice and generosity.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> His biography ''[[Harshacharita]]'' ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet [[Banabhatta]], describes his association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and the palace with a two-storied ''Dhavalagriha'' (white mansion) | The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> The Chinese traveller [[Xuanzang]] visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very favourable account of him (as [[Shiladitya]]), praising his justice and generosity.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> His biography ''[[Harshacharita]]'' ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet [[Banabhatta]], describes his association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and the palace with a two-storied ''Dhavalagriha'' (white mansion).<ref>{{cite book |author1=Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala |title=The deeds of Harsha: being a cultural study of Bāṇa's Harshacharita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=huVkAAAAMAAJ |year=1969 |publisher=Prithivi Prakashan |page=118}}</ref> | ||
== Early life == | == Early life == | ||
[[File:Palace ruins 2.JPG|thumb|left|Palace ruins at "Harsh ka tila" mound area spread over 1 km]] | [[File:Palace ruins 2.JPG|thumb|left|Palace ruins at "Harsh ka tila" mound area spread over 1 km]] | ||
Much of the information about Harsha's youth comes from the account of [[Bāṇabhaṭṭa]].<ref name="Routledge" | Much of the information about Harsha's youth comes from the account of [[Bāṇabhaṭṭa]].<ref name="Routledge"/> Harsha was the second son of [[Prabhakarvardhana]], king of [[Thanesar]].<ref name="Routledge"/> After the downfall of the [[Gupta Empire]] in the middle of the 6th century, North India was split into several independent kingdoms. The northern and western regions of India passed into the hands of a dozen or more feudatory states. Prabhakara Vardhana, the ruler of Sthanvisvara, who belonged to the Vardhana family, extended his control over neighbouring states. Prabhakar Vardhana was the first king of the Vardhana dynasty with his capital at [[Thanesar|Thaneswar]]. After Prabhakar Vardhana's death in 605, his eldest son, Rajya Vardhana, ascended the throne. Harsha Vardhana was Rajya Vardhana's younger brother. This period of kings from the same line has been referred to as the Vardhana dynasty in many publications.<ref>[https://books.google.com/boo…/about/The_Harshacharita.html… Harsha Charitra by Banabhatt]</ref><ref>''Legislative Elite in India: A Study in Political Socialization'' by Prabhu Datta Sharma, Publ. Legislators 1984, p32</ref><ref>''Revival of Buddhism in Modern India'' by Deodas Liluji Ramteke, Publ Deep & Deep, 1983, p19</ref><ref>''Some Aspects of Ancient Indian History and Culture'' by Upendra Thakur, Publ. Abhinav Publications, 1974,</ref> | ||
At the time of [[Xuanzang| | At the time of [[Xuanzang|Hiuen Tsang]]'s visit, [[Kanauj]] was the capital of Raja Harshvardhan, the most powerful sovereign in Northern India. | ||
[[K. P. Jayaswal|K.P. Jaiswal]] in Imperial History of India, says that according to a 7-8th century Buddhist text, [[Mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa|Mañjuśrī-mūla-Kalpa]], Harsha was born of King Vishnu (Vardhana) and his family was of [[Vaishya]] caste.<ref>{{Cite book |last=K. P. Jayaswal |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279518 |title=An Imperial History Of India |date=1934}}</ref> This is supported by some more writers.<ref name=" Sailendra Nath Sen">{{citation|last= Sen|first= Sailendra Nath |title= Ancient Indian History and Civilization |url=https:// | [[K. P. Jayaswal|K.P. Jaiswal]] in Imperial History of India, says that according to a 7-8th century Buddhist text, [[Mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa|Mañjuśrī-mūla-Kalpa]], Harsha was born of King Vishnu (Vardhana) and his family was of [[Vaishya]] caste.<ref>{{Cite book |last=K. P. Jayaswal |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279518 |title=An Imperial History Of India |date=1934}}</ref> This is supported by some more writers.<ref name=" Sailendra Nath Sen">{{citation |last= Sen |first= Sailendra Nath |title= Ancient Indian History and Civilization |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&dq=harsha+vaishya&pg=PA546 |year= 1999 |publisher= New Age International |isbn= 9788122411980 |pages= 546 |access-date= 19 March 2023 |archive-date= 17 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230417082302/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&dq=harsha+vaishya&pg=PA546 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=" Amal Chattopadhyay ">{{citation |last= Chattopadhyay |first= Amal |title= Bhupendranath Datta and His Study of Indian Society |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Ka_kAAAAMAAJ&q=harshavardhan++vaishya |year= 1994 |publisher= K.P. Bagchi & Company |isbn= 9788170741473 |pages= 103 |access-date= 19 March 2023 |archive-date= 17 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230417082306/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ka_kAAAAMAAJ&q=harshavardhan++vaishya |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=" Raj Narain Arya ">{{citation |last= Arya |first= Raj Narain |title= Brahmin and Brahminism A Historical Survey |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RKDXAAAAMAAJ&q=harshavardhan++vaishya |year= 2001 |publisher= Blumoon Books |isbn= 9788187190523 |pages= 82 |access-date= 19 March 2023 |archive-date= 7 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230407015859/https://books.google.com/books?id=RKDXAAAAMAAJ&q=harshavardhan++vaishya |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=" V. Ramanathan ">{{citation|last= V|first= Ramanathan|title= Hindu Civilisation and the Twenty-first Century|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bbooAAAAYAAJ&q=harsha+vaishya|year= 2004|publisher= Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|isbn= 9788172763329|pages= 350|access-date= 19 March 2023|archive-date= 6 April 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230406191723/https://books.google.com/books?id=bbooAAAAYAAJ&q=harsha+vaishya|url-status= live}}</ref> | ||
==Ascension== | ==Ascension== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 47: | ||
As [[North India]] reverted to small republics and small monarchical states ruled by Gupta rulers after the fall of the prior [[Gupta Empire]], Harsha united the small republics from Punjab to central [[India]], and their representatives crowned him king at an assembly in April 606 giving him the title of Maharaja. Harsha established [[Empire of Harsha|an empire]] that brought all of northern India under his control.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of [[cosmopolitanism]], attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide. The Chinese traveller [[Xuanzang]] visited the court of Harsha, and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> | As [[North India]] reverted to small republics and small monarchical states ruled by Gupta rulers after the fall of the prior [[Gupta Empire]], Harsha united the small republics from Punjab to central [[India]], and their representatives crowned him king at an assembly in April 606 giving him the title of Maharaja. Harsha established [[Empire of Harsha|an empire]] that brought all of northern India under his control.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of [[cosmopolitanism]], attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide. The Chinese traveller [[Xuanzang]] visited the court of Harsha, and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.<ref name="Historic Places p.507"/> | ||
[[Pulakeshin II]] repelled an invasion led by Harsha on the banks of Narmada in the winter of 618–619. Pulakeshin then entered into a treaty with Harsha, with the [[Narmada River]] designated as the border between the Chalukya Empire and that of Harshavardhana.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pulakeshin's victory over Harsha was in 618 AD |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pulakeshins-victory-over-harsha-was-in-618-ad/article8516979.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 April 2016 |page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Study unravels nuances of classical Indian history |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Study-unravels-nuances-of-classical-Indian-history/articleshow/51949530.cms |newspaper=The Times of India" |location=Pune |date=23 April 2016 |page=3}}</ref> | [[Pulakeshin II]] repelled an invasion led by Harsha on the banks of Narmada in the winter of 618–619. Pulakeshin then entered into a treaty with Harsha, with the [[Narmada River]] designated as the border between the Chalukya Empire and that of Harshavardhana.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pulakeshin's victory over Harsha was in 618 AD |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pulakeshins-victory-over-harsha-was-in-618-ad/article8516979.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 April 2016 |page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Study unravels nuances of classical Indian history |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Study-unravels-nuances-of-classical-Indian-history/articleshow/51949530.cms |newspaper=The Times of India" |location=Pune |date=23 April 2016 |page=3 |access-date=3 May 2016 |archive-date=2 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102073058/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Study-unravels-nuances-of-classical-Indian-history/articleshow/51949530.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
Xuanzang describes the event thus: | Xuanzang describes the event thus: | ||
| Line 54: | Line 53: | ||
: "[[Shiladitya]]raja (i.e., Harsha), filled with confidence, marched at the head of his troops to contend with this prince (i.e., Pulakeshin); but he was unable to prevail upon or subjugate him". | : "[[Shiladitya]]raja (i.e., Harsha), filled with confidence, marched at the head of his troops to contend with this prince (i.e., Pulakeshin); but he was unable to prevail upon or subjugate him". | ||
In 648, [[Tang dynasty]] emperor [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Tang Taizong]] sent [[Wang Xuance]] to India in response to emperor Harsha having sent an ambassador to China. However once in India he discovered Harsha had died and the new king Aluonashun (supposedly [[Arunāsva]]) attacked Wang and his 30 mounted subordinates.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Matthew |author-link=Matthew Bennett (historian) |date=1998 |title=The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare |location=Chicago |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers |page=[https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/336 336] |isbn=978-1-57958-116-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/336 }}</ref> This led to Wang Xuance escaping to Tibet and then mounting a joint expendition of over 7,000 [[Nepal]]ese [[mounted infantry]] and 1,200 [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] [[infantry]] and attack on the Indian state on June 16. The success of this attack won Xuance the prestigious title of the "Grand Master for the Closing Court."<ref> | In 648, [[Tang dynasty]] emperor [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Tang Taizong]] sent [[Wang Xuance]] to India in response to emperor Harsha having sent an ambassador to China. However once in India he discovered Harsha had died and the new king Aluonashun (supposedly [[Arunāsva]]) attacked Wang and his 30 mounted subordinates.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Matthew |author-link=Matthew Bennett (historian) |date=1998 |title=The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare |location=Chicago |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers |page=[https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/336 336] |isbn=978-1-57958-116-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/336 }}</ref> This led to Wang Xuance escaping to Tibet and then mounting a joint expendition of over 7,000 [[Nepal]]ese [[mounted infantry]] and 1,200 [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] [[infantry]] and attack on the Indian state on June 16. The success of this attack won Xuance the prestigious title of the "Grand Master for the Closing Court."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blBTHAY_A4wC&dq=%22wang+xuance&pg=PA23 |title=Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations ... By Tansen Sen, pg 23 |access-date=15 March 2023 |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417082308/https://books.google.com/books?id=blBTHAY_A4wC&dq=%22wang+xuance&pg=PA23 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also secured a reported Buddhist relic for China.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=frIEAAAAYAAJ&q=%22wang+xuance |title=The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies By International Association of Buddhist Studies |access-date=18 March 2022 |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417082304/https://books.google.com/books?id=frIEAAAAYAAJ&q=%22wang+xuance |url-status=live }}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=July 2022}} 2,000 prisoners were taken from Magadha by the Nepali and Tibetan forces under Wang.<ref name="Benn2002">{{cite book|author=Charles D. Benn|title=Daily Life in Traditional China: The Tang Dynasty|url=https://archive.org/details/dailylifeintradi00benn|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-30955-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/dailylifeintradi00benn/page/38 38]–}}</ref> Tibetan and Chinese writings document describe Wang Xuance's raid on India with Tibetan soldiers.<ref name="Sen2003">{{cite book|author=Tansen Sen|title=Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600-1400|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blBTHAY_A4wC&pg=PA253|date=January 2003|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2593-5|pages=253–}}</ref> Nepal had been subdued by the Tibetan King [[Songtsen Gampo|Songtsen]].<ref name="Sen2003 2">{{cite book|author=Tansen Sen|title=Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600-1400|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blBTHAY_A4wC&q=tibetan+nepal+648&pg=PA22|date=January 2003|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2593-5|pages=22–}}</ref> The Indian pretender was among the captives.<ref name="Yule1915">{{cite book|author=Henry Yule|title=Cathay and the Way Thither, Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAqgAb41ifIC&q=tibetan+nepal+648&pg=PA69|year=1915|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-1966-1|pages=69–}}</ref><ref name="Pordenone)Ṭabīb1998">{{cite book|author1=Odorico (da Pordenone)|author2=Rashīd al-Dīn Ṭabīb|author3=Francesco Balducci Pegolotti |author4=Joannes de Marignolis |author5=Ibn Batuta |title=Cathay and the Way Thither: Preliminary essay on the intercourse between China and the western nations previous to the discovery of the Cape route|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=69UMAQAAMAAJ&q=648|year=1998|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|page=69|isbn=9788121508391}}</ref> The war happened in 649.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Taizong's grave had a statue of the Indian pretender.<ref name="Bagchi2011">{{cite book|author=Prabodh Chandra Bagchi|title=India and China : interactions through Buddhism and diplomacy ; a collection of essays|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MB4CHPi7dycC&q=tibetan+nepal+648&pg=PA158|year=2011|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=978-93-80601-17-5|pages=158–}}</ref> The pretender's name was recorded in Chinese records as "Na-fu-ti O-lo-na-shuen" (Dinafudi is probably a reference to [[Mithila (region)|Tirabhukti)]]<ref>See</ref><ref name="Sircar1990">{{cite book|author=D.C. Sircar|title=Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqKw1Mn8WcwC&q=tibetan+nepal+648&pg=PA326|year=1990|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0690-0|pages=326–}}</ref><ref name="Schaik2011">{{cite book|author=Sam Van Schaik|title=Tibet: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RpLAKGG1ZX4C&q=tibetan+nepal+648&pg=PT48|year=2011|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-17217-1|pages=48–}}</ref> | ||
During Harshvardhan's rule Vardhan dynasty's geographical boundaries was spread from North to South, Nepal to Narmada river and East to West from Assam to Gujarat. He had a friendly relations with King of [[Kamarupa|Kamrup]], [[Bhaskaravarman|Bhaskarvarman]] and sent his envoy in the court of Chinese King, formed friendly relations. Harshvardhan established state's capital at [[Kannauj]]. He use to spend major part of state's income to welfare of his subjects. He use to donate his wealth after every 5 years. | During Harshvardhan's rule Vardhan dynasty's geographical boundaries was spread from North to South, Nepal to Narmada river and East to West from Assam to Gujarat. He had a friendly relations with King of [[Kamarupa|Kamrup]], [[Bhaskaravarman|Bhaskarvarman]] and sent his envoy in the court of Chinese King, formed friendly relations. Harshvardhan established state's capital at [[Kannauj]]. He use to spend major part of state's income to welfare of his subjects. He use to donate his wealth after every 5 years. | ||
| Line 63: | Line 62: | ||
Like many other ancient Indian rulers, Harsha was [[eclecticism|eclectic]] in his religious views and practices. His seals describe his ancestors as [[Surya|sun]]-worshippers, his elder brother as a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], and himself as a [[Shaivism|Shaivite]]. His land grant inscriptions describe him as ''Parama-maheshvara'' (supreme devotee of Shiva). His court poet [[Bāṇabhaṭṭa|Bana]] also describes him as a Shaivite.<ref name="AbrahamEraly_2011">{{cite book |author=Abraham Eraly |title=The First Spring: The Golden Age of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=te1sqTzTxD8C&pg=PA86 |year=2011 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-08478-4 |page=86 }}</ref> | Like many other ancient Indian rulers, Harsha was [[eclecticism|eclectic]] in his religious views and practices. His seals describe his ancestors as [[Surya|sun]]-worshippers, his elder brother as a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], and himself as a [[Shaivism|Shaivite]]. His land grant inscriptions describe him as ''Parama-maheshvara'' (supreme devotee of Shiva). His court poet [[Bāṇabhaṭṭa|Bana]] also describes him as a Shaivite.<ref name="AbrahamEraly_2011">{{cite book |author=Abraham Eraly |title=The First Spring: The Golden Age of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=te1sqTzTxD8C&pg=PA86 |year=2011 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-08478-4 |page=86 }}</ref> | ||
Harsha's play ''[[Nagananda|Nāgānanda]]'' tells the story of the Bodhisattva Jīmūtavāhavana, and the invocatory verse at the beginning is dedicated to the Buddha, described in the act of vanquishing Māra (so much so that the two verses, together with a third, are also preserved separately in Tibetan translation as the *Mārajit-stotra.<ref name="Michael Hahn_1996">{{cite news |author = Michael Hahn |title="The *Mārajitstotra by Harṣadeva, a third version of the Nāndī of the Nāgānanda?", Festschrift Dieter Schlingloff |publisher=Reinbek |date=1996 |pages= 109–126}}</ref> Shiva's consort [[Parvati|Gauri]] plays an important role in the play,<ref>{{cite book |author=S. R. Goyal |title=Indian Buddhism After the Buddha |year=2003 |publisher=Kusumanjali |url=https:// | Harsha's play ''[[Nagananda|Nāgānanda]]'' tells the story of the Bodhisattva Jīmūtavāhavana, and the invocatory verse at the beginning is dedicated to the Buddha, described in the act of vanquishing Māra (so much so that the two verses, together with a third, are also preserved separately in Tibetan translation as the *Mārajit-stotra.<ref name="Michael Hahn_1996">{{cite news |author = Michael Hahn |title="The *Mārajitstotra by Harṣadeva, a third version of the Nāndī of the Nāgānanda?", Festschrift Dieter Schlingloff |publisher=Reinbek |date=1996 |pages= 109–126}}</ref> Shiva's consort [[Parvati|Gauri]] plays an important role in the play,<ref>{{cite book |author=S. R. Goyal |title=Indian Buddhism After the Buddha |year=2003 |publisher=Kusumanjali |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXsEAAAAYAAJ |oclc=907017497 |page=294 |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407015859/https://books.google.com/books?id=YXsEAAAAYAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> and raises the hero to life using her divine power.<ref>{{cite book |editor=B.H. Wortham |title=The Buddhist Legend of Jimutavahana |year=2003 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=9788120617339 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVqwwoEt47AC |page=xi |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407015900/https://books.google.com/books?id=JVqwwoEt47AC |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
According to the Chinese Buddhist traveler [[Xuanzang]], Harsha was a devout [[Buddhist]]. Xuanzang states that Harsha banned animal slaughter for food, and built monasteries at the places visited by [[Gautama Buddha]]. He erected several thousand 100-feet high [[stupa]]s on the banks of the [[Ganges river]], and built well-maintained [[hospice]]s for travellers and poor people on highways across India. He organized an annual assembly of global scholars, and bestowed charitable alms on them. Every five years, he held a great assembly called [[Moksha]]. Xuanzang also describes a 21-day religious festival organized by Harsha in [[Kannauj]]; during this festival, Harsha and his subordinate kings performed daily rituals before a life-sized golden statue of the Buddha.<ref name="AbrahamEraly_2011"/> | According to the Chinese Buddhist traveler [[Xuanzang]], Harsha was a devout [[Buddhist]]. Xuanzang states that Harsha banned animal slaughter for food, and built monasteries at the places visited by [[Gautama Buddha]]. He erected several thousand 100-feet high [[stupa]]s on the banks of the [[Ganges river]], and built well-maintained [[hospice]]s for travellers and poor people on highways across India. He organized an annual assembly of global scholars, and bestowed charitable alms on them. Every five years, he held a great assembly called [[Moksha]]. Xuanzang also describes a 21-day religious festival organized by Harsha in [[Kannauj]]; during this festival, Harsha and his subordinate kings performed daily rituals before a life-sized golden statue of the Buddha.<ref name="AbrahamEraly_2011"/> | ||
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== Literary prowess == | == Literary prowess == | ||
{{ | {{further|List of Sanskrit plays in English translation}} | ||
Harsha is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays [[Ratnavali]], [[Nagananda]] and [[Priyadarsika]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |author=Harsha |translator=Wendy Doniger |title="The Lady of the Jewel Necklace" and "The Lady who Shows Her Love" |year=2006 |publisher=New York University Press |page=18}}</ref> While some believe (e.g., [[iarchive:KavyaPrakash|Mammata in Kavyaprakasha]]) that it was Dhāvaka, one of Harsha's court poets, who wrote the plays as a paid commission, [[Wendy Doniger]] is "persuaded, however, that king Harsha really wrote the plays ... himself."<ref name=":0" /> | Harsha is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays [[Ratnavali]], [[Nagananda]] and [[Priyadarsika]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |author=Harsha |translator=Wendy Doniger |title="The Lady of the Jewel Necklace" and "The Lady who Shows Her Love" |year=2006 |publisher=New York University Press |page=18}}</ref> While some believe (e.g., [[iarchive:KavyaPrakash|Mammata in Kavyaprakasha]]) that it was Dhāvaka, one of Harsha's court poets, who wrote the plays as a paid commission, [[Wendy Doniger]] is "persuaded, however, that king Harsha really wrote the plays ... himself."<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Surasena Kingdom]] | * [[Surasena Kingdom]] | ||
* [[History of India]] | * [[History of India]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
{{EB1911 Poster|Harsha}} | {{EB1911 Poster|Harsha}} | ||
* Reddy, Krishna (2011), [https://books.google.com/books | * Reddy, Krishna (2011), [https://books.google.com/books?id=X4j7Nf_MU24C Indian History], Tata McGraw-Hill Education Private Limited, New Delhi | ||
* Price, Pamela (2007), Early Medieval India, [http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/iakh/HIS2172/h07/ HIS2172 - Periodic Evaluation], University of Oslo | * Price, Pamela (2007), Early Medieval India, [http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/iakh/HIS2172/h07/ HIS2172 - Periodic Evaluation], University of Oslo | ||
* [http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/conquests-siladitya-in-south/4584992949 "Conquests of Siladitya in the south"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027134555/http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/conquests-siladitya-in-south/4584992949 |date=27 October 2014 }} by [[S. Srikanta Sastri]] | * [http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/conquests-siladitya-in-south/4584992949 "Conquests of Siladitya in the south"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027134555/http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/conquests-siladitya-in-south/4584992949 |date=27 October 2014 }} by [[S. Srikanta Sastri]] | ||
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[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]] | [[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]] | [[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]] | ||
[[Category:Indian emperors]] | |||