Harsha

Background and evolution

After the decline of the Gupta empire in the sixth century, north India broke up into regional kingdoms such as the Maukharis of Kannauj, the later Guptas of Magadha and the Pushyabhutis of Thanesar in present-day Haryana. Harsha's elder brother Rajyavardhana became king of Thanesar but was killed by Shashanka, the ruler of Gauda (Bengal). Their sister Rajyashri, married to the Maukhari king Grahavarman, was widowed when her husband was killed by the ruler of Malwa.

Harsha came to the throne in this crisis, around 606 CE. He rescued his sister, took charge of the Maukhari kingdom and made Kannauj his capital, which shifted the political centre of north India from Pataliputra to Kannauj for the next several centuries. The era beginning in 606 CE is called the Harsha era.

Key features and provisions

• Extent: his power covered much of the Gangetic plain, from Punjab to parts of Bengal and Odisha, though many rulers were feudatories rather than directly governed.
• Southern limit: an attempt to expand south was checked by Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas of Vatapi, on the banks of the Narmada, as recorded in the Aihole inscription composed by Ravikirti.
• Administration: a feudal structure with samantas (vassal chiefs), land grants to officials and religious beneficiaries, and a large army; Xuanzang describes light taxation and royal tours of inspection.
• Religion: he worshipped Shiva and the Sun earlier in life and later inclined towards Mahayana Buddhism, while patronising all faiths.
• Assemblies: he held a great religious assembly at Kannauj in Xuanzang's honour and quinquennial distributions of wealth at Prayag.
• Learning: Nalanda flourished under his patronage; his court included Banabhatta and probably the poet Mayura.