Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Introduction
In this chapter, we will tell you about the expansion of the early empires of ancient India. But first of all, can you guess the meaning of an empire? An empire is a large area of a state or kingdom ruled by a single monarch who is often called an emperor.
Most often a ruler of a kingdom brings neighboring states or kingdoms under his control by force. Thus what was once a small kingdom becomes a vast region called an empire. This is how Magadha, one of the Mahajanapadas, became an empire by subduing or conquering other states.
The other fifteen Mahajanapadas lost their identity and were absorbed by Magadha. So the first empire in India was the Magadhan empire under the rule of the Maurya king Chandragupta.
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Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Between the 6th Century B.C. And 4th Century B.C.
The sixteen Mahajanapadas flourished in the 6th century B.C. and the Magadhan empire flourished in the 4th century B.C. Then, what happened in the intervening two centuries? We will tell you briefly.
You already know that of the sixteen Mahajanapadas four became very powerful. These were Koshala, Avanti, Vatsa, and Magadha. These four took possession of the neighboring mahajanapadas and became much bigger in size.
After that, the struggle for power was among these four. In this struggle, Magadha came out victorious. During all those years Magadha was ruled by three dynasties. Do you know what a dynasty is? A dynasty is a royal family.
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Anyway, these three dynasties were the Haryankas, the Shaishunagas, and the Nandas. Magadha’s expansion actually began under the Haryanka king Bimbisara. This was continued by his son Ajatashatru.
The other kings of Haryanka were weak and worthless. The next dynasty which ruled Magadha was Shaishunaga and the last one was the Nanda dynasty. The last Nanda king, Dhanananda, was cruel, inefficient, and oppressive.
A prince of the Maurya dynasty, Chandragupta, removed Dhanananda from power with the help of the Brahmin Chanakya and sat on the throne of Magadha. Meanwhile, all the other three kingdoms, Koshala, Avanti, and Vatsa were engulfed by Magadha.
This is the story of Magadha’s transformation from a small kingdom to an empire.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Alexanders Invasion Of India
Alexander was a Greek hero. After the death of his father Philip, the king of Macedonia in Greece, Alexander became king of Macedonia in 336 B.C. at the age of nineteen. Alexander was intent on becoming a world conqueror.
In 331 B.C. he embarked on a course of conquest. First of all he conquered Persia and then moved toward India.In 327 B.C. Alexander arrived at Kabul. On his way to India, he conquered a few small states.
At that time northwest India was divided into several small states. There was no unity among them. Small states like Shibi, Kshudraka, Malwa, Asmaka, Taxila, and Paurava were mostly engaged in mutual enmity.
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And this made Alexander’s task easy. King Ambhi of Taxila welcomed Alexander and helped him by giving him money and animals.
But Porus the king of Paurava offered a fight. Parus fought bravely but was defeated. Porus was brought before Alexander. He was a brave man, not willing to lower his head to a foreigner.
It is said that Alexander was so pleased with him that he not only set him free but also gave his kingdom back. Alexander stayed in India for about nineteen months. He wanted to go further. But his soldiers were tired and wished to return home.
So Alexander was on his way back home. On his way back he stayed for a while in Babylon. And there he died in 323 B.C. when he was only thirty- two years of age.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Chandragupta Maurya
You already know that the first empire in ancient India was the Magadhan empire built by the Maurya king Chandragupta. But how did it come about?
During Alexander’s invasion, the Nanda dynasty was the ruling power in Magadha. The Nanda kings were not liked by the people. The last of the Nandas, Dhanananda was cruel, unscrupulous and so was extremely unpopular.
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Chanakya, a Brahmin scholar, allied with Chandragupta who was eager to capture Magadha. Chanakya was once treated harshly by Dhanananda and so was intent on taking revenge.
There was then a battle in which Chandragupta defeated and killed Dhanananda and ascended the throne of Magadha in 324 B.C. This was only the beginning. Chandragupta conquered Avanti and extended his power up to Narmada.
Chandragupta then drove away the Greeks from northwest India and established his sway over Punjab and Sind. There was enmity between Chandragupta and Seleukos Nikator, Alexander’s general. Chandragupta fought against Seleukos and won.
A treaty was signed between the two. Seleukos gave Chandragupta Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Baluchistan. Chandragupta gave Seleukos 500 elephants. Chandragupta probably also married Seleukos’ daughter.
So by uprooting the Nanda rule, by driving away the Greeks, and by establishing his sway in north and north-west India, Chandragupta Maurya laid the foundation of India’s first empire. His capital was Pataliputra.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Megasthenes And Kautilya
Once Seleukos sent an ambassador, Megathenes by name, from Kandahar to Pataliputra. Megasthenes, however, stayed in Pataliputra and later wrote an account of his experience in the Maurya kingdom. But his writings in original have not been found.
Other Greek writers like Strabo and Arrian collected his writings. These were later published in book form and called ‘Indika’. Megasthenes’ Indika is an important source of knowledge about the Mauryas in Chandragupta’s reign.
Much is known about the town administration, the economic and Social condition of Mauryan India, and also about the military power of Chandragupta. Another important sourcebook about the Mauryas is the Arthashastra of Kautilya.
But it was not merely a book on the economic condition of the Mauryas. It was a general account of the administration. But who was this Kautilya? Some Say, Kautilya was the minister and adviser of Chandragupta Maurya.
And it is also said that Kautilya is none other than Chanakya. But other historians do not agree. One thing more. The Arthashastra is believed by many as a work by Kautilya.
But many others say that it was not written by Kautilys alone. There is, however, no doubt that the Arthashastra is an important sourcebook about the Mauryas.
It not only gives us much information about the administration, and social and economic condition of the Mauryan kingdom, it also lays down the ideals of kingship and the duties of the ruler.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Ashoka
After Chandragupta’s death, his son, Bindusara ascended the throne in 297 B.C. and ruled for about twenty-seven years. His rule was not at all memorable. He assumed the title Amitraghata or slayer of one’s enemies.
He did not expand the empire but kept it intact. He died o or 272 B.C. After Bindusara’s death, there was a struggle among his sons. Finally, Ashoka defeated his brothers and came to the throne in 269 or 268 B.C.
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Ashoka was like his grandfather, eager to conquer lands beyond Magadha. Kalinga, in modern Coastal Orissa, was growing to be a challenge to Magadha. Kalinga’s navy was a rival of Magadhan’s navy. So Ashoka wanted to conquer Kalinga.
When he had ruled for about seven or eight years, Ashoka attacked Kalinga. Kalinga was easily defeated. Nearly a hundred thousand people were killed. Many more were imprisoned.
Ashoka’s thirteenth rock edict tells us that the huge bloodshed and suffering cries upset him. He promised never to engage in fighting again. He was initiated by a Buddhist monk, Upagupta.
Since then Ashoka became a votary of non-violence and peace. One thing must be remembered. Ashoka did not give up his empire. He did not become an ascetic. His empire was there, although it was no longer based on warfare.
He preached the principle of ‘ahimsa’, throughout his life. He had his teachings inscribed on rocks and pillars. These inscriptions are often called Ashokan edicts. These edicts were written in Pali.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Ashokas Dhamma
Ashoka preached his Dhamma to all his subjects. This Dhamma had a good similarity with Buddhism. But Ashoka’s Dhamma was not the same as Buddhism. What Ashoka preached was the religion of man. He preached the principle of ‘ahimsa’ towards all.
Ashoka was a Buddhist, but he did not want his rule to be influenced by Buddhism. As a king, Ashoka did not favor any religion, not even Buddhism. Ashoka inscribed his teachings on pillars and rocks.
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These have been discovered at different places of the kingdom. Ashoka declared that the killing of animals either for food or for pleasure must stop. His Dhamma wanted to remove sorrow and violence from his kingdom.
The essence of his Dhamma was peace, ahimsa, and love. He called himself Devanamapiya (beloved of the gods), and Piyadasi or Priyadarshi.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Ashokas Dhammavijaya
Ashoka never again fought any battle after Kalinga. Since then he wanted to win over people’s love and admiration. So he began a policy of Dhammavijaya. He wanted to conquer people’s minds with the help of a religious mission.
He preached peace and ahimsa not only throughout his empire but also outside his domain. He sent peace missions from Kashmir to Mysore, and from Burma to Surat. Even missions were sent to countries like Simhala (now Sri Lanka), Greece, Egypt, and Sumatra.
He stopped cruelty to animals. He loved his subjects as his own children. For these reasons, he has been regarded as the greatest king of India.
How was the kingdom administered?
Ashoka inherited the Mauryan Kingdom ruled first by Chandragupta and then by Bindusara. Ashoka fought one battle only, that of Kalinga and so added it to the kingdom of the Mauryans.
Administering the kingdom is a very important task for the rulers. The Mauryas, and especially Ashoka paid serious attention to the administration of the empire. The king or emperor was at the top of the administration. He was the source of all power.
But Ashoka never exercised force or coercion. He introduced officials like Dharmamahamatras whose main task was to spread his Dhamma. The Dharmamahamatras were told to take good care of the older people.
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There were other officials like Adhyakshas, Rajukas, and Amatyas. There were amateurs or maintains who were in charge of revenue collection, civic administration, etc. The king was at the top of the judicial system also.
During Ashoka’s reign, there were 5 provinces, Uttarapatha, Avanti, Dakshinapatha, Kalinga, and Prachya. Each province was ruled by an official named Kumara. The Kumara was like today’şovernor.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Fall of The Maurya Empire
So long as Ashoka lived, the Mauryan Empire went strong. But after about 50 years of his death, the empire broke down. The last Mauryan king was Brihadratha who was killed by his own commander, Pushyamitra Sunga in 187 B.C. M
Agatha was ruled by the Sungas first and then by the Kanvas. But why did the Maurya Empire break down? Some historians say that Ashoka’s policy of peace and ahimsa weakened the military base of the empire.
For many years the army had nothing to do really. Others say that the successors of Ashoka were weak and worthless rulers. The killing of the last king by his commander is proof. Moreover, the economy was also dwindling.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The North West After The Fall Of The Mauryas
After the fall of the Maurya Empire, the northwest of India had no rest from foreign invasion and inroads. In Bactria (modern Afghanistan) a branch of the Greeks established their rule. They are known as Indo- Greeks. They moved towards India.
One of them, Demetrios, conquered a part of northwest India. The most famous of the Indo-Greeks was Menander. He conquered lands up to Uttar Pradesh. After the Indo-Greeks, the Sakas held sway in northwest India.
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Some of the Saka rulers were Vanones, Maues, Azes I, and Azes II. The Sakas called themselves Kshatrapas. The most famous of them was Rudradaman. After the Sakas, the Pahlavas, also called the Parthians made inroads into India.
The most famous of these Parthians was king Gandophernes. After the death of Gandophernes, the Parthians became weak and soon after, the Kushans took over.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Gangaridai
Ancient Greeks who were in India wrote of a country east of Magadha. They called it Gangaridai or Gangaridae. Around 300 B.C. it was an independent country based on the Ganges delta. This country is identified with modern Bangladesh.
Megasthenes referred to it in his Indika. Ptolemy also spoke of it. In the 4th-3rd centuries B.C. Gangaridai and Magadha had regular contacts.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empir The Kushans
The Kushans were the foreigners who came to rule northwest India after the Parthians. In Central Asia, there were several hordes of nomadic people in the 2nd-3rd century of the Christian era. Some of them moved westward and then southward.
One of them, the Yueh-Chih, came to Bactria and displaced the Shakas. The Yueh-Chih had several branches. One of them later came to be known as the Kushans.
The first Kushan king was Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises I who defeated the Pahlavas or Parthians and occupied Kabul in AD.50. The second of them was Vima Kadphises or Kadphises II who conquered parts of north and north-west India.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Kanishka
The most important Kushan ruler in India was Kanishka. The year of Kanishka’s ascension to the throne is uncertain. Some say it was 58 B.C. But most historians have canceled it as improbable. It is highly probable that Kanishka sat on the throne in AD.78.
Kanishka’s kingdom extended from the Indus valley in the west to Bihar in the east and from Kashmir in the north to the Vindhyas in the south. Purushpur (modern Peshawar) was his capital. Kanishka was not only a conqueror. He was an able ruler also.
He was a patron of Buddhism and had Chaityas and Buddhist Viharas built in many places of his kingdom. The supporters of Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism were in conflict in Kanishka’s reign.
To solve the problem Kanishka convened of the conference of Buddhists in Kashmir which is known as the Fourth Buddhist Council. Kanishka was a patron of art and literature.
Famous author Aswaghosha, the philosopher Vasumitra and the Ayurveda expert Charaka all flourished in Kanishka’s reign. The Gandhara Art too flourished in his reign.
Kanishka’s successors were not as capable as he was. The two immediate successors were Vasishka and Huvishka. Gradually the Kushan kingdom became weak and ultimately it dwindled.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Kharavela Of Kalinga
After the fall of the Mauryan Empire Kalinga became independent again under a powerful king named Kharavela. He was a member of the Chedi dynasty. All we know about him is from the Hathigumpha inscription written in Prakrit.
Kharavela probably ruled in the 1st century B.C. Kharavela was either a Jaina himself or a Jaina devotee. His most important achievement was his victory over the Satavahanas. Kharavela was an able administrator too.
He improved the transport of his kingdom and reformed the irrigation system. Hathigumpha inscription was a stone edict engraved under the command of Kharavela toward the end of his reign.
This inscription gives us a good picture of Kalinga of that time. There were, of course, exaggerations of Kharavela’s achievements.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Satavahanas Of South India
The Satavahanas were a South Indian dynasty. They flourished in the Vindhyan region in the second half of the 1st century B.C. after the fall of the Mauryas. Their rule ended around AD 225. Their original authority was around the river Godavari in the Deccan.
Simuka was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty. He uprooted the rule of the Sungas and the Kanvas. After Simuka’s death, his brother Krishna became king and ruled for about 18 years.
The next king was Satakarni I. He was the first really important ruler of the dynasty. He conquered Malwa and the Narmada Valley. Under Satakarni I a large portion of south India came under the sway of the Satavahanas.
The Sakas were a powerful enemy of the Satavahanas. The Sakas under king Nahapana troubled the Satavahanas for some time. But the Satavahanas under their best ruler, Gautamiputra Satakarni, defeated and enfeebled Nahapana and conquered large portions of his territory.
Under Gautamiputra the Satavahanas ruled over almost the entire Deccan from the western coast to the eastern coast of mid-India. Large areas of Maharashtra, Konkan, Saurashtra, Malwa, West Rajasthan, and Vidarbha came under the rule of the Satavahanas.
We know much about the Satavahanas from two inscriptions-the Nasik inscription and the Karle inscription. The Sakas under Rudradaman became very powerful in western India. Rudradaman assumed the title of Mahakshatrapa.
His sway extended from Ujjain to Gujarat. Rudradaman meant enough trouble for the Satavahanas. The Junagarh inscription gives the details. After Gautamiputra’s death, his son Vashishthiputra Pulumayi became king.
But after Pulumayi no capable ruler came to the throne. The dynasty weakened steadily and ultimately the end came in the third century A.D.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Administration Under The Kushans And The Satavahanas
Big kingdoms or empires are usually divided into provinces. This was done for better governance or administration. The Kushanempire too was divided into several provinces.
The provinces were called Kshatrapas. The Kushan kings called themselves Devaputras or sons of the gods. The king was all-powerful. The Kushans established religious unity and social stability.
The Kushans favored Mahayana Buddhism. Generally, there was peace in the society. As a result trade and commerce even with foreign lands flourished. Two new forms of art developed in the Kushan period.
One flourished around Gandhara and was called Gandhara art. And the other which flourished around Mathura was called the Mathura art. Numerous stone images of Buddha were created. These art forms were influenced by the Greek-Roman style.
About the administration and social condition under the Satavahanas much is known from the Nasik inscription. The king was the head of the kingdom. He even was the commander of the army.
Like the Kushan Empire, the Satavahana Empire too was divided into several provinces. Each province was under an amateur. Gautamiputra the best Satavahana ruler curbed the power of the Kshatriyas and increased that of the Brahmanas.
But he showed tolerance towards the Buddhists. Gautamiputra and other rulers were patrons of culture. They built many temples. They gave away land to Brahmanas as well as to Buddhist monks.
A number of Buddhist Chaityas and monasteries were built. The Chaitya at Karle in Maharashtra is very famous. The Satavahanas used Prakrit in their inscriptions. Prakrit literature flourished in the Satavahana rule.
As in the Kushan period, trade and commerce flourished in the Satavahana rule. The people paid tax in both cash and kind. Normally 1/6th part of the produce was demanded by the state as tax. In those days salt was produced from seawater. Salt was subject to tax.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Headless Figure Of Kanishka
To students of history, Kanishka’s headless stone figure is a very interesting thing. In 1911 this figure was discovered in a field in Mathura. It was broken. The head was missing. One hand held a sword, the other a scepter.
A long robe reached down the knee. The two feet are shown sideways. But how could one say that it was Kanishka? The script in Brahmi at the base of the figure tells us that it was Kanishka.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Guptas
The Kushan rule ended about the second half of the 3rd century A.D. The Guptas were to rule a vast area of north India after the fall of the Kushans. Historians tell us that the first Gupta kings were minor rulers. The earliest of them was Sri Gupta.
After his death Ghatotkacha became king. But the first important king was Chandragupta I who ruled from A.D 320 to A.D 335. His rule extended over Magadha, Prayag, and Saketa which means modern Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Chandragupta, I married a Lichchhavi princess, Kumaradevi, and assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja. The next ruler, Samudragupta, Chandragupta’s son sat on the throne in 335. He ruled from A.D 335 (or 340) to A.D 380.
We know much about the Guptas and especially about Samudragupta from the Allahabad inscription of Harisena and the account left by Fa-hien (now called Fa-Xian). Samudragupta was a great conqueror.
He defeated nine kings of Aryavarta or northern India and annexed their kingdoms. Samudragupta fought against twelve southern kings but did not annex their territories. He restored their territories and in return got their allegiance.
He had friendly relations with the rulers of Java, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Sumatra. He performed the ‘Aswamedha’ or horse sacrifice. After Samudragupta’s death, his son Chandragupta II became king in about AD. 376.
One of his remarkable achievements was the uprooting of Saka rule from Gujarat. For this, he was called ‘Sakari’ (enemy of the Sakas). He effaced the last traces of Saka rule in western India. Chandragupta II assumed the title of ‘Vikramaditya.’
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Fa Xian, the Chinese pilgrim visited India during Chandragupta !!’s reign. He has left an account of the Gupta reign as he saw it. Kumaragupta and Skandagupta were the last important rulers of the Gupta dynasty.
Kumaragupta (AD 414-454) kept the empire intact. He introduced many silver coins. After Kumaragupta came his son Skandagupta who fought against the Pushyamitras and the Huns. Skandagupta defeated both.
But the Gupta empire began to weaken after Skandagupta’s death in 467. None of his successors could put up a good show and could not arrest the process of decline.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Vakatakas Of The South
The decline of the Satavahanas towards the end of the third century AD made way for the Vakatakas. The Vakataka dynasty came to power in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The Vakatakas held power mainly in the Deccan. Their territory extended from the Vindhyan region to the Narmada-Godavari areas. Vindhyashakti was the founder of the Vakataka rule.
His son Prabarasena conquered territories on all sides and even snatched away Gujarat from the Sakas. The other important kings of the dynasty were Rudradamana and Prithvisena.
How were the Gupta and Vakataka Kingdoms ruled?
Ruling Of Gupta and Vakataka Kingdoms:
While the Guptas were the main ruling power in north India, there were several small kingdoms in the Deccan and in south India. The most important southern kingdom was obviously the Vakataka kingdom. The Gupta rule was monarchical.
The king was at the helm of power. He was not only the administrative head. He wielded the highest military and judicial power. Kingship was hereditary. This means that power is passed on to a son after a king’s death.
To make a show of enormous power the Gupta kings assumed titles like Maharajadhiraja etc. The kingdom. was divided into two parts, central and provincial. There were ministers to help the king.
Among them, the amateurs were the most important. Mahadandanayaka was the chief justice. One-fourth to one-sixth of the produce was claimed by the government as revenue. There was a tax on mines and trade.
A good amount of money was thus poured into the royal treasury. The Vakataka rule too was hereditary. The kings often assumed the title of Maharaja. The kingdom was divided into provinces and centers.
The provinces were called rajyas. The governors of the provinces were called Senapati. The districts in the provinces were called pattas.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Allahabad Pillar Inscription
The eulogist Harishena wrote an elaborate eulogy of king Samudragupta. The eulogy was inscribed on a pillar. Much later this pillar inscription was discovered in the village of Koshambi near Allahabad.
Harishena, the court poet of Samudragupta wrote it. It was composed in Sanskrit and inscribed in Brahmi script. Harishena was all praise for his patron, Samudragupta.
Samudragupta’s military conquests, his love for music, his religious tolerance, and all other achievements were described elaborately.
Although the inscription was an uncritical eulogy, still it gives us much information about the Gupta rule in Samudragupta’s time.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire North India After the Fall Of The Guptas
The Gupta Empire was becoming weak and dwindled in the second half of the fifth century AD. After the fall of the Guptas, there was no big power in north India for some time.
The Huns held sway in the northwest and made repeated forays further east into the heart of India. But they faced stiff opposition and resistance from Indian kings. Yashadharman of Mandasor defeated the Huns more than once.
After the fall of the Guptas, several smaller powers raised their heads in north India. These were Malwa under Yashodharman, Balabhi under the Maitrakas, and Kanauj under the Maukharis.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire The Pushyabhutis And Harshavardhana
The Pushyabhutis was a north Indian dynasty of Thaneswar. Thaneswar then was ruled by the Pushyabhuti king, Prabhakaravardhana. He was an able ruler and an eager conqueror. Under him, the power of the Pushyabhuti kingdom extended beyond Thaneswar.
He died in 605. After his death, his elder son Rajyavardhana sat on the throne of Thaneswar. Meanwhile, events took a serious turn. Rajyavardhana did not live long. After his death, his younger brother Harshavardhana sat on the throne of Thaneswar.
Prabhakaravardhana had given his daughter Rajyashri in marriage to Grahavarma, the king of Kanauj. But sometime after his death, Rajyashri’s husband Grahavarma was killed by Sasanka, the king of Gaur.
On the request of the ministers of Kanauj, Harshavardhana took charge of Kanauj. Harsha sat on the throne of Thaneswar in AD 606. Harsha’s first task was to rescue his sister Rajyashri who had fled after her husband’s death.
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Sasanka the king of Gaur had allied with Devagupta the king of Malwa and captured Kanauj. Harsha, on the other hand, allied with Bhaskaravarman of Kamrup and compelled Sasanka to keep off Kanauj.
Harsha had to fight a number of kings. He had long enmity with Sasanka. But possibly he could not defeat Sasanka. Harsha however conquered Magadha. His battle with Pulakesin II, the Chalukya King ended in a defeat for Harsha.
Harsha is sometimes called Sakala-Uttarapatha-Natha (Lord of North India). But Harsha. was not really an unquestioned leader of north India.
Harsha however, introduced an era in AD 606, the year of his accession to the throne. This era is known as Harshabda.
How was Harsha’s Kingdom ruled?
Harshavardhana was not really the Lord of the whole of north India. But he was surely one of the ablest and most eminent kings of his time. Under him, the political center shifted from Magadha to Kanauj.
Harsha divided his empire into several provinces. Officials were employed to administer these provinces. But Harsha often himself looked after the affairs of the provinces.
Harsha was a benevolent ruler. He often gave away money and land to needy people. Under Harsha royal officials were given land in lieu of money as salary. Harsha had a huge army.
Harsha had a strict administration. Thieves and criminals were punished harshly. A tax collected from the people was the main source of wealth. About 1/6th of the produce was charged as revenue. The religious foundations often got tax-free gifts of land.
Chapter 6 Expansion Of Empire Harshacharita Of Banabhatta
Banabhatta was a court poet in Harsha’s kingdom. He wrote a poetic composition named ‘Harshacharita’. In reality, it was Harsha’s biography in poetry. Banabhatta was all praise about Harsha.
He praised whatever Harsha did and found nothing in Harsha’s life and character that could be criticized. Banabhatta highly eulogized Harsha and belittled his opponents. For example, Banabhatta unduly criticized Sasanka, the king of Gaur.
The travel account of Hsuan Zang or Xuan Zang
The Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Zang (who was formerly known as Hieun Tsang) visited India during Harshavardhana’s reign. He has left an account of his travels. Hsuan Zang arrived in India in AD 630 and left in AD 644.
The account he left is known as Si-Yu-Ki. Hsuan Zang’s intention was to collect information about Buddhism. When he returned to China he took with him several manuscripts about Buddhism.
Hsuan Zang’s account offers much information about India in Harsha’s time and reign. Of course, his account was biased in favour of Harsha. Hsuan Zang noticed several Buddhist monasteries in Kanauj.
He said that Harsha was an ardent Buddhist. This is perhaps not true. He referred to a 5-yearly festival at Prayag near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna.In this festival, Harsha is said to have given away all his belongings.
Hsuan Zang also said that Nalanda University was a great education center where students came from other countries too. In his time Shilabhadra was its principal.
WBBSE Notes For Class 6 History
