Post Gupta Dynasties: Pushyabhutis

Also known as the Vardhana dynasty, they governed areas of northern India.
Hieun Tsang’s travels account Si-Yu-Ki, Banbhatta’s Harshacharita, and Pulkeshin II’s inscription on Aihole stone.
The Madhuban and Sonpat inscriptions record chronology. Harshavardhana signed the Banshekhra inscriptions.
Pushyabhutis were Gupta’s feudatories. They gained independence after the Huna invasion.
This dynasty’s notable monarchs included Prabhakarvardhana, Adityavardhan, and Harshavardhana.
He was the son of Prabhakarvardhana.

Following the decline of the Gupta Empire, North India saw political chaos and discord. In the early seventh century C.E., Harshvardhana established a greater dominion in northern India.
Kannauj was invaded and merged into Thaneswar.
Harshavardhana battled Shashank of the Gauda Kingdom, establishing dominance over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, and befriending Bhashkarvarman of Kamrup (Assam).
Vallabhi King Dhruvbhata of Gujarat was also vanquished, and peace was reached with him through the marriage of Harsha’s daughter to Dhruvbhata.
He adopted the titles of Uttarapathanatha or Uttarapathapati (Lord of the North).
While moving South through the Malwa region, he was defeated by Pulakeshin II in the Battle of Narmada.
He was profoundly impressed by Hieun Tsang’s charisma and convened a Buddhist assembly in Kannauj under his leadership.
Hieun Tsang’s book praises Harshvardhan’s righteousness and generosity.

Harshavardhana managed his dominion in the same way as Gupta.
The basic unit of government was a village.
Offices under the king became hereditary when Harisena, (a ‘maha dandanayaka’ or Chief Judicial Officer), acquired the position from his father.
One person could hold more than one position, as Harisena also held the offices of ‘Kumaramatya’ and ‘Sangrahvigrahika’.
Other prominent administrative authorities included the ‘sreshti‘ (chief banker or merchant), the ‘sarthavaha‘ (leader of merchant caravans), the ‘prathamakulika‘ (chief craftsman), and the ‘kayashthas‘ (head of scribes).
The upkeep of public records is a key aspect of the Harsha government.

The society was classified into four groups: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
Brahmins were the most favoured members of society, and monarchs gave them land gifts.
Women’s status has declined from the liberal era of the past.
Sati was common, and widow remarriage was restricted in the upper castes.
Swyamvara (the practice of selecting a husband) had reduced.
Hiuen Tsang explains three ways to bury the deceased: cremation, river burial, and exposure in the wild.

According to inscriptions, the early Pushyabhuti rulers worshipped Surya.
Rajyavardhana was a Buddhist devotee.
Harshavardhana appears to have been a Shiva devotee with a keen interest in Buddhism. Nonetheless, he was welcoming of different faiths.
To disseminate and spread Mahayana Buddhist views, Harsha organised a great meeting in Kanyakubja in 643 CE, presided over by Hiuen Tsang.
Shramanas, Brahmanas, and sectarian devotees are believed to have been invited to this grand gathering.
Several subordinate rulers were present, including those from Assam and Valabhi.
Religious ceremonies were also held every five years in Allahabad, an ancient city. He hosted the Dana ceremony, or gifting ceremony, here for three months.

Harshavardhana, a patron of art and literature, supported artists such as Banabhatta, Mayura, and Matanga Divakara.
Banabhatta penned Harshacharita, Kadambari, and Parvatiparinay.
Harshavardhana was also a poet who created three Sanskrit plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarshika.
He staged five yearly donation (Daan) ceremonies in Prayag, donating generously to the administration, royal household, scholars, and religion.
The brick temple of Laxamana in Sirpur was built during Harsha’s reign.

One-sixth of the produce was taxed and served as the primary source of revenue.
Other key sources of revenue included port taxes, mine revenues, and vassal tributes.
Overall, trade and commerce are reported to have declined throughout this period.