History of Kumaon, Garhwal, Haridwar (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhan Dynasty (500-647) part-I

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 77   

         (Classical Age History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand))

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

     There are a couple of sources for knowing the time of Harshavardhan. Historians take help of Harshacharit by Ban Bhatt and the travelogue by Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang. The ancestors of Harshavardhana ruled Thanesar (Sthaneshwar), Haryana Kingdom. 

                          Ancestors of Harshavardhan

                   The Harsha inscriptions describe four kings before Harshavardhan- Narvardhan, Ajyavardhan and Prabhakarvardhan (500-580).

                               

                                            Prabhakarvardhan 

  Prabhakarvardhan was the son of Adityavardhan.  Prabhakarvardhan had title ‘Param Bhattarak Mahadhiraj’. He was under Gupta rule but might be he declared freedom and he extended his rule up to western Punjab, between western Vyasa valley and eastern Yamuna valley of Haryana.

Prabhakarvardhan had wars with Hunas.

 Prabhakarvardhan had two sons Rajyavardhan and Harshavardhan. Prabhakarvardhan had a daughter Rajyashri who was married to Maukhari King Grahvarman.

                                           Rajyavardhan (died in 606)

             When his father died Rajyavardhan was engaged in war with Hunas. Rajyavardhan returned to Thanesar. He was not interested to take the responsibility. Howvwer, Rajyavardhan had to go Kanauj to help his widow sister’s kingdom. Malav King attacked to Maukhari kingdom after death of Grahvarman Maukhari. Rajyavardhan defeated Malav king easily. However, Gaud King Sasanka killed Rajyavardhan with deceptive method.

              Due to gaud killing to Rajyavardhan, his sister widow of Grahvardhan ran away towards Vindhya forest. 

                                            Harshavardhana (606-647)

             Harshavardhana made peace in Kanauj and wished to search his sister Rajyashri. Gaud king ran away towards Vindhyachal.

   Harshavardhana found his sister just at the time she was to be Sati. Harshavardhana stopped her burning. Rajyashri converted for Buddhism.  Harshavardhan punished Gaud king and returned to Kanauj/Kanyakubja.

              By advises of elders and Buddhist preachers, Harshavardhan merged his kingdom of Thanesar with Kanyakubja of Maukharis.

    

                              Kingdom Expansion by Harshavardhana

              Harshavardhana extended his kingdom up to Magadha. He was defeated at Narmada bank by Pulkeshin II.

                 Historian suggest that Harshavardhana ruled parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Eastern Punjab, Bihar, Bengal, parts of Orissa, Vallabhi, parts of Malva, and some part of Sindhustan.

                        Harshavardhana as Encourager of Scholars

                                       Harshavardhana was famous for offering shelters to scholars. Harshavardhan was himself Sanskrit scholars that wrote three Sanskrit dramas – Naganand, Ratnavali and Priyadashika.

 Matang Diwakar and Mayur were other Sanskrit scholars in Harshavardhana court. 

                                           BanBhatt the Court Scholar of Harshavardhan

            BanBhatt was a court scholar of Harshavardhan. Ban Bhatt wrote two Sanskrit classics –Harshacharit and Kadambari. Ban Bhatt detailed the ancestral autography of Harsha in Harshacharit. There are details of Harsha early life in Harshacharit. Ban Bhatt also describes his ancestral history in Harshacharit.

   BanBhatt could not complete Kadambari due to his death. His son Bhushan Bhatt or Pulind Bhatt was not interested to complete Kadambari as he was not court scholar of Harsha.     

                    Travel by Chinese Traveler Hiuen-Tsang/Xuanzang  

                      In the life of Harshavardhana, a Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang/ Xuanzang visited India.  Hiuen-Tsang/ Xuanzang travelled India from 630-644 AD. Hiuen-Tsang/ Xuanzang provided various historical aspects of India including ancient Uttrakhand. The autography of Hiuen-Tsang/ Xuanzang is very important for Indian history knowledge.

 Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 20/06/2013

References:

1-Jayswal, K.P., Andhkaryugin Bharat

2-Shiv Prasad Dabra, ‘Charan’, 1968, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Bhag –1 and 3

3-Rahul Sankrityayan , Garhwal

4-Dinesh Saklani, 1998, Ancient Communities of the Himalayas

7-Arun Kumar Mishra, 1992, The Trading Communities in Ancient India:

8- Indian Archeology Review, 1968-69

12-Thapliyal, K.K, 1984, Inscriptions of Maukharis, Late Guptas, Pushyabhutis and Yashovarman of Kanauj

13-Uma Prasad Thapliyal, 2005, Uttaranchal: Historical and Cultural Prospective (Page 29, about Authority of Maukharis on Uttarakhand and Haridwar) 

14-.Tripathi, R.S., History of Kanauj

15-Encyclopedia of Ancient Indian Geography Kashi-Z, Volume-2; Edited by Subodh Kapoor, 2002, page 459-460

16-Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, Doon Valley Down the Ages, page 33

17-Kamboj, B.P.,2003,  Early Wall Painting of Garhwal, page 20

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -78

       Xxx                                           xx                                                xx

History feature of Kumaon, Garhwal, Haridwar (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; Historical Aspects of Haridwar (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History Characteristics  of Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Nainital Kumaon,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Almora, Kumaon,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhan Dynasty; History Features  of Champawat, Kumaon,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Bageshwar Kumaon,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Pithoragarh, Kumaon,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic of Dehradun, Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Uttarkashi, Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Tehri, Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Pauri Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Chamoli, Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty; History characteristic  of Rudraprayag, Garhwal,  (Uttrakhand) in Harshavardhana Dynasty to be continued…