Pushyabhuti Dynasty

By

Dr. Yogesh Moral

 Introduction

● The Pushyabhuti dynasty also known as the Vardhana dynasty ruled in northern India
during 6th and 7th centuries.

● The dynasty reached its zenith under its last ruler Harsha Vardhana (c. 590–647 CE), and the
Empire of Harsha covered much of north and north-western India, extending till Kamarupa
in the east and Narmada River in the south.

● The dynasty initially ruled from Sthanveshvara (in modern Kurukshetra district, Haryana),
but Harsha eventually made Kanyakubja (modern Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh) his capital, from
where he ruled until 647 CE.
 Sources

1. Madhuban copper plate (Azamgarh)

2. Banskheda copper plate (Shahjahanpur)

3. Nalanda & Sonipat seal.

4. Aihole inscription of Pulkesin Il.

5. Harshacharita by Banabhatta

6. Accounts of Xuan Zang: Si-Yu-Ki.

7. Accounts of Itsing
 Succession Geneology

● Pushyabhuti

● Narvardhan

● Rajyavardhan

● Adityavardhan

● Prabhakarvardhan

● Rajyavardhan Il

● Harshavardhan
 Origin

● Banabhatta: refers to Pushyabhuti family as Chandra vamshi.

● Nihar Ranjan Ray: Pushyabhutis were Kshatriyas.

● Si-Yu-Ki + Aryamanjushrimulkalpa : Pushyabhuti's were Vaishya

 Pushyabhuti

● Inscriptions of Harsha make no mention of Pushyabhuti.

● Banabhatta: First known ancestor = Pushyabhuti.

● Pushyabhuti got hold of Thaneshwar & some areas around it (in Ambala).

● He was a devout Shaiv.

● Harshacharita: Addressed as Raja & Bhupala.

● Indicative of feudatory status.

● Whose feudatory??
 Narvardhan

● Narvardhan (Ruler)

● No idea about his relation to Pushyabhuti.

● Harshacharita: Called the first ruler of Pushyabhuti dynasty.

● His son was Rajyavardhan l.

 Rajyavardhan I

● Father of Adityavardhan

● Married his son Adityavardhan with Princess Mahasenaguptaa of Later Gupta

dynasty.
 Adityavardhan

● Father of Prabhakarvardhan,

● Madhuban copper plate + Sonipat seal: Mother of Prabhakarvardhan was

Mahasenaguptaa.

● Rajvant Rao: Mahasenaguptaa= Sister of Later Gupta king Mahasenagupta.

● H.C. Rai Chaudhary: Due to threat of Maukharies, Later Guptas entered into
matrimonial alliance with Vardhan family.
 Prabhakar Vardhan

● First mighty ruler of Pushyabhuti family.

● Established his influence over neighbouring kingdoms

● Father of Rajyavardhan, Harshavardhan & Rajyashri

● Also known as Pratapsheel

● Titles: Maharajadhiraja, Parambhattaraka

 Rajyavardhan : As a Prince

● Eldest son of Prabhakarvardhan.

● Harshacharit: During the later days of his father 's rule, he was sent to subdue Hunas.

● Harsha also accompanied him

● Messenger came with news of his father being very ill.

● Harsha returned to Thaneshwar.

● In absence of his eldest son, Prabhakarvardhan asked Harsha to ascend Pushyabhut

throne.

● Prabhakarvardhan died. His Queen became Sati.

● Rajyavardhan returned back after defeating Hunas

 Rajvavardhan: Accession (c. 604/5 CE)

● Harshacharita : Reluctant to ascend throne.

● Wanted to renounce the world

● Requested Harshavardhan to take charge of Pushyabhuti throne.

● News of killing of his brother-in-law and imprisonment of Rajyashri by evil

Malavraja.

● Under pressure agreed to become king

 Harshvardhan: 606 to 647

● Harshavardhan (C.606-647CE)

● Stressful-Pitiful situation: Forced 16 years old Harshavardhan to ascend throne.

● Additional expectation/responsibility to avenge death of his brother.

● Harshacharita: Made preparations and led his army towards Kannauj.

● Messenger of king Bhaskarvarman of Kamrupa met him on the way and extended
help, offerings & friendship of King Bhaskarvarman.

● R.D.Benerji+ R.G.Basak: Bhaskarvarman's self interest in friendship with Harsha =

Help against King Shashanka of Bengal.
●
Ruled area by the Pushyabhutis
 Personal information of Harsha

● period : 606-647 AD

● Father name: Prabhakara Vardhana

● Brother: Rajavardhana

● Sister: Rajashree

● Titles : Uttar Patheshwar, Emperor of five Indies.

● Capital city: Thaneswar

 Early Difficulty

● He came throne he was just 14 years old.

● Taking this advantage many neighbouring kings had palnned to attack on

Harsha's empire.

● He wanted save his sister Rajashree who lost her husband.

● He had planned to attack on Shahshanka who killed his brother Rajya

Vardhana.

● During that he had with huge financial problems.

 Harsha's conquests.

● Harsha defeated Shashanka of Bengal and saved his Sister.

● He occupied the entire north India including Bihar,Bengal and Orissa in the
east.

● Conquered Punjab and Sind in the west and received title of Emperor of Five
Indies.

● He also has friendly relationship with the King of Kamarupa and Srilanka.
 Rescue of Rajyashree

● Harsha's armies met retreating Pushyabhuti army led by Bhandi.

● Informed of Rajyashri's escape.

● Change of plan: Rescuing Rajyashri top priority.

● R.S.Tripathi: Halted his army in Ganga-Yamuna doab and himself left for Vindhyas.

● Informed about Rajyashri's whereabouts by a Buddhist monk.

● Arrived just in time to save Rajyashri as she was about to immolate herself in fire
 The greatest military achievement of
Harsha

● War against Pulikesin Il (Emperor of Chalukyas and Badami)

● Both emperors met each other on the bank of Narmada in 620 a.d.

● The war continued for two years but no one won the war.

● Finally they came treaty and became good friends and returned back their
capital by receiving the titles of Uttara Patheshwar and Dakshina
Patheshwar.
 Nalanda University

● Nalanda University was one of the leading universities in the Ancient World.

● It was founded by Kumara Gupta of Gupta ruler.

● Nalanda reached on its peak during Harsha Vardhana's reign and became the
best university on earth.

● Harsha reserved 1/4 of the income of empire to the development of the Nalanda
University.

● It had a huge building with 400 acre of campus.

● Dharma chakra was its symbol of Nalanda University.

● It had 10,000 students and 1,500 teachers. The ratio between the teacher and the
students was 1:7.
● It had got separate three storied building for library.

● It had Lotus Lake in the center of the building.

● There was a huge auditorium where every day had many cultural programmes
and performances.

● It had students of Srilanka, Japan, China, Nepal, Malaya, Combodia, Jawa and
Sumatra.

● Students had to pass three rounds of entrance exams to seek the admission in
the university.

● There were 40 different subjects were taught in the university.

● Most interesting fact was- it was free residential university.

 Hieun Tsang (Xuan Zang)

● Hieun Tsang was a Chinese pilgrim who had come to India during Harsha's reign.

● He is known as 'Prince of pilgrims'

● He was Buddist monk who had dreamt to visit the holy places of Budshism in India.

● After a long journey he reached Kashmir The king of Kashmir treated him like an
ambassador and he guided him to meet his emperor Harsha.

● Harsh welcomed him and provided all facilities for his stay.

● Soon he visited all holy places which were related to Buddha's life (Lumbini,
Kapilavastu, Bodh Gaya Sarnath and Kushinar).
🌼Thank You🌼
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