King Harshvardhana: A Patron Of Indian Art And Culture – OpEd

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King Harshavardhana, also known as Harsha, was an Indian emperor who ruled the northern Indian subcontinent from 606 to 647 CE. He was a member of the Pushyabhuti dynasty and was the son of Prabhakarvardhana, who ruled the kingdom of Thanesar in present-day Haryana.

Harshavardhana’s reign is considered a period of cultural and artistic renaissance in ancient India. He was a patron of the arts, literature, and scholarship, and his court was home to many notable scholars and intellectuals of the time. He was known for his military conquests, having successfully expanded his kingdom to include parts of present-day northern India, Pakistan, and Nepal. However, he was best known for his contributions to Buddhism. He was a devout Buddhist and worked tirelessly to spread the religion throughout his kingdom. He was known for his generosity, having given generously to monasteries, temples, and other religious institutions.

Harshavardhana was a skilled administrator and is credited with the establishment of a highly efficient system of governance. He introduced several reforms aimed at improving the lives of his subjects, including the establishment of hospitals, the construction of roads and bridges, and the promotion of trade and commerce. Harshavardhana’s contributions to Indian culture and society continue to be celebrated to this day.

Childhood and early works

Harshavardhana, was born in 590 CE in the city of Thanesar, located in present-day Haryana. He was the third son of Prabhakarvardhana, the ruler of Thanesar. As a child, Harshavardhana received a traditional education in literature, philosophy, and religion. He was trained in military tactics and warfare, as his family had a long history of military service. He began his career as a general in his brother Rajyavardhana’s army. He distinguished himself in battle and was soon appointed governor of the province of Thanesar.

After his brother’s assassination, Harshavardhana ascended to the throne in 606 CE. As emperor, Harshavardhana embarked on a series of military campaigns aimed at expanding his kingdom. He waged successful wars against several neighbouring kingdoms, including the Vardhanas, the Maukharis, and the Western Ganga dynasty. He also established friendly relations with the Chinese Tang dynasty, which helped to facilitate trade and cultural exchange between the two nations.

In addition to his military conquests, Harshavardhana was known for his patronage of the arts and literature. He was a gifted poet and playwright and is credited with writing three plays, the Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika. He established a famous university in the city of Nalanda, which became a center of learning and scholarship in ancient India. He is said to have built several Buddhist monasteries and stupas, and he was a generous patron of Buddhist scholars and monks. His support for Buddhism helped to establish it as a major religion in northern India, where it had previously been overshadowed by Hinduism and Jainism.

Administration and welfare schemes

Harshavardhana was a skilled administrator who introduced several reforms aimed at improving the lives of his subjects. He was known for his generosity and his concern for the welfare of his people. One of Harshavardhana’s most significant achievements was the establishment of an efficient system of governance. He divided his kingdom into several provinces, each of which was governed by a provincial governor or viceroy. These governors were responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and implementing Harshavardhana’s policies.

Harshavardhana also introduced several welfare schemes to improve the lives of his people. He established hospitals and dispensaries where the sick could receive free medical care. In addition to these initiatives, Harshavardhana encouraged trade and commerce and built roads and bridges to facilitate the movement of goods and people. He promoted the growth of handicrafts and industries and also introduced a system of coinage and established a network of markets and bazaars where merchants could trade their goods. 

Contribution to politics and society

Harshavardhana’s reign is considered a period of great cultural and artistic renaissance in ancient India. His contributions to society and politics were many and varied, and they continue to be celebrated to this day.

One of Harshavardhana’s most significant contributions to society was the establishment of an efficient system of governance. He introduced several administrative reforms that helped to maintain law and order and promote the welfare of his subjects. He established a network of provincial governors and viceroyalties, built hospitals and dispensaries, and encouraged trade and commerce.

Harshavardhana was also a great patron of the arts and literature. He established several universities and centers of learning, including the famous Nalanda University. He was a gifted poet and playwright himself and is credited with writing several plays and poems. His patronage of the arts helped to create a vibrant cultural atmosphere in his kingdom, which attracted many talented artists, writers, and scholars.

He was a devout Buddhist and worked tirelessly to promote the religion throughout his kingdom.. In terms of politics, Harshavardhana was a skilled diplomat who established friendly relations with many neighboring kingdoms. He was particularly close to the Chinese Tang dynasty, which helped to facilitate trade and cultural exchange between the two nations. He also maintained a standing army and was known for his military prowess, having successfully waged wars against several neighbouring kingdoms.

Overall, Harshavardhana’s contributions to society and politics were many and varied. He was a gifted administrator, a patron of the arts and literature, and a devout Buddhist who worked tirelessly to promote the religion. His reign marked a period of great cultural and artistic renaissance in ancient India.

Dr. Rajkumar Singh is a Youth Motivator, presently Professor of Political Science and Dean, Student’s Welfare (DSW), at B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura (Bihar), India. His 23 books published in addition to 900 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries. 

Dr. Rajkumar Singh

Dr. Rajkumar Singh is a University Professor for the last 20 years and presently Head of the P.G. Department of Political Science, B.N. Mandal University, West Campus, P.G. Centre,Saharsa (Bihar), India. In addition to 17 books published so far there are over 250 articles to his credit out of which above 100 are from 30 foreign countries. His recent published books include Transformation of modern Pak Society-Foundation, Militarisation, Islamisation and Terrorism (Germany, 2017),and New Surroundings of Pak Nuclear Bomb (Mauritius, 2018). He is an authority on Indian Politics and its relations with foreign countries.

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