Post Gupta Age:

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  • 11 Post Gupta Age:
  • 11.1 Harshavardhan Empire:
  • 1. After Gupta empire decline, period of political disorder and disunity in North India. By beginning of 7th century AD, Harshavardhana succeeded in establishing a larger kingdom. Sources of times - Harshacharita (Banabhatta, court poet) and travel accounts (Hiuen Tsang). Dramas written by Harsha - Ratnavali, Naganandam, Priyadarsika.  Also Madhuben plate inscription and Sonpat inscription - chronology of Harsha.
  • 2. Founder of family - Pushyabhuti, they were feudatories of Guptas. Called themselves Vardhanas. Declared independence after Hun invasion. First king of Pushyabhuti dynasty - Prabhakarvardhana, capital Thaneswar. Title - maharajadhiraja, paramabhattaraka. Son - Rajyavardhana and Harshavardhana. RV and brother in law died in petty spat against Malwa and Bengal. HV takes over rescues sister and drives Sasanka (Bengal ruler) from Kannauj - new capital and most powerful in North India. 

  • 3. Harshavardhana - his biography Harshacharita was written by Banabhatta (Also wrote Kadambari and Parvati Parinayam). Xuan Zang (Huien Tsang) spent time at his court. Successful in east, nowhere else.
  • 4. Military conquest - Dhruvsena of Valabhi (defeated him and he became a vassal). Against Western Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II, but Aihole inscription (Sakaluttara padeshwar: Lord of whole north India, harshvardhana)of P2 mentions defeat of Harsha by Pulakesin who assumed title Paramesvara after victory. Against Sindh but no confirmation if successful. Against Kalinga, successful. Basically had strong hold on North India, and peripheral influence on neighbors.
  • 5. Hiuen Tsang converted him to Mahayana Buddhism. Devout Saiva -> Hinayana -> Mahayana. Religious assembly for 23 days at Kannauj to honor Hiuen Tsang, invited reps of all religious sects. Ended in violence and acts of arson. Prayag conference - gave away his enormous wealth to members of all religious sects, so lavish gave away own clothes and jewels (exaggeration?).  Mahamoksha Parishad held regularly at Prayaga. (Every five year).
  • 6. Administration - just and punctual, frequent visits of inspection, 1/6 produce as land tax. Trials were barbarous and superstitious. Larger army than Mauryans. Maintenance of public records called nilopitu - salient feature. Social life - 4 fold division, varna. Position of women not satisfactory - remarriage of widow not permitted, system of dowry common. Trade declined vs economy of Gupta period. Culture - followed Gupta style mostly. Brick temple of Lakshmana at Sirpur. Nalanda (Mahayana, there was a Hinayana uni at Valabhi) became center of learning of international repute under Harsha's reign. Different subjects were taught - religious and general. Difficult entrance, strict discipline.
  • 7. After Harsha, there in no accurate information who was the king. 3rd Chines Pilgrim Itsing (675-685), but no information on king. There was a king Yashovarma ruled Kanauj, around 700 AD, and wrote a book called Ramabhudayam. Bhavabuti in his court, wrote Uttararamacharita, Mahaveercharita and Malati madhavam.
  • 11.2 Pallavas:
  • 1. Pallavas - established kingdom in Tondaimandalam, capital at Kanchipuram. No accepted theory of origin (1) Equated with Parthians (2) branch of Brahmin royal dynasty of Vakatakas of Deccan (3) descendants of Cholas & Nagas. Were feudatories under Satavahanas, became independent in 3 century AD.
  • 3. Early rulers (250-350) - Sivaskandavarman and Vijayaskandavarman (issued charters in Prakrit). Second line - (350-550) Vishnugopa (defeated by Samudragputa) issued charters in Sanskrit. Third line - (575 - 9th AD) issued charters in Tamil and Sanskrit. 
  • 4. Simhavishnu first ruler -> destroyed Kalabhras and established rule in Tondaimandalam, defeated Cholas and extended rule up to Kaveri. 
  • 5. Mahendravarman I (600-630) - long drawn Pallava - Chalukya conflict began during this period. Pulakesin II captured northern part of Pallavas kingdom. Follower of Jainism -> converted to Saivism under influence of Appar. Assumed titles like - Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (builder of temple), Chitrakarapuli (talented in painting), Vichitrachitta (constructed temple for BVM wo bricks, timber, metal), Mattavilasa (work in Sanskrit - Mattavilas Prahasanam). Great builder of cave temples. 
  • 6. Narasimhavarman I (630-668) - known as Mamalla (means great wrestler). Fought and won against Pulakesin II (revenge match), captured Chalukyan capital Vatapi. Assumed title - Vatapikonda. Naval expedition to Sri Lanka, restored throne of prince Manavarma.  Hiuen Tsang came to Kanchipuram (had Buddhist monasteries - Ghatika was great center of learning). Founder of Mamallapuram, monolithic rathas erected. 
  • 7. Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha (695-722) - Regime was peaceful and evinced more interest in art and architecture. Shore temple (Mamallapuram) and Kailasanatha temple (Kanchipuram) were built (structural temples). Scholar Dandin (studied at Kanchi) wrote “Dasha Kumaracharita” was in his court. Titles - Sankarabhakta, Vadhyavidyadhara and Agamapriya. 
  • 8. Chola king Aditya I defeated last Pallava ruler Aparajita and seized the Kanchi region. 
  • 9. Administration of Pallavas - state was divided into Kottams, administered by officials of the king. Land grants to temples - known as Devadhana and Brahmans - Brahmadeya (both were exempt from tax). Irrigation facilities - Mahendravadi and Mamandoor during Mahendravarman I.  
  • 10. Society - tax system became rigid, Brahmins occupied high place in society, responsible for looking after temples. 
  • 11. Religion: Rise of Saivism and Vaishnavism and decline of Buddhism and Jainism. Saiva Nayanars 63 (composed Tevaram) and Vaishnava Alvars 12 (composed Nalayradivyaprabandam) contributed to growth of Saivism and Vaishnavism (composed hymns in Tamil language) - known as Bhakti movement. Construction of temples -> paved way for spread of Saivism and Vaishnavism. 
  • 12. Education - great patrons, Ghatika at Kanchi was popular and attracted students from all over - Mayurasarman (Kadamba dynasty), Dinganga, Dharmapala (Nalanda head). Mahabharata in Tamil - Bharatavenba by Perundevanar (Nandivarman II). Bharavi wrote a book called Kiratarjuneeyam.
  • 13. Art and architecture - Great age of temple building, art of excavating temples from rock introduced. Dravidian style of temple architecture began with Pallava rule. Stage 1 - Mahendravarman I introduced rock cut temples. Siva cave temple at sittanvasal, this temple has murals and paintings. Ananta Shayana cave temple at undavali. Stage 2 - Narasimhavarman I - monolithic rathas and mandapas in Mamallapuram. Pandava Caves, Huge Chariots, each chariot carved out from single rock, Arjuna’s Penace. Stage 3 - Narasimhavarman II - structural temples built by using soft sand rocks. Developed a new style Dravidian Style. Best Temple Shore temple. His temples are found at Mahabali Puram and Kanchi. Stage 4 - also structural temples built by later Pallavas. Sculptures - Open Art Gallery at Mamallapuram imp monument.  Sittannavasal paintings (Jains). Mamundar and Kudumianmalai - inscriptions pertaining to music. 
  • 11.3 Chalukyas
  • 1. Western Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas in Deccan - imp political forces. 
  • 2. Offshoots - eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and Chalukyas of Kalyani. Founder of dynasty - Pulakesin I (asvamedha kiya isne). Capital - Vatami (or Badami, hence Chalukyas of Badami, present day Bagalkote).
  • 3. Pulakesin II (608-642) - most imp ruler. Aihole inscription (composed by Ravikirti) - details of his reign. Achievement - defeat of Harshavardhana on banks of Narmada. Victory against Pallavas, eventually lost to Narsimhavarman I near Kanchi - subsequently Vatapi captured and destroyed by Pallavas. Visit of Hiuen Tsang. Successor was Vikramaditya - consolidated Chalukya kingdom and plundered Kanchi (revenge match again?). Kirtivarman II was last ruler - defeated by Dantidurga, founder of Rashtrakuta dynasty. 
  • 4. Chalukyas - capital at Aihole which developed as a religious center. Pallavas and Chalukyas frequently raided one another's land. 
  • 5. Admin and social life - highly centralized, village autonomy absent. Chalukyas had great maritime power (100 naval ships). Importance to Vedic rites and rituals. Many temples in honor of Vishnu and Shiva were built. Buddhism on decline, Jainism steadily progressing. 
  • 6. Art and architecture - great patrons. Developed Vesara style in building structural temples. Sites - Aihole, Badami (both are first stage), Pattadakal (second stage). Cave temples - Ajanta, Nashik. Important temples out of 70 at Aihole - Ladh Khan, Durga temple (Buddhachaitya), Huchimalligudi temple, Meguti.  Pattadakal - 10 temples here 4 in northern style (Papanatha), 6 in Dravidian (Sangamesvara, Virupaksha).


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