King Harshavardhana (590-647 CE):
Harshavardhana or Harsha, was an ancient Indian emperor in the classical period. He ruled a large
part of northern and eastern India, from modern-day Uttar Pradesh to Bengal. Harsha belonged to
the Vardhana dynasty who defeated the foreign Alcon Huns in India. He made Kannauj his capital
until his death in 647 CE.
The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting
scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide. Harsha belonged to the Kshatriya (warrior)
caste of Hinduism.
After the fall of the Gupta empire around 543 CE, northern India was divided into small kingdoms
and republics. Harsha united these small republics from Punjab to eastern India, and their
representatives crowned him king at an assembly in April of year 606 giving him the title of
Maharaja, at the age of just 16. Harsha established an empire that brought most of north and east
India under his control.
Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha, and wrote a very favourable account of him,
praising his justice and generosity.
According historical sources king Harsha was had a multifaceted approach to religion as he became
older. He was born as a Shaivite Hindu, but became highly interested in Buddhism in his later years
and helped sponsor many building projects in favour of Buddhist pilgrims. Harsha himself was
devout follower of Lord Shiva, one of the most powerful Hindu gods. Harsha may have become a
convert to Mahayana Buddhism later in life, though many historians dispute this.
In 641 he sent an envoy to the Chinese emperor and established the first diplomatic relations
between India and China.
During his 41-year reign Harsha built thousands of hospices and rest houses for poor people across
the Ganga river.Harsha was also a talented writer, and is widely believed to be the author of three
Sanskrit plays - Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyadarshika.
His biography Harshacharita ("Deeds of Harsha") was written by the famous Sanskrit poet
Banabhatta.
King Harsha and his empire was defeated by a south Indian emperor named Pulakeshin II of the
Chalukya dynasty, when Harsha tried to extend his empire to the south.
Harshavardhana was an emperor who was special in his own ways, he contributed to Indian literature,
earned famous victories in wars and set an example of charity and kindness to people throughout his
empire regardless of wealth, religion, caste or tribal identity. He is an ancient example for modernday leaders in India today.