Harshavardhana and Post-Gupta Kingdoms

After the decline of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century CE, India broke into many regional kingdoms. This period, from about 600 to 900 CE, is important for the UPSC Prelims and the Mains because it shows the rise of regional powers, the growth of temple architecture and the beginning of the early medieval age. In this note, we study Harshavardhana of Kannauj in the north and the three great southern and Deccan powers: the Pallavas, the Chalukyas of Badami and the Rashtrakutas, along with the tripartite struggle for Kannauj. The language is simple, and the tables will help you in quick revision.

Political Situation After the Guptas

When the Gupta power weakened, governors and feudatories became independent. In the north, the Maukharis, the Later Guptas and the Pushyabhutis ruled; in Bengal, Shashanka became powerful; in the Deccan, the Chalukyas rose; and in the far south, the Pallavas of Kanchi grew strong. The common feature of this age was a decentralised polity and the rise of land grants to Brahmins and temples, which created a feudal type of society.

Harshavardhana (606-647 CE)

Harshavardhana belonged to the Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) dynasty of Thanesar. He became the king at the age of 16 after the death of his elder brother Rajyavardhana, who was killed by Shashanka of Gauda. Harsha later shifted his capital to Kannauj and ruled most of northern India. He is the last great Hindu emperor of ancient north India in many history books.

Important Facts About Harsha

• Sources: The Harshacharita by his court poet Banabhatta; the accounts of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who stayed in India for about 15 years and studied at Nalanda; and Harsha's own plays Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda.
• Defeat in the Deccan: Harsha was defeated by Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas on the banks of the Narmada, which stopped his expansion to the south.
• Religion: He was a Shaiva in the beginning and later became a patron of Mahayana Buddhism. He held a great assembly at Kannauj and Prayag (Mahamokshaparishad), where he gave away his wealth every five years.
• Administration: The empire was divided into bhuktis (provinces), vishayas (districts) and villages. The land revenue was usually one-sixth of the produce, and the officers were paid by land grants more often than by cash.
• Education: He patronised Nalanda University, which had thousands of students and teachers.

After the death of Harsha in 647 CE without an heir, his empire broke up quickly. This shows the weakness of a personal empire that did not have a strong bureaucracy.

The Chalukyas of Badami

The Chalukyas ruled the Deccan from Vatapi (Badami) in Karnataka. Their founder was Pulakeshin I, but the greatest king was Pulakeshin II (610-642 CE), who defeated Harsha and also the Pallavas for some time. His court poet Ravikirti wrote the Aihole inscription, which is written in Sanskrit and tells about his victories. Pulakeshin II was later defeated and killed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who took Vatapi in 642 CE.

The Chalukyan art is called the Vesara or the Deccan style, a mix of the Nagara and Dravida styles. The famous temples are at Aihole (called the cradle of Indian temple architecture), Badami (rock-cut caves) and Pattadakal, where the Virupaksha temple was built by Queen Lokamahadevi. Pattadakal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ajanta cave paintings of some caves also belong to this time.

The Pallavas of Kanchi

The Pallavas ruled from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu from the 6th to the 9th century CE. Simhavishnu revived the dynasty. Mahendravarman I (600-630 CE) was a poet and a playwright, who wrote Mattavilasa Prahasana, and he started rock-cut temples. Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) defeated Pulakeshin II and founded the port city of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram). Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchi.

The Pallava art developed in four stages: the Mahendra style (rock-cut mandapas), the Mamalla style (monolithic rathas, the Five Rathas), the Rajasimha style (structural temples) and the Nandivarman style. The Pallavas also gave the world the Bhakti poets: the Alvars (Vaishnava) and the Nayanars (Shaiva) flourished in their time. The Pallava script influenced the scripts of Southeast Asia.

The Rashtrakutas

The Rashtrakutas defeated the Chalukyas of Badami in the 8th century and ruled from Manyakheta (Malkhed). Dantidurga founded the dynasty, Krishna I built the famous Kailasa Temple at Ellora, a single rock-cut monolith, and Amoghavarsha I was a patron of literature, a Jain by faith, who wrote the first Kannada work on poetics, the Kavirajamarga. The Arab traveller Sulaiman called the Rashtrakuta ruler one of the four great kings of the world. The Elephanta caves are also associated with this period.

The Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj

From the 8th to the 10th century CE, three dynasties fought for the control of Kannauj, which was a symbol of imperial power in the Gangetic plain.

None of them could permanently win, and the continuous fighting weakened all three. This opened the way for the Rajputs in the north, and later for the Turkish invasions.

Comparison of the Three Southern Powers

Society, Economy and Religion

This age saw the growth of the agrarian economy and the spread of land grants (agrahara and devadana), which gave rise to feudal landlords called samantas. Trade declined in the north, but the south continued the sea trade with Southeast Asia. Brahmanical religion revived through the Bhakti movement in the south, while Buddhism and Jainism lost the royal support in many areas. Temples became centres of economic, social and cultural life. The caste system became more rigid, and the position of women in public life declined to some extent.

Foreign Contacts and Cultural Spread

The Pallavas and the Cholas later sent merchants, priests and artists to Southeast Asia, and Indian influence is seen in the temples of Cambodia, Java and Vietnam, in the Pallava-Grantha script and in the Ramayana stories of the region. The Arabs conquered Sindh in 711-712 CE, but the Pratiharas stopped them from moving further into the Gangetic plain. Chinese travellers like Xuanzang and Yijing came for Buddhist learning, and their records are the main source for the study of Nalanda, the monasteries and the roads of this period. This contact shows that, even in a time of political division, India continued to be connected with the world through religion, trade and learning.

Practice Questions for Revision

• Q1. Who was defeated by Pulakeshin II on the Narmada? Answer: Harshavardhana.
• Q2. Which Pallava ruler founded Mamallapuram? Answer: Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla).
• Q3. Which temple at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I? Answer: The Kailasa Temple.
• Q4. The Aihole inscription was composed by whom? Answer: Ravikirti.
• Q5. Who wrote the Harshacharita? Answer: Banabhatta.
• Q6. Which dynasty founded the Vikramshila University? Answer: The Palas, under Dharmapala.

Mains angle: you can ask yourself, "Why did the post-Gupta period see the rise of regional powers?" and write the answer with three points: weak central authority, land grants creating local power, and the growth of regional languages and cultures.

How to Remember for the Exam

• Link each dynasty with one capital, one great king and one monument.
• Remember the pair of rivals: Harsha vs Pulakeshin II, and Pulakeshin II vs Narasimhavarman I.
• Remember the sources: Banabhatta and Xuanzang for Harsha, Ravikirti's Aihole inscription for Pulakeshin II.
• Use a timeline: Harsha (606), Pulakeshin II's reign, the Rashtrakuta rise (about 750) and the tripartite struggle (8th-10th centuries).

Read this note along with our notes on the Gupta Empire and the Sangam Age and Chola Empire to complete the south Indian chain.

Quick Revision

• Harsha: capital Kannauj, defeated by Pulakeshin II, sources Harshacharita and Xuanzang.
• Chalukyas: Badami, Aihole inscription, Pattadakal, Vesara style.
• Pallavas: Kanchi, Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I, Shore Temple.
• Rashtrakutas: Manyakheta, Kailasa temple at Ellora, Amoghavarsha I.
• Tripartite struggle: Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas for Kannauj.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was Harshavardhana?

Harshavardhana (606-647 CE) was the ruler of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, with his capital at Kannauj, and he ruled most of northern India after the Gupta decline.

Which Chinese traveller visited India during Harsha's rule?

Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited India during Harsha's rule and studied at Nalanda.

Who defeated Harshavardhana?

Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas of Badami defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada.

What is the Aihole inscription?

It is a Sanskrit inscription composed by Ravikirti, the court poet of Pulakeshin II, which describes his victories.

Who built the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram?

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.

Who built the Kailasa Temple at Ellora?

The Rashtrakuta king Krishna I built the Kailasa Temple, a monolithic rock-cut temple at Ellora.

What is the Vesara style?

Vesara is the Deccan style of temple architecture developed under the Chalukyas, a mix of the Nagara and the Dravida styles.

What was the tripartite struggle?

It was the long fight between the Palas, the Gurjara-Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas for control of Kannauj from the 8th to the 10th century CE.

Which book describes the life of Harshavardhana?

The Harshacharita, written by his court poet Banabhatta, describes the life of Harsha.

Where is the capital of the Rashtrakutas?

The Rashtrakutas ruled from Manyakheta, now called Malkhed in Karnataka.

Who founded Vikramshila University?

The Pala king Dharmapala founded Vikramshila University.

Why is the post-Gupta period important for the UPSC?

It shows the rise of regional kingdoms, feudalism and temple architecture, which are asked in the Prelims and are useful for the Mains on Indian culture.