The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)

The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)

Foundation of the Dynasty

• The Pushyabhuti or Vardhana dynasty was founded at Thanesar (Kurukshetra district, Hiuen Tsang) by Pushyabhuti probably towards the beginning of the 6th century.

• Pushyabhuti were the feudatories of the Guptas, but had assumed independence after the Hun invasions.

Prabhakaravardhana (580–605 AD)

• The first important ruler of the dynasty was Prabhakaravardhana (580–605 AD).

Rajyavardhana (605–606 AD)

• Prabhakaravardhana was succeeded by his eldest son Rajyavardhana (605–606 AD).

Rajyavardhana’s Conflict and Death

• Rajyavardhana had to face problems from the day of his succession to the throne.

• Grahavarman, the Maukhari ruler of Kannauj and husband of Rajyashri (sister of Rajyavardhana), was murdered by Deva Gupta (the ruler of Malwa), who, in alliance with Shashanka (ruler of Gaud or North-Western Bengal), now occupied Kannauj and imprisoned Rajyashri.

• Rajyavardhana, therefore, undertook a campaign against Deva Gupta and killed him, but he was killed by Shashanka in 606 AD. In the meantime, Rajyashri escaped into the forests of Central India.

Harshavardhana (606–647 AD)

Accession and Rescue of Rajyashri

• After the killing of Rajyavardhana, his younger brother, Harshavardhana, also known as Siladitya, ascended the Pushyabhuti throne in 606 AD and from this year started the Harsha Era.

• After ascending the throne, Harsha first rescued his widowed sister Rajyashri from the Vindhyan forest, where she was going to throw herself into fire.

Occupation of Kannauj

• Harsha drove out Shashanka from Kannauj, who had occupied it after killing Rajyavardhana.

• He not only unified Kannauj with Thaneswar but also made it his new capital, which made him the most powerful king of North India.

Campaign Against Shashanka

• Harsha thereafter proceeded towards the east against Shashanka with a view to avenging the death of his brother, Rajyavardhana, and brother-in-law, Grahavarman.

• Harsha was not successful in his first expedition against Gaud, but in his second expedition towards the close of his reign, after the death of Shashanka (died in 637 AD), he conquered Magadha and Shashanka's empire.

Diplomacy and Military Setbacks

Alliance with Dhruvasena II

• Harshavardhana defeated Dhruvasena II, the Maitraka ruler of Vallabhi.

• However, Harsha, to secure the safety of the western boundary, reinstated him and gave his daughter in marriage to Dhruvasena II. Dhruvasena II accepted the position of a feudatory vassal.

• It was an important diplomatic achievement of Harsha.

Defeat by Pulakesin II

• The course of Harsha's conquests suffered a serious setback on his expedition towards the Deccan.

• Pulakesin II of the Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi/Vadami inflicted a decisive defeat on him at the bank of the Narmada.

• It was the only defeat of Harsha's victorious life.

• The Chalukya records describe Harsha as the lord of the whole of the Northern country (Sakalottarapatheshvara).

Extent of Empire and Administration

• The area under his control covered many parts of Northern India, Eastern Rajasthan, and the Ganges Valley as far as Assam.

• His empire included territories of distant feudal kings, too.

• Harsha governed his empire on the same lines as the Guptas did, except that his administration had become more feudal and decentralised.

Foreign Relations and Cultural Activities

Diplomatic Relations with China

• Harsha maintained diplomatic relations with China.

• In 641 AD, he sent an envoy to Tai-Tsung, the Tang Emperor of China.

• Three Chinese missions subsequently visited his court.

• Hiuen-Tsang, the celebrated Chinese pilgrim, visited India during Harsha's reign.

• He spent about eight years (635–643 AD) in the dominions of Harsha.

Kannauj and Prayaga Assemblies

Hiuen-Tsang mentions two most celebrated events of Harsha's reign:

• The Kannauj assembly (643 AD) was held in honour of Hiuen-Tsang and to popularise the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

• The Prayaga assembly was held in 643–644 AD.

• In Prayaga, Harshavardhana used to celebrate religious festivals at the end of every five years, at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati.

• It is said that this was the beginning of the Kumbha fair.

Religious Beliefs and Contributions

• Harshavardhana was a Shaiva by faith, but he showed equal respect to other sects.

• Hiuen-Tsang portrays him as a liberal Buddhist (Mahayana) who also honoured the gods of other sects.

• According to Hiuen-Tsang, Nalanda University, meant for Buddhist monks, was maintained by the revenue from 100 villages, which were granted by Harshavardhana.

Death and Succession

• He died in 647 AD.

• Harsha does not appear to have any heir to his throne, which was usurped after his death by his minister named Arunashva.

Literary Contributions of Harsha

• Harshavardhana was not only a patron of learning, but was himself an accomplished author.

• He wrote three Sanskrit plays—Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika.

• He gathered around him a circle of learned men, of whom Banabhatta, the author of Harshacharita (an important historical work narrating the incidents of the earlier part of Harsha's reign) and Kadambari (a poetical novel of great literary merit) and Mayur, the author of Mayur Shataka and Surya Shataka were the well known ones.

• Banabhatta wrote that the King (Harsha) was an accomplished lute player.

States of the Deccan and South India

Chalukyas of Vatapi/Vadami (543–755 AD)

The Vakataka power was followed by the Chalukyas.

• Chalukyas established their capital at Vatapi/Badami in the district of Bagalkot in Karnataka.

• Pulakesin II (609–642 AD) was able to counter Harsha's design to conquer the Deccan.

• The Aihole inscription is an eulogy written by his court poet Ravikirti.

• He sent an ambassador to the Persian King Khusrau II in 625 AD and also received one from him.

• The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang visited his kingdom.

Defeat by Pallavas

• Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman 'Mammala' invaded the Chalukya kingdom, killed Pulakesin II, and captured Vatapi.

• He adopted the title Vatapikond, a I., e., the conqueror of Vatapi.

In 757 AD, the Chalukyas were overthrown by their feudatories, the Rashtrakutas.

Vesara Style/Deccan Style of Architecture

Chalukyan Contributions to Temple Building

• Chalukyas began the Vesara style or Deccan style in building structural temples, which, however, reached culmination only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoyasalas.

Specimens of Chalukyan Temples

• Vesara style:

  • Jinendra temple/Meguti temple - Aihole (Ravikirti)

  • Vishnu temple - Aihole

  • Ladh Khan temple (attributed to god Surya) - Aihole

  • Durga Temple - Aihole

  • Aihole is called a 'town of temples' because it contains about 70 temples.

• Nagara style:

  • Papanatha temple - Pattadakal

• Dravida style:

  • Virupaksha temple and Sangamesvara temple - Pattadakal

Pallavas of Kanchi (575–897 AD)

Origin and Expansion

• There is a controversy regarding the origin of the Pallavas.

• Possibly, the Pallavas were a local tribe who established their authority in the Tondaimandalam, or the land of creepers.

• They were orthodox Brahmanical Hindus and their capital was Kanchi.

Both Chalukyas and Pallavas tried to establish their supremacy over the land between the Krishna and Tungabhadra.

Conquest of Vatapi

• Pallava king Narasimhavarman (630–668 AD) occupied Chalukyan capital Vatapi in about 642 AD and assumed the title Vatapikonda, i.e., conqueror of Vatapi.

Influence in South-East Asia

• Pallavas were instrumental in spreading Indian culture in South-East Asia.

• Till the 8th century AD, Pallava influence was predominant in Cambodia.

• The Pallava type of Shikhara is to be found in the temples of Java, Cambodia, and Annam.

Pallava Art and Temple Architecture

Dravida Style Origins

• Pallavas began the Dravida style of temple architecture, which reached its culmination under the rule of Cholas.

• The Development of Temple architecture, particularly Dravida style, under the Pallavas can be seen in four stages:

Sculptural Contributions

• The Pallavas also contributed to the development of sculpture in South India.

• The Pallava sculpture is indebted largely to the Buddhist tradition.

• It is more monumental and linear in form, thus avoiding the typical ornamentation of the Deccan sculpture.

• The best example is the Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna’s penance at Mammalapuram.

Gupta 'n' Post-Gupta Dynasties and Their Founder

Final Thoughts

The post-Gupta era marked a significant transition in Indian history, with the rise of powerful regional dynasties such as the Pushyabhutis, Chalukyas, and Pallavas. These kingdoms not only contributed to political reorganization but also enriched India's cultural, architectural, and literary heritage.

Leaders like Harshavardhana, Pulakesin II, and Narasimhavarman I demonstrated strategic diplomacy, military strength, and artistic patronage.

The emergence of diverse architectural styles, especially the Vesara and Dravida traditions, alongside literary accomplishments, reflected a vibrant and dynamic period. This era laid a strong foundation for future developments in Indian polity, religion, and art, influencing subsequent centuries.