THE POST - GUPTA PERIOD ( AD 550 - 750 )

Ruling Dynasties of North India

The Maukharis

They held the region of Western Uttar Pradesh around Kannauj had conquered a part of Magadha . Isanavarman and his son Sarvavarman were powerful rulers of this dynasty and had adopted the title of Maharajadhiraja . 

The Maitrakas

1. They established a kingdom in Saurashtra with Vallabhi as capital . Under the able guidance of Bhatarka , Vallabhi not only became a seat of learning and culture , but also a centre for trade and commerce . 

2. Dhruvasena II was the most important ruler of Maitrakas . 

The Gaudas 

They ruled over a territory in Bengal and were quite lesser known as of the four kingdoms . Its most powerful ruler was Shashanka . He invaded Makhauri's , killed Grahavarman and imprisoned Rajyasri . He even treacherously murdered her brother Rajyavardhan , the ruler of Thaneshwar . 

The Pushyabhutis 

Their capital was at Thaneshwar . The most important ruler of the dynasty was Prabhakara-Vardhan . He assumed the title of Parama-bhattarak Maharajadhiraja . Harshavardhana belonged to this family . 

The Hunas 

It was a barbarious race , which came to India from Central Asia . They established their supremacy in North India . Toramana was their oldest ruler and Mihirakula , the most uncultured one . 

Harshavardhana (AD 606-647) 

1. Harshavardhana was the younger son of Prabhakaravardhana . Hiuen-Tsang gave account of his reign , in his book , Si-Yu-Ki . Bana's Harshacharita , inscriptions , coins and Harsha's own writings i.e. Ratnavali , Priyadarshika and Nagananda , are other authentic sources of Harsha's era . 

2. Shashanka , the ruler of Gauda killed Grahavarman ( Maukhari ruler ) in alliance with Devagupta and imprisoned his wife Rajyasri ( Harsha's sister ) . Later Rajyavardhana killed Devagupta , but he was assassinated by Shashanka in AD 606 . 

3. The news of the death of Rajyavardhana reached his younger brother Harshavardhana , who now coronated himself in AD 606 and proceeded to avenge his brother's death and release his sister . From this year started the Harsha era . 

Conquests 

1. He is said to have established his control over '5 indies' - Orissa , Gauda , Mithila , Kanyakubja and Svarstha ( Panjab ) . Harsha defeated Dhruvasena II Baladitya , the Maitraka ruler of Vallabhi ( Gujarat ). He conquered Kongoda Ganjam ( Orissa ) and offered its 80 township as a gift to a local Buddhist Monk Jayasena . 

2. Harsha was defeated by Pulakesin II on the banks of river Narmada . This is mentioned in Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II authored by Ravikirti , who describes Harsha as the Lord of Northern country ( Saka Lottara Patheshvara ) . Mostly , the feudatories seem to have accepted his suzerainty . The Chinese ruler , Tsang , sent three embassies to Harsha's court . 

Administration

1. Harsha shifted his capital from Thaneswar to Kannauj . He governed his empire on the same lines as the Guptas did , except that his administration became more feudal and decentralized  

2. Land grants continued to be made to priests for special services rendered to the state . 

3. The Harsha empire was divided into provinces called Bhuktis . Bhuktis were further subdivided into Visayas ( districts ) . Visayas were divided into Tehsils or Pathaks , Pathaks and villages or grama . 

4. He shifted his capital from Thaneshwar to Kannauj . 

Society 

1. This period witnessed the ascendancy of Varnashrama dharma and the existence of various sub-castes called Varnasamskaras . 

2. The position of women further declined . The institution of svayamvara declined that re-marriage of widows was not permitted . The system of dowry became common . There are only few references of the practice of committing Sati . 

Religion 

1. Harsha was primarily a worshipper of Shiva , but he was tolerant to other religions as well . In his later life , he became a great patron of Buddhism . 

2. He endowed the land grants to the priests of both Hindu and Buddhist religions . 

3. He convened a grand assembly at Kannauj to widely publicise the doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism . He is said to have erected many Buddhist Stupas on the banks of the Ganga and a number of monasteries at the sacred places of the Buddhists . 

Two Assemblies 

The two great assemblies under Harsha are as follows : 

Kannauj 

1. At Kannauj , Harsha arranged a big assembly of 20 kings , 4000 monks acquainted with Buddhism , 3000 Brahmins and Nirgranthas ( Jains ) and 1000 scholars from all over India . 

2. It was presided over by Hiuen-Tsang . For three weeks , topics of Mahayana Buddhism were discussed . This was a shot in arms of Mahayana Buddhism . 

Prayag (Allahabad) 

1. Quinquennial distribution by the king to the people was held at Prayag . Here a great assembly for 75 days was held . 

2. The images of Buddha , Sun and Shiva were publicly worshipped and gifts of valuable articles and clothing were given to about 50 lakh persons belonging to all faiths . 

3. Hiuen-Tsang was invited by Harsha to witness his 6th quinquennial distribution of slms and gifts ( Maha Moksha Parishad ) at Prayag . 

4. Hiuen-Tsang writes that Harsha actually gave away everything in the royal treasury and became a monk . 

Literature

1. Harsha was an avid lover of literature and he himself wrote three dramas : Ratnavali , Nagananda and Priyadarshika . 

2. He patronised Banbhatt , a great scholar who wrote Parvati Parinay , Harshacharita and Kadambari . Haridatta and Jayasena were also patronised by Harsha . Hiuen-Tsang wrote Si-Yu-Ki and his biography was written by Hui-li . 

Economy 

1. Economy became more feudal and self-sufficient.

2. The decline of trade and commerce caused decline of trade centres , paucity of coins and almost complete disappearance of guilds of traders . Agricultural and handicraft production decreased . 

3. Emergence of Jajmani System i.e. self-sufficient village economy where all the needs were met from within the village . 

Ruling Dynasties of South India 

After the decline of the Satavahanas , the Vakatakas and Ikshavakus rose to power . 

The Vakatakas

1. The founder of the Brahman dynasty was Vindhyasakti . His son was Pravarasena I . 

2. Pravarasena I was the first Vakataka rules , who called himself a Samrat and conducted wars with Haga kings . 

3. His successor Prithvisena was probably a contemporary of the great Gupta emperor , Samudragupta . 

4. Chandragupta II , Vikramaditya is said to have given his daughter , Prabhavati , in marriage to the Vakataka King , Rudrasena II . 

5. Harisena , who belonged to a minor branch of the Vakataka dynasty , reigned towards the close of the AD 5th century . The Vakataka power was destroyed by the Kalachuris and the Kadambas toward the middle of the AD 6th century . 

Ikshavakus

After the fall of the Satavahanas , there arose the Ikshavakus in the Eastern part of the peninsula . They built monuments at Nagarjunakonda and Dharanikonda . They began providing lands as grants in the Krishna-Guntur region , where their copper-plate charters have been found . Their rule ended with their conquest by the Pallavas . 

Chalukyas

The Chalukyas grew powerful in the Deccan towards the middle of the AD 6th century . They were probably Kshatriyas from Ayodhya . The dynasty had two branches viz . Vatapi ( Badami ) and Kalyani . 

Chalukyas of Vatapi ( Badami ) 

1. The rule of this dynasty began in the early AD 6th century and its first two rulers were Jayasimha and Ranaraja . But the first independent ruler was Pulakesin I ( AD 535-556 ) . 

2. He got built the fort of Vatapi in Bijapur district of Karnataka . 

3. The famous ruler of the dynasty was Pulakesin II ( AD 611-642 ) also known as Satyashraya , who was a contemporary of Harshavardhana of Kannauj . 

4. From the Aihole inscription , by his court poet Ravikirti , in Sanskrit it comes to light that there was much external and internal disturbance , which he overcame with little effort . The greatest achievement of Pulakesin II was his victory over Harshavardhana in AD 620.

5. Vikramaditya II ( AD 733-746 ) once more defeated the Pallava kings. But his son Kirtivarman II ( AD 746-757 ) lost Maharashtra to the Rashtrakuta Chief, Dantidurga and the sovereignty of the Chalukyas came to an end in about AD 757.

Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi 

1. This dynasty was founded by Pulakesin II's brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana. 

2. Vijayaditya III (AD 848-892) is credited with victories over the Pallavas, the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas. The power of the Eastern Chalukyas was weakened in the AD 10th century and they became the allies of the Cholas Kulothunga Chola annexed the kingdom in 1076. 

Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (AD 793-1190) 

The kingdom was re-established by Taila II in AD 973 , when he defeated the last Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha IV . 

Some Important Rulers 

1. Satyasraya ( AD 997-1008 ) His 11 years reign was disturbed . It had disastrous war with great Chola Raja I . 

2. Somesvara I ( AD 1042-1068 ) It was involved in a Protracted War with the Cholas and was finally defeated by the Chola ruler , Virarajendra , in the Battle of Kudai . 

3. Somesvara II ( AD 1068-1076 ) A tyrannical ruler , was overthrown by his brother , Vikramaditya II . 

4. Tribhuvanamalla ( AD 1076-1126 ) The hero of Bilhana's Vikramankadevacharita . He was undoubtedly the greatest ruler of the Western Chalukyas . He introduced the Chalukya-Vikrama era ( AD 1076 ) . He is said to have sent an embassy to Ceylon . 

5. With the death of Jagadekamalla II , the Chalukyas power was eclipsed and the throne was usurped by the Kalachuri minister of war , Vijjala or Vijjana . 

Achievements of the Chalukyas 

1. The Central Government under the Chalukyas of Badami exercised a paternalistic control over the village administration which is unlike the administrative practice of South India . 

2. The army of the Chalukyas consisted of a small standing army , but looked after civil administration whenever the need arose . They patronised education and learning . They promoted both Sanskrit and Prakrit . 

- A famous Chalukyan feudal lord Gangaraja Durvinita wrote a famous book on Grammar known as Shabavatara . He also translated the book Brihatkatha written by Gunadya into sanskrit . 

- Udayadeva wrote a grammar book known as Jainendra Vyakarana . 

- Somadeva Suri wrote the book Vitivakyamrita about morality . 

- Bilhan , a sanskrit writer , wrote Vikramdeva Charita and the poem Chaurapanchasika . 

- Vijnanesvara wrote the Mitaksara . 

3. Through , Chalukyas were Brahmanical Hindus , they promoted other religions also . Jainism made much progress under them . 

4. The Aihole inscription of Pulakesin is written in sanskrit language . The courts later Chalukyas kings were adorned by great scholars like Bilhana and Vijnanesvara . 

5. Hiuen-Tsang visited the country during the time of Pulakesin II . 

Pallavas Dynasty

1. The Pallavas were possibly a local tribe , who established their authority in the Tondai Nadu or the land of creepers . 

2. After the fall of Satavahanas , the Pallavas established a powerful kingdom in South India . The Pallavas with their capital at Kanchi , South of Madras . 

3. Simha Vishnu ( AD 575-600 ) Extended the Pallava kingdom up to the river Kaveri.

4. Mahendravarman I ( AD 600-630 ) It was defeated by the Chalukyan king , Pulakesin II and with this started the great struggle between the Pallavas and their Northern enemies , the Chalukyas of Vatapi , for the mastery of Southern India . The struggle continued for several generations . 

5. He patronised the Saint Appar and the scholar Bharavi . He wrote a famous satirical play called Mattavilasa Prahasana.

6. Narasimhavarman I ( AD 630-668 ) He is regarded as the most successful Pallava king . 

7. In AD 642 , he occupied the Chalukyan capital , Vatapi , and probably killed Pulakesin II . He assumed the title Vatapikonda . It was during his reign that the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang is reported to have visited Kanchi , known as Mamalla . He founded the city of Mamallapuram ( Mahabalipuram ) and the famous rock-cut temples .

8. Paramesvaravarman II He defeated Chalukya Vikramaditya II . 

9. Nandivarman II Vikramaditya II again invaded and captured the Pallava capital . Nandivarman II had to purchase peace by giving his daughter in marriage and paying a huge ransom . During his reign , several old temples were renovated and new one like the Vaikunta perumal temple at Kanchi were constructed . 

10. Successors : Dantivarman ( defeated by Rashtrakuta king , Govinda III ) Nandivarman III , Nripatunga and Aparajita ruled in succession as independent rulers , but the last Pallava ruler Aparajita Pallava ( AD 879-897 ) was defeated by Aditya Chola by the end of the 9th century with , which began the Chola supremacy in South India . 

11. The period circa AD 600-850 marks the second historical phase in the South , which was divided mainly between the Pallavas , Chalukyas and Pandyas . 

Conflict between the Chalukyas and the Pallavas

1. The main interest in the political history of peninsular India from the 6th to the 8th century centres round the long struggle between the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Chalukyas of Badami for supremacy . 

2. The Pandyas , who were in control of Madurai and Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu , joined this conflict as a poor third . 

3. The Pallavas and the Chalukyas quarrelled with each other for plunder , prestige and territorial resources . 

4. Both tried to establish supremacy over the land lying between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra . 

5. The first important event in this long conflict took place in the reign of Pulakesin II ( 609-642 ) , the most famous Chalukya king . In his conflict with the Pallavas , he almost reached the Pallava capital , but the Pallavas purchased peace by surrendering their Northern provinces to Pulakesin II . 

6. Pulakesin's second invasion of the Pallava territory ended in failure . The Pallava king Narasimhavarman ( AD 630-668 ) occupied the Chalukya capital at Vatapi in about AD 642 , when Pulakesin II was probably killed in fight against the Pallavas . 

7. Narasimhavarman assumed the title of Vatapi-konda or the Conqueror of Vatapi . 

8. The Chalukya king Vikramaditya II ( AD 733-745 ) is said to have over run Kanchi three times .In AD 740 , he completely routed the Pallavas .