The Post-Gupta Period

  • The political scene in India was bewildering from the decline of the Guptas until the rise of Harsha.
  • Northern India was divided into four kingdoms: the later Guptas of Magadha, the Maukharis (the region of Western UP around Kannauj), the Pushyabhutis (Thaneswar North Delhi) and the Maitrakas. (The Maitrakas were of Iranian origin. They ruled in Gujarat and developed Vallabhi as their capital.)
  •  The Pushyabhuti dynasty was founded by Pushyabhuti. Their capital was Thaneshwar (Haryana).
  •  Prabhakaravardhana assumed the title of Paramabhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja.
  •  He has two sons, Rajyavardhana and Harshavardhana and a daughter Rajyashri, who was married to the Maukhari king Grahavarmana.
  •  After the death of Prabhakaravardhana, it was Rajyavardhana who ascended the throne.
  •  Grahavarmana was killed by the ruler of Malwa.
  •  Rajyavardhana defeated the king of Malwa. On his return Rajyavardhana was killed by Shashank (king of Gauda).
  •  After his death, Harshavardhana ascended the throne with the title of Shiladitya.
  •  Harshavardhana was defeated by Pulakesin II, the Chalukya king of Badami.
  •  Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited India during his reign.
  •  Harshacharitam was written by Banabhatta, his court poet.
  •  Harsha apparently was a devotee of Surya and Shiva but, under the influence of Hiuen Tsang, he was converted to Mahayana Buddhism.
  •  Harsha himself wrote three Sanskrit plays Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika.
  •  In AD 641, Harsha sent an embassy with Hiuen Tsang to the Chinese emperor.
  •  He used to feed 500 Brahmins along with Buddhist monks’ daily.
  •  He died in AD 647.
    Nalanda University
  •  The Nalanda University received patronage of the great emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj and the Pala rulers.
  •  The famous Chinese pilgrims, Hiuen Tsang and Fa-Hien, were among the distinguished students of the Nalanda University. Hiuen Tsang received here the Indian name Mokshdeva.
  •  The Chalukyas grew powerful in the Deccan towards the middle of the sixth century AD. The dynasty has two branches, viz. Vatapi (Badami) and Kalyani.
  •  The Chalukyas of Vatapi ruled during 550–753 AD. After a lapse of 200 years, the rule of the second branch of the Chalukyas of Kalyani began. Their reign lasted for about 200 years.
  •  Pulakesin I, Kirtivarman I, Pulakesin II and Vikramaditya were the important rulers of this dynasty.
  •  Pulakesin I is regarded as the real founder of this dynasty.
  •  The most famous ruler of this dynasty was Pulakesin II. He defeated Harshavardhana.
  •  Pallava is a Sankrit word meaning “tender shoots and leaves of a plant”.
  •  The Pallava dynasty was founded by Simhavishnu.
  •  Simhavishnu ruled over the land between the Krishna and the Kaveri.
  •  He was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Bharavi visited his court for some time.
  •  Famous rulers of the Pallavas: Mahendravarman I (AD 600-630), Narasimhavarman I (AD 668-70), Paramesvara Varman I (AD 668-70), Narasimha Varman II (AD 695722), Nandi Varman II (AD 730-95).
  •  The name Mamallapuram, the city of Mamalla, is derived from the title of the Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I (AD 630-68), an acclaimed wrestler who was famously called as Mamallan. There is some evidence of architectural activity going back to the period of Mahendravarman I (AD 600-30).
  •  During the reign of Narsimhavarman, the Chalukyan king Pulakesin II attacked the Pallavas and was badly defeated in three successive battles.
  •  Narasimhavarman carried the battle into the Chalukya territory and, capturing the capital Vatapi, assumed the title Vatapikonda.
  •  Narasimhavarman II built the Kailasnath temple at Kanchi.
  •  Dandin, the writer of Dashkumaracharitam, lived in his court for some time.