Ancient History of India - 4

Post Gupta Period

Later Gupta Period (6^th Century – 7^th Century)

They are known as ruler of Magadha. Patliputra was the capital of this dynasty.
There are known rulers given follows :- 

• 1^st Ruler: - Krishnagupta - The founder of later gupta. He was the first king of Later Guptas. Daughter of Krishnagupta was married to Adityavarman (King of Maukhri Dynasty).
• 2^nd Ruler: - Harshagupta
• 3^rd Ruler: - Jivitagupta I- He was grandson of Krishnagupta. He carried out military campaign in the Himalayan Region and Southwestern Bengal.
• 4^th Ruler:- Kumargupta- He was son of Jivitagupta. During his reign, they developed the rivalry with Maukhris. He defeated Ishanavarman (the ruler of Maukhri) in 554 AD. He was died at Prayag (at present Allahabad, U.P.). 
• 5^th Ruler:- Damodaragupta – He was son of Kumaragupta. He was defeated by Maukhris. 
• 6^th Ruler:- Mahasenagupta – He was son of Damodaragupta. He allied with the Pushyabuthi Dynasty. His sister married to Adityavardhana (ruler of Pushyabuthi Dynasty). He invaded Kamarupa in East and defeated the ruler Susthita Varman. He was faced the 3 invaders i.e. Maukhri King Sharvavarman, Kamarupa King Supratishthitavarman and Tibet king Srong Tsan. Shashank (Mahasenagupta’s feudatory) abandoned him and later established Gauda Kingdom. After this situation, He had to run away and take the shelter in Malwa. Then Harsha (Pushyabhuti King) restored the Later Gupta rule in Magadh and they ruled as feaudatory of Harsha.
• 7^th Ruler:- Madhavagupta
• 8^th Ruler:- Adityasen- He was the first great Later Gupta ruler and known as sovereign ruler. He got the title of Maharajadhiraja and imperial Gupta after death of Harsha. He was expanding the dynasty from Ganga River (North) to Chota Nagpur Plateau (South) and Gomati river (East) to Bay of Bengal (West). In this duration, He was defeated by Chalukyas.
• 9^th Ruler: - Devagupta (Maharajadhiraja)
• 10^th Ruler: - Vishnugupta (Maharajadhiraja)
• 11^th Ruler: - Jivitagupta II- He was last ruler of this dynasty and defeated by Yashovarman (Kannauj’s Ruler)

Pushyabhuti dynasty / Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD- 647 AD)

• Pushyabhuti or Vardhana Dynasty was founded at Thaneswar (Karnal district, Haryana) by Pushyabhuti.
• The first important ruler of the dynasty was Prabhakaravardhan (580 – 605 AD).
• Prabhakaravardhana was succeeded by his eldest son Rajyavardhana (605 – 606 AD).
• Rajyavardhana had to face problems from the day of his succession to the throne. Grahavarman, the Maukhari (Maukhari King) and husband of Rajyashri  (sister of Rajyavardhana) was murdered by Deva Gupta (Malwa King) who in alliance with Shashank (Gauda King or Northwestern Bengal) now occupied Kannauj and imprisoned Rajyashri.
•  Rajyavardhana, therefore, undertook a campaign against Deva Gupta and killed him bu he was killed by Shashanka in 606 AD. In the meanwhile Rajyashree escaped into the forests of Central India.

 Harshavardhana (606 – 647 AD)

• After the killing of Rajyavardhana, his youngest brother, Harshavardhana also known as Siladitya, ascend 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 Vindhyan Forest, where she was going to throw herself into the fire.
• Harsha thereafter, proceeded toward the east against killing of Rajyavardhana. He not only unified Kannauj with Thaneshwar but also made it his new capital, which made him the most powerful king of North India.
• He defeated Shashank in second campaign and conquered Magadha and Shshank’s Empire.
• He defeated Dhruvasena (Maitraka king of Vallabhi). However, Harsha, in order to secure the safety of the western boundary, reinstated him and gave his daughter in marriage to Dhruvasena II who were accepted the position of feudatory vassal. It was important diplomatic achievement of Harsha.
• He was defeated by Pulekeshin II (Chalukya King of Vatapi/Badami) in Deccan Region. It was the only defeat of Harsha’s victorious life. The Chalukya records describe Harsha as the lord of whole of Northern country (Sakalottarapatheshvara).
• Area controlled under Harsha:- Northern India, Eastern Rajasthan and Ganges Valley as far as Assam. His empire included territories of distant feudal kings too.
• Harsha maintained diplomatic relations with China.In 641 AD, he sent an envoy to Tai- Tsung (Tang King of China). Three Chinese mission subsequently visited India during Harsha’s reign.
• During his reign, Hsuan- Tsang /Xuanzang visited India and spent about 8 years (653 – 643 AD) in the dominions of Harsha.
• Hsuan-tsang two most celebrated events of Harsha’s reign the assemblies at Kannauj and at Prayaga.
• Kannauj Assembly (643 AD) was held in  the Honour of Hsuan- tsang and to popularize Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
• Prayaga Assembly (643-644 AD) :- Harshvardhana used to celebrate religious festivals at the end of every 5 years, at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati. It is said that this was the beginning of Kumbha Mela.
• Harshavardhana was the devotee of Shiva but he showed equal respect to other sects. Hsuan-Tsang portrays him as a liberal Buddhist (Mahayana) who also honored gods of other sects.
• According to Hsuan- Tsang, Nalanada University, meant for Buddhist monks, was maintained by the revenue from 200 villages which granted by Harshvardhana.
• After died in 647AD, harsha does not appear to have any heir to his throne, which was usurped after his death by his minister named Arunashva.
• Harshavardhana was known for Patron of learning and accomplished author too. He wrote 3 sanskrit plays – Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarsika.
• Banabhatta (poet, author) wrote Harshcharita (Deed of Harsha) and Kadambari.
• Bhartrihari (Sanskrit writer) wrote 3 satakas (centuries) i.e. Nitisataka, Smagarasataka and Vairagyasataka (jointly called Satakatraya)

Deccan and South India

Chalukyas of Vatapi/Badami (543 – 755 AD)

• The Vatakas power was followed by Chalukyas.
• Chalukyas established their capital at Vatapi/Badami in the district of Bijapur in Karnataka.
• Pulakeshin II (609 – 642 AD) was able to check Harsha’s design to conquer Deccan.
• Aihole Inscription is an eulogy written by his court poet Ravikirti.
• He exchanged ambassadors with Persian King Khosrau II in 625 AD.
• The Chinese pilgrim Hsuan-tsang visited his Kingdom.
• Pallava Ruler Narsimhavarman ‘Mammala’ invaded the Chalukya Kingdom and killed Pulakeshin II and captured Vatapi. He adopted the title Vatapikonda (Conqueror of Vatapi).
• In 757 AD, Chalukyas were overthrown by their feudatories, the Rashtrakutas.

Vesara Style/ Deccan Style

• Chalukyas began the Vesara Style or Deccan style in bulding structural temples, which however, reached culmination, only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoyasalas.
• Specimens of Chalukyas Temples
• Vesara Style: - Meguti Temple- Aihole (Ravikriti), Vishnu Temple- Aihole, Lad Khan temple- Aihole  ; Aihole is called ‘town of temple’ because it contains about 70 temples.
• Nagara Style:- Papanatha temple- Pattadakal
• Dravid style:- Virupaksha temple and Sangamesvara temple – Pattadakal.

Pallava Dynasty (575-897 AD)

• Capital - Kanchipuram
• Languages - Prakrit, Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu.
• Religion - Hinduism.
• Hsuan-Tsang visited Kanchi in 640 AD.
• Both Chalukyas and Pallavas tried to establish their superemacy over land between Krishna and Tungabhadra.
• Chola, Kadambas and Kallabhras were the rivalries of Pallavas.
• Pallava King Narsimhavarman (630-668AD) and assumed the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi).
• Pallavas were instrumental in spreading Indian Culture in South-East Asia. Till the 8^th 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.
• Narsimhavarmana I also known as Mamallan (the great wrestler) and Mamallapuram (name of town Mahabalipuram) was named after him. There was a temples i.e. Mandapa Temple and Ratha Temples built during his reign.
• Pallavas began the Dravida Style of temple architecture, which reached acme under the rule of Cholas.

The development of temple architecture, particularly Dravida style, under the Pallavas :

• Mahendravarmana I – Kokarneshwarar Temple (T.N.), Avanibhajana Pallaveshram Temple (T.N.)
• Narsimhanavarman I – Mandapa Temples and Ratha Temples at Mammalapuram/ Mahabalipuram/ Seven Pagoda in Tamil Nadu.
• Narsimhavarman II :- Kailashnath and Vaikunth Perumal Temple at Kanchi, Shore Temple at Mammalapuram (T.N.)
• Nandivarmana ‘Aparajit’ :- Mukteshwar and Matangeshwar Temple at Kanchi, Parshurameswar Temple at Gundimallam.

Post Gupta Dynasties and their founders

• The Chalukyas of Vatapi – Jayasimha
• The Gangas of Talakad – Konakanivarma
• Later Gupta of Magadh - Krishnagupta
• Kadambas of Varanasi – Mayurasharman
• Kingdom of Gaud – Shashanka
• Kingdom of Thaneshwar – Pushyabhuti
• Maitrakas of Vallabhi – Bhattarka
• Maukhris of Kannauj – Yajnavarman
• Pallavas of Kanchi – Simhavarman
• Pandyas of Madurai – Kodungon
• Vakatakas – Vindhyashakti

Some Related Posts :-

Rulers of Magadha 

Other Regional Kingdom of Magadha

Foreign Invaders in Ancient Times

Sangam Period in South India

Early Medieval India