VARDHANAS AND VAKATAKAS

VAKATAKA DYNASTY

• The Vakataka Dynasty ruled parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradhesh from the third to fifth century
• The Vakatakas are mentioned in the Puranas
• The Vakataka Dynasty was founded by Vindhyashakti in 250 CE
• The Dynasty had two branches: Pravapura-Nandivardhana branch and Vatsagulma branch
• The Vakatakas patronised the building of Buddhist viharas and chaityas at the Ajanta Caves

Important Vakataka rulers

• Vindhayashakti (250-270 CE) was the founder
• Pravarasena I (270-330 CE) expanded the realm from Bundlekhand in the north to present Andhra Pradesh in the south
• Harishena (475-500 CE) expanded the kingdom to include Avanti (Malwa) in the north, Kosala (Chattisgarh) in the east, Nasik in the west and Kuntala (southern Maharashtra) in the south
• The rock cut vihara of Ajanta cave XI was built by Varahadeva, a minister of Harishena

HARSHAVARDHANA

Overview

• Harshavardhana (540-647 CE) was a ruler who ruled northern India for 41 years
• The Vardhana dynasty (although formally not known as such) was founded by Harshavardhana’s father, Prabhakar Vardhana
• Harshavardhana was crowned king in 606 CE, at the age of 16
• Harshavardhna rule is important for the stability it brought to northern India following the collapse of the Gupta Empire in the 6^thcentury
• The Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta, is a biography of emperor Harsha. The Harshacharita was the first composition by Bana and the first historical work in Sanskrit
• After Harsha’s death in 647 CE, without any heirs, his empire died with him

Harsha’s rule

• Harsha established his capital at Kanauj
• The extent of Harsha’s territory included Gujarat in the west, Punjab in the northwest, Magadha in the east and the river Narmada in the south
• Harsha was prevented from conquering south of Narmada by Chalukya king Pulakesi II, who defeated Harsha’s army in 620 CE
• Harsha converted to Buddhism
• Harsha was the author of the Sankrit plays Nagananda, Ratnavali and Priyadarsika
• Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Harsha’s kingdom in 636 CE and is a valuable source of information
• Harsha established the fist diplomatic relations between China and India, by sending a mission in 641 CE

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