10.

POST GUPTA PERIOD

BACKGROUND:
 After the decline of Gupta empire, a number of Kingdoms appeared in the North India:
 Maukhari Dynasty in the core Ganga Valley Region.
 Harshavardhan’s ancestors (Pushyabhutis) in western U.P., eastern Punjab with their capitals
at Kannauj and Thaneswar (Panipat-Topara).
 Further east, Shashank (7th century, CE) ruled over Bengal (Gauda).
 In South, after Vakatakas who were contemporaries of Guptas, Chalukyas of Badami ruled
over Deccan and further South was the Kingdom of Pallavas of Kanchi.
PUSHYABHUTI DYNASTY:
 SOURCES:
→ Hieun Tsang’s travel account Si-Yu-Ki, Banbhatta’s Harshacharita and Aihole stone
inscription of Pulkeshin II.
→ Madhuban & Sonpat inscriptions records chronology of Harsha. Banshekhra inscriptions
has a signature of Harsha.
 Pushyabhutis were feudatories of Gupta. They became independent after Huna
invasion.
 Important rulers of this dynasty were:
□ Prabhakarvardhana
□ Adityavardhan
□ Harshavardhana
 Harshvardhan was son of Prabhakarvardhana.
HARSHAVARDHAN (606 CE – 647 CE):
→ During Harshavardhana’s rule, Kannauj was conquered and united with Thaneswar.
→ Harshavardhana attacked Shashank of Gauda Kingdom and established his control over
regions of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha and befriended Bhashkarvarman of Kamrup (Assam).
→ Vallabhi King Dhruvbhata in Gujrat too was defeated and a truce was negotiated with him by
marriage of Harsha’s daughter to Dhruvbhata.
→ He assumed titles of Uttarapathanatha or Uttarapathapati (Lord of the North).
→ While marching southwards, Harshavardhan conquered regions of Malawa and after crossing
Narmada he was defeated by Pulkeshin II in the Battle of Narmada.
→ Harshavardhana was greatly influenced by the personality of Hieun Tsang and organized a
Buddhist assembly at Kannauj under his chairmanship.
→ Hieun Tsang, in his book, has appreciated Harshvardhan’s justice and munificence
(generosity).
→ Harshavardhan, the able military commander and good administrator, died in 647 CE without
heir and is regarded as the last Hindu King to have ruled large part of North India.
→ Hence, his death also marks the end of Pushyabhuti dynasty and beginning of Muslim rule over
North India.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING HARSHAVARDHAN & THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES:

ANCIENT Page 1
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING HARSHAVARDHAN & THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES:
 ADMINISTRATION:
→ Harsha governed his empire on the same lines of Gupta.
→ The basic unit of administration was a village.
→ Offices under the king became hereditary as Harisena who was a ‘mahadandanayaka’,
or Chief Judicial Officer inherited the office from his father.
→ One person could bear more than one office as Harisena also held offices of
‘Kumaramatya’ and ‘Sangrahvigrahika’
→ The ‘sreshti’ (Chief Banker or Merchant), the ‘sarthavaha’ (Leader of Merchant
Caravans), ‘prathamakulika’ (Chief Craftsman), and the ‘kayashthas’ (head of the
scribes) were other important officers of Harsha’s administration.
→ Maintainance of Public Records is important feature of Harsha rule.
 ECONOMY:
→ One-sixth of the produce was collected as tax and was main source of revenue.
→ Taxes imposed on ports, income from mines and tributes from vassals were other
important revenue sources.
→ Overall, the trade and commerce are said to have declined during this phase.
 SOCIETY:
→ According to Hiuen-Tsang, there were castes, a mix of sub-castes, untouchables and also
outcastes, yet, forced labour was absent.
→ The position of women declined during this period as the institution of Swyamvara (the
ceremony of choosing husband) had become dysfunctional.
→ Widow Remarriage was not allowed and Sati & dowry system were prevalent.
 RELIGION:
→ As Harshavardhan was a secular king, all sects of religion peacefully coexisted but
Brahmanism grew more than others.
→ Harshvardhan was Shiva devotee. Later he converted to Mahayana Buddhism.
→ According to Hieun Tsang, Harsha held Allahabad conference once in 5 yrs.
 AGRICULTURE:
→ A patron of art and literature, Harshavardhan patronized the Banabhatta, Mayura,
Matanga Divakara etc.
→ Banabhatta wrote – Harshacharita, Kadambari & Parvatiparinay.
→ Harsha was a poet and composed three Sanskrit plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali, and
Priyadarsika.
→ Harshavardhan held 5 yearly donation (Daan) ceremony at Prayag and donated
munificently in favour of: Administration, Royal Household, Scholars and Religion.
→ Brick temple of Laxamana at Sirpur was built during Harsha rule.
PALLAVAS OF KANCHI:
→ Pallava are identical with the pulindas mentioned in Ashoka’s Inscriptions.
→ Pallavas ruled from Kanchi and Mahabalipuram/Mamallapuram as their capital.
→ Important rulers of the dynasty were –
 MAHENDRAVARMAN I (600 CE – 630 CE):

ANCIENT Page 2
 MAHENDRAVARMAN I (600 CE – 630 CE):
→ He was defeated by Chalukya King Pulkeshin II.
→ Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (temple-maker) Chitrakarapuli (painter),
Vichitrachitta and Mattavilasa were titles used for Mahendravarman I.
→ Mandagapathu inscriptions mentions beginning of rock cut temples
constructions.
→ He was a versatile genius having expertise over painting, music and literature;
composed a satirical drama Mattavilasa Prahasanam in Sanskrit.
→ Music inscriptions at Kudumiamalai were ascribed to him.
 NARSHIMHAVARMAN I (630 CE -668 CE):
→ Narshimhavarman I defeated the Chalukya King Pulkeshin II at the battle of
Manimangalam as per the Kuram copper plate inscriptions.
→ Assuming the title of Mamalla (great wrestler), he founded the great city of
Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram.
→ On conquering Badami (Vatapi), he assumed the title of ‘Vatapikonda’.
→ He sent naval expedition to Sri Lanka and restored the throne of Sri Lankan prince-
Manavarma.
→ Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk Hieun Tsang visited Kanchi during his reign.
 NARSIMHAVARMAN II:
→ Also known as Rajsimha. He assumed titles of Shankarbhakta, Agmapriya etc.
→ He Sent embassies to China.
→ Shore temple & Kailasanatha temple were built during his reign.
→ Dandin- Sanskrit scholar lived in his court.
→ Patronized Perundevannar who translated Mahabharata in Tamil and named
Bharathavenba.
 Other notable rulers were Nandivarman, Parmeshwarvarman I and Parmeshwarvarmn
II.
 ADMINISTRATION:
→ Pallavas promoted agriculture and sea-trade and collected huge wealth which is
reflected in grand temple-architecture of this time.
→ Pallava kingdom was divided into Kottams.
→ In pallava administration land grants were given to Brahmans (Brahmadeya) and to
temples Devadhana and were exempted from taxation.
→ Group of villages were called as ‘Nadu’
→ Group of Nadus were called as ‘Nagaram’ (Organisation of merchants)
→ Group of Nagarams were called as ‘Manadalam’
→ Sabhas (assemblies) consisting of brahmin land owners functioned through smaller
assemblies/committees that looked after irrigation, agriculture, roads, and temples.
→ Non- brahmin land owners’ assemblies were called ‘Ur’.
→ The Pallava inscriptions throw much light on the village assemblies called sabhas and
their committees.
 SOCIETY & RELIGION:

ANCIENT Page 3
 → Four–fold caste system became rigid & Brahmana occupied dominant position as
Pallava were orthodox Brahmanical Hindus.
→ Bhakti Movement received promotion under Pallavas.
→ Shaiva and Vaishnav sages promoted Shiva and Visnu bhakti (devotion).
→ Shaiva sage-poets were called as Nayanars (Important Nayanars: Thirunavukkarasar or
Appar, Sundarar or Sundarmurti, Sambandar, Manikkavsagar)
→ Vaishnav sage-poets were called Alvars (Important Alvars: Perialvar, Andal-poetess,
Nammalvar, Kulashekhar).
→ Pallava period witnessed rise of Saivism & Vaishnavism and decline of Jainism &
Buddhism.
 LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE:
→ Kanchi developed as a great centre of education, culture and trade. The Ghatika
(centres of learning) at Kanchi was very popular.
→ Tamil language and literature along with Sanskrit flourished under Pallavas.
→ Patronage to the saints yielded in the form of development of religious literature.
→ Periyapuranas: Collection of songs in love and devotion of Shiva.
→ Nalayir-Divya-Prabandham: Collection of songs in love and devotion of Vishnu.
→ Under Pallavas, the basic features of the Dravidian architecture i.e., Vimana, Mandapam
and Gopuram became vividly developed.
→ During Pallavas rule temple architecture developed in 4 styles under various kings:
 Under Mahendravarman I, small rock-cut temples were made and were called as
‘manadapas’; examples are Bhairavakonda temple and Ananteswara temple at
Undavalli.
 Under Narsimhavarman I, ‘mandapas’ became
bigger, Mahabalipuram/ Mamallpuram city was founded and a number of
monolithic Ratha (Chariot) temples were constructed like the Panchapanadava
rathas. Important Mandapams are of Varaha, Mahishasuramardhini and
Tirumurthi.
 Under Rajasimha, free-standing or structural temples started to be built. Shore,
Olakkaneshwara and Mukundanayanar Temples in Mahabalipuram and
Kailashnath Temple and Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram were
constructed with this feature.
 Under Nandivarman and later Pallavas, temples continue to be constructed in
Rajsimha style. Matagenswara and Muktheeswara temples are examples of this.
→ The Sittannavasal paintings belonged to this period.
→ Dakshinchitra (Commentary) was compiled during the reign of Mahendravarman I.
→ The Mamandur inscription contains a note on the notation of vocal music.
CHALUKYAS (535 CE – 1190 CE)
→ Founded by Pulakesin I, Chalukyas ruled the extensive Deccan region between 6th and
12th century CE with capital at Badami (Vatapi).
→ Pulakesin I performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
→ The same family also ruled from Vengi (as the Eastern Chalukyas) and Kalyani during some
later time.
→ Chalukyas were involved in continued struggle against Pallavas.

ANCIENT Page 4
PULAKESIN II (608 CE – 642 CE):
→ The Aihole inscription issued by Pulakesin II substantiates that he was most important ruler of
the dynasty.
→ Ravikirti, the court poet of Pulakesin II and composer of Aihole inscription was a Jain.
→ Pulakesin II defeated Harshavardhan and limited his southward expansion till Narmada.
→ He also defeated Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas of Mysore and established his
suzerainty.
→ Pulakesin II emerged victorious against first struggle with Pallavas but he was defeated by
Narasimhavarman I (Vatapikonda) of Pallavas (Kanchi) who captured the capital Vatapi
(Badami).
→ Pulakesin II sent an ambassador to the court of Persian King Khusrau.
→ Huien Tsang, the Buddhist pilgrim from China, visited Chalukyas’ Kingdom during his reign.
→ VIKRAMADITYA I: Pulakesin II was succeeded by Vikramaditya I, who pushed Pallavas out of
Badami and re-consolidated the kingdom.
→ VIKRAMADITYA II: After peaceful and prosperous reigns of Vinayaditya (681-93) and
Vijayaditya (693-733), Vikramaditya II again invaded Pallava kingdom three times, and the
repelled the Arab invasion of south Gujarat.
→ KIRTIVARMAN II: He was the last ruler of the Chalukyas. Dantidurga defeated him to establish
rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
→ After the death of Pulakesin II, in Eastern Deccan, a branch of Chalukyas appeared with capital
at Vengi. They ruled till the 11th
→ During the late 10th century, the descendants of the Chalukyas of Badami, re-appeared and
ruled with Kalyani as their capital (Basavakanlyan, western deccan).
 ADMINISTRATION:
→ Chalukyas was highly centralised unlike Chola and pallava. Units (villages) were in direct
control of central authorities.
→ Chalukyas maintained great naval force and small but well organised standing army that
too was contributed by feudal chiefs.
→ Army officers were put to civil duties whenever an emergency arose.
 ECONOMY:
→ Rocky and infertile land limited the income from land for Chalukyas.
→ Overall decline of trade and commerce in India during this period, therefore the
Chalukyas conducted invasions and plunder of the neighbouring regions.
→ Arab traders were given patronage at the west coast under Chalukyas.
 RELIGION:
→ Chalukyas of Badami practiced Brahmanism but respected other sects of religion too.
→ Expansion of Brahmanism is reflected by building of temples in honour of Vishnu, Shiva
and other gods. While Jainism witnessed expansion, Buddhism declined in Chalukya’s
reign and region.
→ Religious sphere of life became more ritualistic.
 LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE:
→ Chalukyas contributed to the growth of Prakrit language and literature.
→ Ajanta art continued to grow under the patronage of Chalukyas.

ANCIENT Page 5
→ Ajanta art continued to grow under the patronage of Chalukyas.
→ The fusion of Nagara and Dravidian style i.e., Vesara Style of temples started to appear
during Chalukya’s time but they distinctively developed under Rashtrakutas and
Hoysalas.
→ Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal are important centres of structural temples of the
Chalukyas
→ Ajanta (Cave paintings too), Ellora and Nasik have some of the Cave temples of
Chalukya’s times.
→ A number of rock-cut halls (Chaityas) were constructed and granted to Jain monks.
→ Aihole-Badami and Pattadikal groups are two groups of temples of Chalukyas; of these:
→ Ladh Khan temple, Durga temple (a Buddha Chaitya), Huchimalligudi temple and the Jain
temple of Meguti are in Aihole group;
→ The Muktheeswara temple and the Melagutti Sivalaya are at Badami.
→ At Pattadakkal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are 10 temples;
 The Papanatha temple is in Nagara style:
 The Sangamesvara temple and the Virupaksha temple are in Dravidian style.

ANCIENT Page 6
ANCIENT Page 7