Vardhan / Pushyabhuti Dynasty
Banabhatta has mentioned a person named Pushyabhuti as the founder of this dynasty in Harshcharit.
The first four rulers were Narvardhan, Rajyavardhan, Adityavardhan and Prabhakarvardhan.
Prabhakarvardhan’s elder son was Rajyavardhan and the younger was Harshvardhan. Prabhakarvardhan’s daughter was Rajyashri who was married to Grahvarman, the ruler of the Mokhari dynasty of Kannauj. Prabhakarvardhan is called Hun Deer Kesari. Due to the attack of Huns, Prabhakarvardhan sent his sons but Harshvardhan stayed back to hunt in the Himalayan region. A person named Kurangak informed Harshvardhan that Prabhakarshardhan was ill. Due to this, Harshvardhan returned to the capital Thaneshwar (Har.). Doctors named Rasayan and Sushen were treating Prabhakarvardhan. Prabhakarvardhan’s wife Yashomati became Sati before his death and Prabhakarvardhan also died.
Rajyavardhan refused to sit on the throne upon returning to the capital. At the same time, a person named Samvadhak came and informed that the ruler of Malwa, Devgupta, and the God ruler of Bengal, Shashank, attacked Kannauj killed Grahavarma, and imprisoned Rajyashri in prison.
For this reason, Rajyavardhan became the ruler and attacked Devgupta and killed him, but Shashank killed Rajyavardhan by deceit. This information was given to Harshvardhan by a person named Kuntal. Harshvardhan became the ruler after his commander Singhnath told him so. First of all, the ruler of Assam (Kamarupa) Bharkarvarma sent an envoy named Hansbeg and accepted Harshvardhan’s supremacy.
Rajyashri escaped from the prison and went towards the Vindhyachal region. Harshvardhan saved Rajyashri from Grahavarma’s friend Divakarmitra when she was about to commit sati.
Banabhatta has ended Harshcharit here.
Harshavardhana (606-647 A.D.)
Harshvardhan defeated Dhruvsen, the ruler of Vallabhi (Gujarat). For this reason, Dhruvsen took refuge with the ruler of Bhadoch.
The Chalukya ruler was a vassal of Pulakeshin-â…¡, due to which Harshvardhan fought a war with Pulakeshin-â…¡. This war was fought between 630-634 AD because in the Lohanora inscription (Karnataka) of 630 AD, Harshvardhan’s name is not mentioned in the list of kings defeated by Pulakeshin-â…¡, but in the Aihole inscription of 634 AD, Harshvardhan’s name is mentioned in the list of defeated kings.
Aihole inscription is written on the wall of Megutti temple, its author was Ravikirti. Who has compared himself with Bharavi and Kalidasa.
During the time of Harshvardhan, a Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang, came to India. Hiuen Tsang studied at Nalanda University for 18 months and wrote a book called Si-Yi-Ki, i.e. “Travel to Western Countries”.
Harshavardhana used to organize Mahamoksha Parishad at Prayag after every five years and in the sixth (6th) such Mahamoksha Parishad, Hiuen Tsang was present.
Harshavardhana organised a religious conference at Kannauj in 643 AD which was presided over by Hiuen Tsang.
In the Chalukya inscriptions, Harshavardhana has been called Sakalouttapathanatha, i.e. the lord of the entire North India.
Initially, Harshvardhan was a follower of Shaivism but later became a Buddhist. Harshvardhan’s elder brother Rajyavardhan was also a follower of Buddhism and he has been called Paramasogatta in the inscriptions.
Harshvadhan has written books named Priyadarshika, Ratnavali, and Nagananda in Sanskrit.
Banabhatta wrote a book named Harshacharita which was completed by his son Bhushanbhatta.
End of Vardhan / Pushyabhuti Dynasty
Harshvardhan had no son so with his death the Vardhan dynasty came to an end.