Administration of Harhsa

In an oriental despotism the sovereign is the center of the state and the success of the administration
depends on his ability and benevolence.

The success of Harsha's administration is testified by Hiuen- Tsang. He was highly impressed by the
character of Harsha's civil administration, which he considered to be founded on bening principles.
Instead of relying on the services of trained bureaucracy, the king personality supervised the
administration, constantly toured the provinces and extended justice to all.

The royal tours were not merely confined to urban areas, but rural areas also received equal
attention. The tours were conducted in the manner of state processions accompanied by music and
drums during marching. No other king was allowed to use such "music pace drums".

During the tours he punished the evil doers and established contact with the people. The tours were
only suspended during rainy season. In this way he need to keep contact with public opinion.

He took upon himself the duties of a royal inspector and listened to complaints inspected general
working of the administration and also made donations.

King:

King occupied the highest position in the administration. King used to adopt the titles of 'Param-
Bhattarak', 'Parmeswar' 'Paramdevta', 'Maharajadhiraj' etc. The king was despot and absolute and
enjoyed the supreme position in the state. But in practice, he enjoyed limited power, being subject to
the rules of the Dharma, the laws and customs of the land, and to the wise advice of the ministers
and courters.

He had also to respect the wishes of the subjects. The king was no doubt the supreme law-marker,
the chief executive, and the fountain of justice. He was the central figure of the entire administrative
machinery working like its pivot. But they never misused their unlimited power.

In the field of liberality and charity on king can equal him much less surpass him. The king
appointed Samantas and other officers. Bana has described Harsha as the incarnation of all the
Gods. He led the army in the battle field. Harsha made a tour of the whole country for the welfare of
the people.

He travelled frequently in order to keep himself informed about the condition of the people and to
make himself accessible to them.

These tours also gave him opportunity to supervise the administration. In the later half of his reign,
he spent most of his time in these tours from place to place.

He took upon himself, as-it were, the duties of a royal inspector Hiuen-Tsang writes that "he was
indefatigable and the day was too short for him. Like Ashoka, he was ever prepared to work for the
good and welfare of the people.

Officers:

There was a council of ministers to assist Harsha. They were called 'Sachiv' or 'Amatya". The Chief
Sachiv of Harsha was Bhandi and Sandhi Vigrahak was 'Avanti' Sighavad was his senapati. Skanda
Gupta was also one of the ministers who were the Senapati of elephant's wing of army.
It is known from Madhuvan inscription that Governor was called "Rajasthaniya". 'Vishavapati (Head
of the District), Uparika (Head of the province). Kumaramatva were other officers. Dr R. S. Tripathy
gives the following list of Harsha's Ministers:

(1) Mahasandhivigrashikrita (Minister of War and Peace)

(2) Mahabaladhikrita (Officer in Supreme Command in the area)

(3) Baladhikrita (Senapti or Commander)

(4) Brihadavavara (Head of Cavalry Officer)

(5) Katuka (Commandant of the Elephant Force)

(6) Pathi (Superintendent of Soldiers Barrack)

(7) Chata-Bhata (Irregular and regular soldiers)

(8) Yama-Cetis (Women watchers at night)

(9) Duta (Ambassador)

(10) Rajsthaniya (Foreign Secretary)

(11) Kumar Matya (Counsellor of the Prince)

(12) Uparika (Official tittle of the Governor of province)

(13) Vishavapati (The head of Vishaya or, Morden district)

(14) Daussadhanika (Superintendent of villages)

(15) Bhogika or Bhogapati (One responsible for the collection of stale produce)

(16) Mahapratihara (Chief Warden)

(17) Mimansak (Justice)

(18) Akshapatralika and Dukula (Keepers of the Records)

These names show that Harsha's administration was sweet and sound. The administration was
feudal in nature. Hiuen-Tsang writes the officers were assigned land.

Army:

Harsha had built up a vast empire. The safety and security of such an empire needed a big army. It is
due to this reason that Harsha had paid his special attention to the maintenance of a big and strong
army.

The basis of recruitment in the army was bravery and merit. The profession of a soldier had become
hereditary. The son of a soldier also joined the army as a soldier. "According to Hiuen-Tsang,
Harsha's army consisted of 6000 elephant and 100,000 cavalry.

There were a large number of camels also in his army. The Samantas and the friendly kings also
provided bands of soldiers. For example, Kamrupa king had met Harsha along with 2000 elephants.
According to Bana, Harsha received a large number of elephants in gifts from Samanta kings. Harsha
were purchased from Sind, Afghanistan and Persia.

Infantry, cavalry and elephants were the three main branches of Harsha's army. The use of chariots
was not prevalent. Some of the inscriptions of that time make mention of Naval forces also.

Mahasandivigrahadhikrita was the chief officer if the military department. He was entitled to make
war and peace. Mahabaladhikrita was the officer who organised the army.

The officers known as Baladhikrita, Senapati, Patasva Pati, Katuka Pati etc. worked under the
subordination of Mahabaladhikrita.

Police Department:

The Police Department of Harsha was very efficient. It worked like modern police department. The
names of the officers of this department are some what similar to the officers of the Gupta period.
Following were some of the officers of the police department:

(1) Dandapashika.

(2) Dandika.

(3) Chaurodvaranika.

(4) Yama Cheti

Intelligence Department:

There was fine system of spies who turned throughout the state and secretly detected the crimes.

Criminal Law: The criminal law was more severe than that of the Guptas. The criminals were
punished with imprisonment or, mutilation of limbs. Ordeals by fire, water and poison were restored
to determine the guilty of innocence of accused persons.
Provincial Administration:

The Empire of Harsha was divided into several provinces which were known as 'Bhukti'. These
'Bhuktis' were further divided into Visayas (districts) and Visayas were divided into several
'Pathakas' (Tehsils). Village was the smallest unit)' of administration.

The provincial ruler or head to the province was called "Uparika" The Visava was called "Visayapati".
There was Dandika Chaurodvaranika. Dandapasika etc. to help the rulers of province and district.

Village Administration:

The head of the village was called 'Grainika'. An official called 'Mahattar' was appointed to look after
the village. He used to be either some salaried officer or some respectable man. Bana has referred to
an officer called 'Agraharika' who probably looked after the lands given in charity.

Akshapatalika' was an official like the modern Patavari. However, Gramika and 'Asthakula Adhikari'
were the Chief Officers of the village administration. According to Dr. Dasaka, 'Asthakuladhikaran,'
was empowered to inspect as many as eight small departments.

Revenue Administration:
Hiuen Tsang praises the revenue system of Harsha. In general, taxation policy was liberal. The
people were not subjected to appressive Economic measures. The cultivators paid only one- sixth of
their produces as taxes. It is known from the Madhuvana copper plate that the king's dues from a
village were of two kinds.

One was the Tulya-Meya or, the taxes depending on the weight and measures of the things sold. The
other was the Bhaga-Bhaga-Kara-Hiranyadi or the share of the produce, taxes and payments in cash
from other source of income. The sources of income were:

(1) Udranga (a type of Land Revenue)

(2) Uparika (Taxes besides the regular fines)

(3) Hirenya (Gold)

(4) Ordinances.

Money was also realised by imposing fines. But dusties on goods were light. Mines and buried
Treasures were considered as the property of the king.

Expenditure:

Regarding the expenditure incured by the state Watts says that "the income of the state was divided
into four parts. One part was for the expenses of the Government and state worship, from the second
was disbursed the salaries of the slate official.

Third part was spent to reward the high intellectuals and the last for acquring religious merits by
various sects".

Out of this income, Harsha spent money for building rest houses and hospitals for the benefit of the
people. The soldiers and smallers of the state were paid in cash.

Diplomacy:

Harsha was a diplomat. He made a treaty of alliance with Bhaskarvarman of Kamrupa; which
exposed Sasanka to attack from two fronts. The martimonial alliance with Dhruvasen caused a rift
between the Northern Gujara kingdom of Valabhi and the Southern Gujara kingdom of Dada who
was a feudatoty of the early king Pulakessin-II. Harsha was impressed by Hiuen Tsang's description
of the power of the Chinese emperor and in his turn send an envoy his Court.

Religious Toleration:

In the field of religions Harsha followed a policy of religious toleration. Difference religion flourished
during this period. Vedic or Brahmanical religion had made a great progress by this time and
Buddhism was slowly and gradually moving towards its decline.

Vedic religion which made progress during Gupta period further progressed during Harsha's reign,
Bralunanism had divided into much philosophy, and Sankhya philosophy was progressing and
attracting a large number of followers. Bana in his 'Kadambari' has mentioned Mukhari, Shaiva,
Parashari, and Bhagavat. Kapila, Kanada, Upanishadas, Panchatantrick etc. But during Harsha's
reign the Saiva religion had made great progress: The worship of Siva allowed at different places in
the form of Keleshwara, Bhadreswar, Maheswara etc.

The worship of Bishnu, Sun, Shakti was also allowed simultaneously. To perform various rituals was
considered as a sacred duty by the people. The people of that time were perfectly free to practice their
faiths as they liked. In order to avoid controversies and religious dagmaticism. Harsha held to great
religious assembles, named Prayag Assembly and Kanauj Assembly. In this Assembly he used to give
all his wealth in charity.

During the quinquennial assembly at Parayag, he also worshipped the Sun, Siva and Buddha. He also
made gifts to the Brahmans at Prayag. Hiucn-Tsang writes that during the religious procession at
Kanauj, He used to dress as Sakra (Indra). The royal seals and his inscription depict him as a Siva.

Towards the end of his reign he learnt towards Buddhism due to his bossom contact with Hiuen-
Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim. So Harsha represented this kind of liberal spirit of his time.

Education and Literature under Harsha:

Besides being a great conquer and a religious minded and generous king, Harshavardhan was also a
great lover of education and learning. He supposed to be the author of 'Ratnavali', 'Priyadarshika'
and 'Nagananda'.

The Chinese pilgrim I-Tsing has stated that Harsha was exceedingly found of literature and that he
put in verse the story of Buddhisattva Jimutavahan. The poet Jayadeva had also referred to Harsha's
accomplishment as a poet. In his book 'Gita Govind'. Jaidev has compared Harsha with Kalidas.

Harsha a great patron of education and scholars. According to Dr R.K. Mookherjee "By his liberal
patronage or learning. Harsha attracted to his court some of the best men of letters of those days.
The chief of them was 'Bana' himself".

Bana Bhatta, author of 'Harsha Charita' and 'Kadambari' was his court poet. Hiuen-Tsang writes that
one fourth of the revenue of the kingdom was spent on promotion of learning Hiuen-Tsang writes
that Harsha was impressed by the erudite scholarship of a man in Magadha named Jayasena and
offered him the revenue of eighty towns. Harsha highly honoured Hiuen- Tsang, foreigners for his
erudition.

The famous scholar Dandi was also the contemporary of Harsha; but he wrote his literary works
'Dasakumar Charita' and 'Kavadarsha' after the death of Harsha. His patronage made Nalanda, the
greatest Buddist University in Asia. In spite of the administrative duties he proved to be a writer of
no small merit. In this respect he is more fortunate than Samudragupta.

Glory of Nalanda during Harsha's reign:

The glory and progress of Nalanda had reached its climax during the reign of Harsha. Harsha had
donated a lot of money to Nalanda for its development. Dr R. S. Tripathy says: Harsha also made
significant endowment to Nalanda, the great centre of Buddhist culture.

One of his gifts to this university consisted in the construction of a magnificent Vihar or temple
covered with brass plates by the side of the principal monastery, about one hundred feet in height".

Hiuen-Tsang wrote that, there were about 10 thousand students in the university. During the visit of
Hiuen-Tsang. Nalanda was comprised of a group of six monasteries; five of which were constructed
by Gupta and one by a king of Madhaya Desha.

The latter was probably Harshavardhana. Besides monasteries, there were 8 Alayas and 300 rooms.
The buildings of Nalanda were excellent from the point of view of architecture and sculpture.

It is know from the Hiuen-Tsang's account that Harsha had donated. 100 villages to Nalanda. 10,000
students were on the rolls of the University. Students from China, Mongolia Korea. Tibet etc. came to
study in this university'. There was very hard test for admission into the University.
 There were 1570 teachers in Nalanda, 10 of which were regarded as the best available in that period.
The teaching of Buddhist religion was performed with great ability and Sincerity'.

The atmosphere of the University was very peaceful and conductive to the study of different subjects.
Buddhist and Vedic philosophy, Law, science. Medicine and fine arts were taught. The head of the
University was Silvadra; a scholar of great eminence.

Special attention was given to the discipline of the students and a high standard of discipline was
maintained. The students of Nalanda were looked upon as models by all India.

There was a big library known as "Dharmaya Yogya" in the Nalanda University. The three other
notable libraries were named as Ratna Sagara or. Sea of Gems, Ratnodadhi or.

Ocean of Gems, and Ratna Ranjaka, or Collection of Gems. Among the able teachers of Nalanda
University the names of Shilavadra, Dharmapala, Gunamati, Chandrapala, Sthriman, Gyan Chandra,
Kamal Shila etc, are most prominent.

The Nalanda University of Harsha's time was a bright example of ancient India's academic
excellence. Regarding the glory of Nalanda, a scholar has highly remarked: "Nalanda was glory in
itself".

Harsha was an administrator of no mean Calibre and his Government based on beings principles.
The king worked to do Justice to the people. Harsha was a great ruler and patron of arts and
literature Ashoka said in his inscriptions, "All men are my children. Harsha also pursued that ideal.

Regarding Harsha Dr. R. C. Majumdar has observed - "A great general and a just administrator, he
was even greater as patron of religion and learning. He gathered himself the finest intellect and
holiest sages. Men like Bana. Mayura, Divakara and Hiuen-Tsang thranged round his throne.

In this respect he is more fortunate than Samudragupta. For we still possess some Gems of literature
then proceeded, according to tradition, from his pen". So Harsha was undoubtedly one of the
greatest kings of India.

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