Gupta Period | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Samudragupta's Expansion (Prayag Prashasti):

• Samudragupta merged Yaudheya Republic into the Gupta Empire according to Prayag Prashasti.

Pushyabhuti Dynasty:

• Pushyabhuti/Vardhana Dynasty founded by Pushyabhuti, with the capital Thaneshwar (Thanesar), Kurukshetra.
• Sthaneshwar temple constructed by Pushyabhuti, later renovated by Maratha Sadashiv Rai.
• Pushyabhuti conferred with the title Parammaheshwar.
• Six rulers under Pushyabhuti Dynasty, with Naravardhana, Rajyavardhana I, Adityavardhana, and Prabhakarvardhana being prominent.

Naravardhana's Rule:

• Naravardhana established power in Thanesar Pratigana during the downfall of the Gupta period.
• Naravardhana, called Maharaj in inscriptions.

Rajyavardhana I:

• Worshipper of the Sun, assumed the title of Maharaja.
• Married to Apsara Devi.

Adityavardhana:

• Maharaja and Paramdivya Bhakta.
• Married Mahasen Gupta, daughter of Gupta ruler Damodar Gupta.

Prabhakarvardhana's Rule (580-605 AD):

• Powerful ruler with titles Maharajadhiraj Param Bhattarak and Pratapashil.
• Extended kingdom from Punjab to Maru Pradesh (Haryana).
• Defeated Huna rulers, conquered Lat, Malav, Sindh, and Gandhar.
• Appointed sons of Malav King, Raja Mahasena Gupta, as attendants.
• Died in 605 AD.

Rajyavardhana-II (605-606 AD):

• Eldest son of Prabhakarvardhana and Queen Yashomati.
• Fought war with Huns, killed in 606 AD by Devgupta and Gaurraj Shashank.

Harshavardhana (606-647 AD):

• Became ruler after Rajyavardhana II's death.
• Coronation in 612 AD, assumed title of Rajputra and nickname Shiladitya.
• Made Kannauj the second capital in 636 AD.
• Defeated Devagupta, Shashank, and made Ganjam part of Thanesar.
• Administration divided into provinces (Bhukti); small units were villages.
• Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang visited India in 629 AD, lived in Thanesar from 635 to 644 AD.
• Harsha's last attack on Ganjam on the East coast.
• Copper currencies of Harsha period and Indo Dirhams found in Sonipat.
• After Harsha's death in 647 AD, Haryana was ruled by Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.