Political History of Northern India

SR No.: 001744
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 482
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Culture
File Size: 10 MB

Page 47

THE DYNASTIES OF MADHYADESA
Harsa was not only a ruler but he was also a celebrated author and liberal patron of learning. Among the literary luminaries of his court Bāna, Mayūra and Manatunga have been frequently referred to in Jain literature. There are several interesting stories regarding the cordial relation between him and Bāna and Mayūra. Bāna is said to be the son-in-law of the poet Mayüra. Mayūra was the celebrated author of Süryaśataka. Harsa himself was a good poet. Söddala invariably mentions him along with the other poet kings, (Kavindraiśca Vikramaditya-Śrīharşa-Muñja-Bhojadevādibhüpālaih.) The Jain poet Svayambhū of the 8th century mentions Sri Harşa as a poet well versed while his court poet Bāna as verbose. Svayambhū says: 'Siriharisen Niyaunitti', which reminds us of the line 'Sriharso Nipuno Kaviriti' of the famous dramatic work Nāgānánd which is supposed to have been composed by King Harsa himself. Sriharsa mentioned by this carly poet of the eighth century A.D. cannot be the later poet Sri Harsa, a famous author of Naişadhiya carita who is obviously much later in age than the poet Svayambhū himself. In the Prabhāvaka-carita of the thirteenth century A.D. Vārāṇasi is mentioned as the capital of Sri Harsa. A suggestion may be made here that it might have been regarded as a second capital city of Harsa."
II YAŠOVARMAN AND HIS SUCCESSORS
Yašovarman: The Jainas have no record of the death of Harsa and of his successor on the throne of Kanauj. The earliest monarch whose name has been recorded in literature and also in the Nälandā inscription after the death of Harsa is Yaśovarman. On the career and exploits of this king sufficient light has been thrown by two well known works, viz., Gaudavaho of Vākpati and
1 P.C., p. 44: P O RT -qfosat........... #T: FICART et
लब्धप्रतिष्ठावभूताम्। PC A., p. 112: AHTarafa PPS., P. 15: TT git af ATT TA HETATI TET PETIT Tat Etat
तदनुरूपं बाणनामानं कविमुद्वाहिता। 2 GOS., XI, p. 150 3 Svayambhu, Ritthanemicariu, I, 144 4 SJGM, XIII, p. 112: qzt arrola ATETEA 1a: get,
तत्र श्रीहर्षदेवाख्यो राजा न तु कलंकभृत् । 5 EI., XX, pp. 39-40.