{"id":106993,"date":"2024-05-09T16:49:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T11:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=udaan&#038;p=106993"},"modified":"2024-09-20T15:34:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:04:48","slug":"harsha-administration-military-governance","status":"publish","type":"udaan","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/harsha-administration-military-governance","title":{"rendered":"Governance and Military Administration during Harsha&#8217;s Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Harsha, an emperor of ancient India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ruled with a governance model akin to the Guptas but with a shift towards <\/span><b>feudalism <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/decentralization-local-governance\/\"><b>decentralization<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Revenue was collected through <\/span><b>land <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> cash taxes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while <\/span><b>land grants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were made for state affairs, rewarding officials, <\/span><b>supporting scholars<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and<\/span><b> charitable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> purposes. Harsha&#8217;s era also witnessed stricter criminal laws and the presence of officials like the <\/span><b>Mimamsakas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for dispensing justice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Harsha&#8217;s Reign: Governance and Military Strategy in Ancient India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 19pt;\"><b>A. Administrative Structure and Revenue System<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evolution of Governance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harsha governed on the same lines as the Guptas, though it became more <\/span><b>feudal <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>decentralised.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mantri Parishad: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Emperor was aided by a council of ministers . Key Officials were:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>KEY OFFICIALS\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>ROLE<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>KEY OFFICIALS\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>ROLE<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Avanti\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minister for Foreign Relations and War<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Skandagupta\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief Commandant of Elephant Force<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Simhananda\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commander-in-Chief<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Dirghadhvajas\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Royal Messengers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Kuntala\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief Cavalry Officer<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Mahaprathihara\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief of the Palace Guard<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Banu\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeper of Records<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Sarvagata\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secret Service Department<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revenue Administration: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Hiuen Tsang, the traders had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. <\/span><b>[UPSC 2013]<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Three types of taxes were collected:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Bhaga <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(land tax in kind, which was one-sixth of produce).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Hiranya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (cash tax from farmers and merchants).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Bali <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(not well-documented).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Land Grants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to officials seem to have started during Harsha\u2019s rule. Crown land\/revenue was divided into<\/span><b> four parts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Part I: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for carrying out the affairs of the state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Part II:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for paying the ministers and officers of the crown.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Part III:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for rewarding men of letters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Part IV:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for charity to religious institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial Administration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Harsha&#8217;s time saw<\/span><b> stricter <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/criminal-law-reforms-in-india\/\"><b>criminal laws<\/b> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">than the Gupta era.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Legal System and Punishments: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punishments included banishment, limb cutting, trial by ordeal and life imprisonment (given for violations of the laws and for plotting against the king).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Mimamsakas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These officials were appointed to dispense justice<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Observations of Hieun Tsang : <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though he was robbed, law and order seemed perfect due to strong law enforcement.<\/span><b>[UPSC 2013]<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Buddhist Influence on Penal System: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Principal penalties included <\/span><b>corporal punishment<\/b> <b>for serious offenses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> though it was avoided because of Buddhism\u2019s influence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Maiming: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as punishment for offences against social morality and defiance of law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Hieun Tsang (630-643 AD)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chinese Traveller: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was a <\/span><b>Buddhist monk <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from China who visited India during the <\/span><b>reign of Harsha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. During his travels, he visited various sacred places in northern and southern India.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Name of His Account: \u2018Si-Yu-ki\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Buddhist Records of the Western World).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prince of Pilgrims: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was known as the \u201c<\/span><b>prince of pilgrims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d because he visited important pilgrim centres associated with the life of Buddha.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Studied at Nalanda: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He spent about five years at the <\/span><b>University of Nalanda <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and studied there.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Harsha&#8217;s Reverence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harsha admired him for his deep devotion to Buddha and his profound knowledge of Buddhism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hieun Tsang&#8217;s Sacred Mission: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hieun Tsang carried with him relics of Buddha, Buddha images and manuscripts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>B. Administrative Divisions<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bhuktis: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The empire was divided into multiple <\/span><b>provinces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each province further split into <\/span><b>Bhuktis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Vishayas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each Bhukti was divided into several<\/span><b> Vishayas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each Vishaya was further divided into<\/span><b> Pathakas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Harsha Charita:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mentions <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">officials like <\/span><b>Bhogapathi, Ayuktha, Pratpalaka-purusha, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">etc., overseeing local administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cities and Towns: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Hieun Tsang, India was the land of innumerable villages, numerous towns and big cities, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/mauryan-empire-economy\/\"><b>Pataliputra <\/b><\/a><b>lost its prominence, and its place was taken by Kanauj.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Reasons for the Decline of Pataliputra and Rise of Kanauj:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Commercial Decline:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Trade and commerce, use of coins and tolls declined in Pataliputra during the reign of Harsha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rise of Military Camps: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power shifted to military camps <\/span><b>(Skandhavaras)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and places of strategic importance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic Location: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kanauj was situated in an elevated area which made it a place of strategic importance as it was easily fortified.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was situated in the middle of the doab, which allowed the rulers to control both the east and west wings of the doab.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Charitable Initiatives:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like free hospitals, caring for the sick and poor, and rest houses<\/span><b> (Dharamshala)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for travellers were also established by Harsha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Army: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hieun Tsang mentions the<\/span><b> four divisions (chaturanga) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Harsha\u2019s army. He gives details about the strength of each division, its recruitment system and payment for the recruits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Chatas and Bhatas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were ordinary soldiers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Brihadisvaras:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were Cavalry officers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Baladhikritas and Mahabaladhikritas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were the infantry officers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 97.1849%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 162.242%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.6112%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 111.631%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.6112%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 111.631%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.6112%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 111.631%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following Harsha&#8217;s death, <\/span><b>his kingdom fragmented swiftly into smaller states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. His <\/span><b>governance structure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>revenue system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>judicial administration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showcased a blend of continuity with Gupta traditions and adaptation to changing socio-political dynamics. Moreover, his <\/span><b>patronage of <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/buddhism-indias-soft-power-projection-tool\/\"><b>Buddhism<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, establishment of <\/span><b>charitable institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>military organization<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> left a lasting impact on Indian society and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 99.0541%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 46.8919%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/mauryan-empire-economy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mauryan Empire Economy: Agriculture, Crafts, Trade &#038; Urban Expansion<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 52.1622%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/decentralization-local-governance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local Governance in India: Empowering Democracy Through Decentralization<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 46.8919%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/buddhism-indias-soft-power-projection-tool\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buddhism: India\u2019s Soft Power Projection Tool<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 52.1622%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/criminal-law-reforms-in-india\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overview of Recent Criminal Law Reforms<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","udaan-chapter":[5451],"udaan-subject":[5401],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan\/106993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/udaan"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"udaan-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-chapter?post=106993"},{"taxonomy":"udaan-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-subject?post=106993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}