Post Gupta Period UPSC Notes for IAS Exam

Post Gupta Period

The Post Gupta period marks a transformative era in Indian history, characterized by political fragmentation and the rise of regional powers. This era witnessed significant cultural and economic developments, shaping the Indian subcontinent’s diverse heritage. Understanding this period is crucial for grasping the complexities of India’s medieval history.

• In 528CE, a consortium of North Indian kings defeated the Hunas, after which they were pushed back to Kashmir, Punjab and western India. Mandsaur Pillar inscription by a Hindu king, Yashodharman, mentions this Battle of Sondani. In this conquest, the Guptas played only a minor role.
• After this, numerous dynasties emerged, including the Maukharis of Kanyakubja(Kannauj), the Guptas of Magadha, the Gaudas of Bengal, the Maitrakas of Valabhi (Saurashtra), the Pushyabhutis of Thaneswar, etc. Many of them were originally feudatories of the Guptas. However, they declared independence as the Gupta’s political influence waned.

• Although North India was divided into numerous kingdoms, in South India, Chalukyas were emerging as a new power in the mid-sixth century. The Pallava-Chalukya contest is discussed in the following Article. This Article shall focus only on the Rise and fall of the Harshvardhan Empire(606 – 647AD).

Pushyabhuti Dynasty

• Gradually one of the post-Gupta dynasties, the Pushybhutis, ruling at Thanesar in Haryana, extended their authority over other feudatories. 
• Banabhatta, the court poet of Harshavardhana, informs us that the founder king of this dynasty at Thaneshwar was Pushyabhuti. After that, a series of able kings consolidated their hold in the Thaneshwar region.
• Prabhakarvardhan was the first Pushyabhuti king to adopt the royal title of Maharajadhiraja. 
• After his death, his elder son and brother of Harsha, Rajyavardhana, ascended to the throne of Thanesar.
• His sister, Rajyashri, married King Grahavarman of Kanauj (Maukhari dynasty). 
• Sasanka, the king of Bengal who ruled from Gauda Region, killed Grahavarman and imprisoned Rajyashri. This caused Rajyavardhana to fight against Sasanka, but Sasanka ended up killing him too.
• In 606AD, the Pushyamitra Nobles backed the 16-year-old Harshavardhana to ascend the throne of Thanesar.