Question

What was the contribution of Harsha Vardhana to Buddhism?

Answer 1

Harshavardhana, popularly known as Harsha, made Kanauj the seat of his power in AD 606 and from there he extended his authority in all directions. We come to know about him from his biography, Harshacharita by Banabhatta, his court poet and also from the accounts of Hieun Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim. Soon after acquiring power, Harsha shifted his capital from Thanesar to Kanauj in order to administer the Ganga basin better. He conquered Punjab, eastern Rajasthan and the Ganges valley. Harsha was a great patron of art and learning. He, himself, was a good writer. He wrote three plays- Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda. His court was adorned by scholars such as Banabhatta, Dandin and Subandhu. Also a patron of the University of Nanda, Harshavardhana was one of the greatest rulers India has seen.