Who is harisena and tell about his king?
Answers
Harisena was a Sanskrit poet who belonged to the Gupta period. And about his king, Samudragupta encouraged artists, musicians and poets in his royal court.
Harisena was an early writer of Kāvya poetry; Arthur Berriedale Keith says of it, "Harisena's poem bears expressly the title Kavya, though it consists both of prose and verse. Its structure is similar to the delineation of kings adopted in the prose romances of Subandhu and Bana".
Other works attributed to either this author (or others by the same name) includes Apabramsa Dharmapariksa, Karpuraprakara (Suktavall), the medical treatise Jagatsundari-Yogamaladhikara, Yasodharacanta, Astahnikakatha and Brhatkathakosa. He was also the chief minister of Samudragupta's empire. Harishena had a great interest in playing the lute with his friend Samudragupta.
Harishena had also played an important role in the marriage of Samudragupta with Dattadevi.
Not only was he pronouced for his artistic literary but also for his loyalty, compassion and respects towards his kings, who were the rulers of the Gupta period.
His famous works included ,Prayaga Prashasti , Ajanta Caves.Brihatkatha kosh and to name a few.
He died in Pataliputra. After that, much information regarding him had gradually disappeared.
The first two rulers of the Gupta Age - Sri Gupta and his son Ghatotkacha is obscure. So, it is believed that the shed of Gupta empire started from under the reign of Chandragupta-I.
Chandragupta-I was believed to the one of the most independent formidable rulers of this period with the crowning title of "Maharajadhiraja" or "the king of kings". After declaring his independence in Magadha, which was one of the most prosperous countries with wealthy population and once being mentioned by the great chinese pilgrim Fa-hein, Chandragupta-I extended his empire through matrimonial alliance by marrying a Lichchhavi princess, Kumaradevi. This event is recorded in a series of gold coins issued by Chandragupta-I.
Harisena was mostly prevailed as the court poet of Samudragupta, the son of Chandragupta-I.
The office of the sandhivigrahika(minister of peace and war) first appeared under Samudragupta and Harisena held this title.
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription or Prayaga Prashasti is one of the important epigraphic evidences of the Imperial Guptas. Composed by Harisena, this inscription of great value, was written in praise of Samudragupta. Besides, it provides an impressive list of kings and tribal republics that were conquered by Samudragupta.
He was also the mastermind behind the Ajanta Caves.
He was the writer of the profolic poem Brihatkatha kosh.
He died in Pataliputra. After that, much information regarding him had gradually disappeared.
Harisena was one of the most remarkable figure of the imperial Gupta Age. He was a Sankrit poet of 4th Century. He was also termed as panegyrist.