Harsa

Political, Administrative, Cultural & Religious Aspects

Harshavardhana belonged to which dynasty?
a) Gupta
b) Vardhana
c) Maurya
d) Nanda
✅ b) Vardhana
👉 Harsha established the Vardhana dynasty after the fall of the Guptas.
The capital of Harsha’s empire was:
a) Pataliputra
b) Thanesar
c) Kannauj
d) Ujjain
✅ c) Kannauj
👉 He shifted his capital from Thanesar to Kannauj.
Harsha ascended the throne in:
a) 580 CE
b) 606 CE
c) 620 CE
d) 632 CE
✅ b) 606 CE
👉 After the death of his brother Rajyavardhana.
Harsha's brother was killed by:
a) Devagupta of Malwa
b) Shashanka of Bengal
c) Pulakesin II
d) Bhaskaravarman
✅ a) Devagupta of Malwa
👉 With support from Shashanka.
Harsha's empire extended from:
a) Kashmir to Tamil Nadu
b) Punjab to Bengal
c) Himalayas to Vindhyas
d) Odisha to Maharashtra
✅ c) Himalayas to Vindhyas
👉 His influence did not reach south of the Narmada.
Harsha was defeated by which South Indian ruler?
a) Narsimhavarman
b) Pulakesin II
c) Mahendravarman I
d) Krishnadevaraya
✅ b) Pulakesin II
👉 In a famous battle on the banks of Narmada.
Which Chinese pilgrim visited Harsha’s court?
a) Fa-Hien
b) I-tsing
c) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
d) Wang Hiu
✅ c) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
👉 He stayed for several years and described India in detail.
Hiuen Tsang referred to Harsha as:
a) Devaputra
b) King of India
c) Shiladitya
d) Samrat
✅ c) Shiladitya
👉 Harsha was known as Shiladitya in his court.
Hiuen Tsang came to India during:
a) 5th century
b) 6th century
c) 7th century
d) 8th century
✅ c) 7th century
👉 He visited during 630–645 CE.
Harsha held religious assemblies at:
a) Prayag
b) Varanasi
c) Kannauj
d) Nalanda
✅ a) Prayag
👉 Every 5 years, known as Prayag Assembly or Maha Moksha Parishad.
The famous Nalanda University flourished under:
a) Samudragupta
b) Chandragupta II
c) Harsha
d) Skandagupta
✅ c) Harsha
👉 He was a major patron of Nalanda.
Harsha’s religious inclination was towards:
a) Jainism
b) Vaishnavism
c) Shaivism
d) Mahayana Buddhism
✅ d) Mahayana Buddhism
👉 Though born a Hindu, he later patronized Buddhism.
Who was Harsha’s court poet?
a) Bhasa
b) Kalidasa
c) Banabhatta
d) Bharavi
✅ c) Banabhatta
👉 He wrote Harshacharita and Kadambari.
Harshacharita was written in:
a) Sanskrit
b) Pali
c) Prakrit
d) Tamil
✅ a) Sanskrit
👉 A biography of Harsha by Banabhatta.
The book Kadambari is:
a) Drama
b) Biography
c) Prose romance
d) Vedic hymn
✅ c) Prose romance
👉 Written by Banabhatta, completed by his son.
Harsha ruled for around:
a) 10 years
b) 20 years
c) 41 years
d) 60 years
✅ c) 41 years
👉 From 606 to 647 CE.
Harsha convened a grand assembly of scholars at:
a) Nalanda
b) Ujjain
c) Prayag
d) Varanasi
✅ a) Nalanda
👉 To discuss Mahayana Buddhism.
Hiuen Tsang stayed in India for about:
a) 1 year
b) 3 years
c) 7 years
d) 15 years
✅ d) 15 years
👉 He traveled extensively across northern India.
Harsha’s empire disintegrated after:
a) Death of Pulakesin II
b) His conversion to Buddhism
c) His death without heir
d) Invasion by Arabs
✅ c) His death without heir
Harsha's army included:
a) Cavalry only
b) Infantry, cavalry, elephants
c) Navy
d) Mercenaries
✅ b) Infantry, cavalry, elephants
Harsha's rule is considered a:
a) Religious theocracy
b) Centralized bureaucracy
c) Decentralized feudal state
d) Democracy
✅ c) Decentralized feudal state
Harsha built monasteries mainly for:
a) Shaivite saints
b) Hindu scholars
c) Buddhist monks
d) Jain monks
✅ c) Buddhist monks
Which of these texts did Harsha himself write?
a) Harshacharita
b) Priyadarshika
c) Arthashastra
d) Mudrarakshasa
✅ b) Priyadarshika
👉 Harsha wrote three Sanskrit plays: Ratnavali, Nagananda, and Priyadarshika.
Harsha's literary works are in:
a) Pali
b) Sanskrit
c) Prakrit
d) Kannada
✅ b) Sanskrit
Harsha convened a religious assembly at Kannauj to honor:
a) Banabhatta
b) Xuanzang
c) Buddha
d) Brahma
✅ b) Xuanzang
👉 As a gesture of respect and unity.
Harsha's court was known for its:
a) Rituals
b) Cultural vibrancy
c) Military parades
d) Revenue reforms
✅ b) Cultural vibrancy
The title ‘Sakala Uttrapatha Nath’ was assumed by:
a) Ashoka
b) Samudragupta
c) Harsha
d) Pulakesin II
✅ c) Harsha
👉 Meaning "Lord of the North".
Harsha’s policy toward religion can be described as:
a) Intolerant
b) Fanatical
c) Eclectic and tolerant
d) Pro-Jain
✅ c) Eclectic and tolerant
Harsha gave tax-free land grants to:
a) Farmers
b) Officers
c) Brahmins and monasteries
d) Soldiers
✅ c) Brahmins and monasteries
Harsha sent embassies to which foreign court?
a) Rome
b) China (Tang dynasty)
c) Sri Lanka
d) Persia
✅ b) China (Tang dynasty)
👉 Xuanzang acted as his envoy.
Hiuen Tsang studied at:
a) Takshashila
b) Valabhi
c) Nalanda
d) Vikramashila
✅ c) Nalanda
Harsha's empire included:
a) Entire India
b) North India
c) South India
d) Only Bengal
✅ b) North India
What kind of coins did Harsha issue?
a) Silver only
b) Gold, silver, copper
c) Lead coins
d) Paper money
✅ b) Gold, silver, copper
👉 Showing Hindu deities despite his Buddhist leanings.
Which Buddhist council was held under Harsha’s patronage?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) None
✅ d) None
👉 No council was held, but he organized large religious assemblies.
Xuanzang’s account is known as:
a) Si-yu-ki
b) Rajatarangini
c) Harshacharita
d) Arthashastra
✅ a) Si-yu-ki
Harsha appointed which governor for Bengal?
a) Bhaskaravarman
b) Shashanka
c) Rajyavardhana
d) Kumargupta
✅ a) Bhaskaravarman
👉 After defeating Shashanka.
Which Gupta feature continued under Harsha?
a) Prakrit language
b) Samanta system
c) Mauryan art
d) Megasthenes' tradition
✅ b) Samanta system
👉 Local rulers served under central king.
Harsha's court was multilingual but preferred:
a) Tamil
b) Sanskrit
c) Prakrit
d) Pali
✅ b) Sanskrit
Xuanzang described India as:
a) A chaotic land
b) A prosperous Buddhist society
c) War-ravaged
d) Caste-less
✅ b) A prosperous Buddhist society
Harsha’s military campaign in south failed due to:
a) Famine
b) Pulakesin II’s resistance
c) Sea barriers
d) Army rebellion
✅ b) Pulakesin II’s resistance
Harsha was a contemporary of which Chinese ruler?
a) Taizong
b) Kangxi
c) Wudi
d) Qin Shi Huang
✅ a) Taizong
👉 Emperor of Tang dynasty.
Harsha’s successor was:
a) Rajyashri
b) Banabhatta
c) No clear successor
d) Harisena
✅ c) No clear successor
👉 Empire broke into smaller kingdoms.
Harsha gave patronage to which university?
a) Nalanda
b) Ujjain
c) Takshashila
d) Vikramashila
✅ a) Nalanda
Harsha was called "Uttarapathesvara" meaning:
a) Ruler of east
b) God of wisdom
c) Lord of northern India
d) Brahman leader
✅ c) Lord of northern India
Harsha’s court language was:
a) Hindi
b) Pali
c) Sanskrit
d) Urdu
✅ c) Sanskrit
Harsha's plays were mostly:
a) Romantic and religious
b) Comedies
c) Secular
d) Scientific
✅ a) Romantic and religious
Harsha maintained diplomatic relations with:
a) Persia
b) Rome
c) Tang China
d) Sri Lanka
✅ c) Tang China
Rajyashri, Harsha’s sister, was married to:
a) Shashanka
b) Devagupta
c) King of Kannauj
d) King of Malwa
✅ c) King of Kannauj
Harsha’s early administration was influenced by:
a) Greek traditions
b) Maurya and Gupta practices
c) Tamil kings
d) Tibetan model
✅ b) Maurya and Gupta practices
Harsha issued land grants recorded in:
a) Urdu
b) Sanskrit on copper plates
c) Arabic
d) Palm leaves
✅ b) Sanskrit on copper plates