Harshvardhan himself was a high scholar, therefore, during his rule, he provided adequate encouragement to the advancement of education and literature. There were many gurukuls, ashrams, vihars throughout the country. Where students were taught various disciplines. The description of the arrow shows that proper study of Vedas and Vedangas was done. Many seminars were held where debates were held on important subjects. People were particularly interested in the study of grammar, Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.
Hiuensang mentions the words Panchavidya Vidya (grammar), Shilpasthana Vidya, Medical Education, Hetu Vidya (justice or logic) and Spiritual learning. Which was an essential part of the children’s curriculum. The Brahmins studied the four Vedas. Apart from Vedic schools, monasteries and viharas were also famous centers of education.
Harsh is considered the author of three drama texts of Sanskrit, the following three texts are-
- Priydarshika,
- Ratnavali
- Naganand
In Banabhatta’s delight, his poetry is praised and told that his poetry cannot be adequately described by words. Elsewhere, Baan writes that in poetic stories he used to rain nectar, Which was his own object, not received from another, in India’s literary tradition, Harsh as a poet was the 17th The centenary has been recalled.
11th the poet Soddhal of century has written about it in his book Avanti Sundari Katha. He was not harsh only by name, who worshiped the baan with hundreds of postures, there was Harsh of Vani (Saraswati) in the realization.
Jaidev has portrayed Harsha as the poetess of Kavita Kamini, keeping him in parity with poets like Bhas, Kalidas, Baan, Mayur etc. 17th century The famous philosopher Madhusudan Saraswati has also accepted Harsh as the author of a play called Ratnavali.
Apart from Indian literature, Chinese traveler Etsing has also written praising Harsh’s love for love, that he wrote a play treatise based on the story of Jeemutavahan and later got it staged. Due to this, his popularity was greatly increased. This play refers to Naganand.
Priydarshika is a four-digit drama, in which the story of Vatsaraja Udayan and Priydarshika is narrated. There are four points in Ratnavali as well and this play is a very interesting narration of Pranay Katha of Vatsaraja Udayan and her queen Vasavadatta’s introductory Nagarika. Naganand is a composition influenced by Buddhism, and has five points. The play narrates the suicide story of a Vidyadhar prince named Jeemutavahana.
Scholars mentor
Apart from being a scholar and Academic himself, Harsh was also a generous patron of scholars. Many scholars, poets and writers resided in Harsh’s court.
Following are the names of these scholars –
- Banabhatta – Banabhatta composed Harshacharit and Kadambari. Banbhatta was also the court poet of Harsh.
- Mayur – Mayur wrote a collection of one hundred verses called Surya Shatak.
- Matangdivakar – We do not get information about any creation of Matangadivakar.
Some scholars consider the erudite scholar Kumarilbhatta of the ancient history to be Harsh period. Apart from this, the famous mathematician Brahmagupta was also born during the time of Harsh. His book is famous by the name Brahmasiddhanta. Jayaditya and Vaman wrote the famous grammar treatise called Kashikavriti at this time.
Nalanda’s Buddhist Vihara
Nalanda Mahavihara was the main center of Mahayaan Buddhism’s education during the time of Harsh. Nalanda was located in the Patna district of Bihar, 8 miles from Rajgriha, near the village called modern village. Originally this Mahavihar was established at the time of the Gupta Emperor Kumargupta I (415-445 AD). It was about a mile long and half a mile wide. There were 8 big rooms and 300 small rooms for lectures. There was a huge library called Dharmaganj located in three buildings. In an article from Nalanda, there is evidence of the buildings being grand and skyscraper. Nalanda University was at the peak of its progress at the time of Harsh. Acharya Sheelabhadra was the Vice Chancellor here at the time of Harsh. Harsh provided the income of one hundred villages to run its expenses and built a vihara of brass about 100 feet high here.
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