History of Classical Sanskrit Literature by Sukumari Bhattacharji

Author:Sukumari Bhattacharji [Bhattacharji, Sukumari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788125059233
Publisher: Orient Blackswan Private Limited
Published: 2015-06-14T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

The Frost-bitten Buds

EIGHTH TO TWELFTH CENTURY

The period between the eight and the twelfth century is of crucial significance to the history of Sanskrit literature. In the field of history we notice the rise of three principal royal powers. There were the Rāṣṭrakūṭas in the south.1 The Pālas held court in the east at both Kanauj and Pataliputra, and rose to the zenith of their power under Dharmapāla (770-810).2 The Gurjara-Pratihāra kingdom in the north and west3 reached the height of its power under Mihirabhoja (836-65) and Mahendrapala (885-908), and finally collapsed under the heavy blows dealt by the Rāṣṭrakūṭas who raided the kingdom. However, it retained traces of its imperial grandeur and dignity until the very end.

After the fall of the Gupta empire, and the decline of the Vardhanas at Kanauj, Yaśovarman held sway for a time in Central India and the three powers mentioned above vied with each other to conquer Kanauj and gain all-India supremacy. The Gurjara-Pratihāras ultimately won Kanauj in AD 815 and it remained the metropolis of their power till the middle of the tenth century and the most important cultural centre till 1018 when Mahmud of Ghazni appeared as a conqueror.

The North Indian trade route passed through Kanauj, which largely controlled it. Kausambi was ruled by the Vatsa King Udayana early in the sixth century; it became the capital of a powerful kingdom and remained so till the end of that century. Then the Huna invaders destroyed Kausambi and overran northern India. After Īśanavarman drove the Huns away, Kanauj regained its prominence, no longer as a feudatory of the Guptas but as an independent power. In the next century, the kings of Bengal and Mālava destroyed Kanauj. The Maukhari kingdom thus came to an end and Harṣavardhan built his empire on its ruins; but the Vardhana dynasty was itself short-lived.

However, until the middle of the seventh century Kanauj remained the most important city in India. Harṣa failed to create an administrative hierarchy and machinery that could support and carry on the imperial structure. He did not leave an able successor. For half a century, the history of Kanauj is dark; then Yaśovarman ruled Central India for a short while. Vākpatirāja and Bhavabhūtiflourished under his patronage. He joined Lalitāditya of Kashmir to repulse the eastward thrust of the Arabs and westward inroads of the Tibetans; but their alliance did not last. Lalitāditya crushed Yaśovarman and with him the classical age came to an end.

The Arab conquest dates to AD 712; the Governor of Sindh, at the Caliph of Baghdad's command sent an army which conquered Saurāṣṭra, but Nāgabhaṭa the Saurāṣṭra king fought it back. After this victory, the Gurjara clans were united and they founded a new, powerful kingdom. The Vatsa king conquered Ujjayinī and consolidated his power. Bhoja and his army conquered Gujarat: he was hostile to the Arabs though he recognized their suzereignty. Bhoja was very rich and had a fine army, controlled rich mines and carried on a brisk trade with neighbouring powers.

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