Priyadarsika , Rathnavali and Nagananda . Harsha gifted liberally for the promotion of education. Temples and monasteries functioned as centres of learning. Renowned scholars imparted education in the monasteries at Kanauj, Gaya, Jalandhar, Manipur and other places.
The Nalanda University reached its utmost fame during this period. Nalanda University Hieun Tsang recorded the fame of the Nalanda University. Students and scholars from the Buddhist countries like China, Japan, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tibet and some other countries of Central and Southeast Asia stayed and studied in the university. Shilabhadra , a Hieun Tsang observed that the principles of Buddhism had deeply permeated the Hindu society.
According to him, people were given complete freedom of worship. Social harmony prevailed among the followers of various creeds. Harsha treated the Vedic scholars and the Buddhist bikshus alike and distributed charities equally to them. Caste System Caste system was firmly established in the Hindu society.
According to Hieun Tsang, the occupations of the four divisions of society continued to be in practice as in the previous times. People were honest and not deceitful or treacherous in their conduct. The butchers, fishermen, dancers and sweepers were asked to stay outside the city. Even though the caste system was rigid, there was no social conflict among the various sections of the society.
Status of Women Hieun Tsang’s account also provides us information on the position of women and the marriage system of the times. Women wore purdah. Hieun Tsang, however, added that the purdah system was not followed among the higher class. He pointed out that Rajyasri did not wear purdah when listening to his discourse.
Sati was in practice. Yasomatidevi, wife of Prabhakara Vardhana, immolated herself after the death of her husband. Lifestyle The life pattern of the people of India during the rule of Harsha is known from the accounts of Hieun Tsang. People lived a simple life.
They dressed in colourful cotton and silk clothes. The art of weaving fine cloth had reached perfection. Both men and women adorned themselves with gold and silver ornaments. The king wore extraordinary ornaments.
Garlands and tiaras of