EMPIRE OF HARSHAVARDHANA KALINGA KONGODA Pattadakal PANDYAS Kaveri Harsha’s capital Other cities Harsha’s empire Map not to scale XI History - Lesson - - Harsha and Rise of Regional Kingdoms cutting of limbs of the body were the usual punishments. Trial by ordeal was in practice. Life imprisonment was the punishment for the violations of the laws and for plotting against the king. Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, spent nearly years in India ( – CE), collecting sacred texts and relics which he took back to China.
He was known as the“ prince of pilgrims” because he visited important pilgrim centres associated with the life of Buddha. His Si-Yu-Ki provides detailed information about the social, economic, religious and cultural conditions during the reign of Harsha. According to Hieun Tsang, perfect law and order prevailed throughout the empire, as the law-enforcing agencies were strong. The pilgrim records the principal penalties and judicial ordeals practised in India at that time.
Corporal punishment for serious offences was in practise. But the death penalty was usually avoided. Offences against social morality and defiance of law were punished by maiming. Harsha travelled across the kingdom frequently to ensure his familiarity with his people.
He was accessible to people and kept a closer watch on his tributary rulers. Administration of Army Harsha paid great attention to discipline and strength of the army. The army consisted of elephants, cavalry and infantry. Horses were imported.
Ordinary soldiers were known as Chatas and Bhatas. Cavalry officers were called Brihadisvaras. Infantry officers were known as Baladhikritas and Mahabaladhikritas. Hieun Tsang mentions the four divisions ( chaturanga ) of Harsha’s army.
He gives details about the strength of each division, its recruitment system and payment for the recruits. Division of the Empire The empire was divided into several provinces. The actual number of such provinces is not known. Each province was divided into Bhuktis.
And each Bhukti was divided into several Vishayas. They were like the districts. Council of Ministers It appears that the ministerial administration during the reign of Harsha was the same as that of the