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General Knowledge Cluster38 Verified Questions
Harsha-Vardhana GK Questions & Answers
Emperor Harshavardhana (reigned 606–647 CE) of the Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) dynasty consolidated northern India following the collapse of the Imperial Guptas and the demise of his brother Rajyavardhana. Uniting the crowns of Thaneshwar and the Maukhari kingdom of Kanyakubja (Kanauj) alongside his sister Rajyashri, Harsha shifted his imperial seat to Kanauj, transforming it into the premier geopolitical hub of the Gangetic plain. His military conquests encompassed Punjab, Rajasthan, Bengal, and Odisha, though his southward expansion was halted at the Narmada River around 618–619 CE by Western Chalukya monarch Pulakeshin II. Harsha’s reign is meticulously documented in Banabhatta’s biographical Sanskrit text Harshacharita and Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang’s (Hiuen Tsang) travelogue Si-Yu-Ki. Harsha convened grand quinquennial assemblies, most notably the Kanauj religious assembly (643 CE) and the Mahamoksha Parishad at Prayag, where he distributed imperial wealth. A distinguished dramatist and scholar, Harsha authored the Sanskrit plays Ratnavali, Priyadarsika, and Nagananda. He extended state patronage and land endowments to Nalanda Mahavihara, presided over by Acharya Shilabhadra, supporting international Buddhist scholarship and rigorous philosophical debate.
'Harshacharita', the biographical account of King Harsha Vardhana of Kannauj, was composed in Sanskrit by his court poet named what?
Verified Explanation
Banabhatta was the Asthana Kavi (court poet) of King Harsha Vardhana (7th century CE) who wrote 'Harshacharita' (the first historical biography in Sanskrit) as well as the novel 'Kadambari'.
2ID: GK-HIST-00101
mediumMauryan Gupta
Which Chinese Buddhist monk travelled extensively across India during the reign of Emperor Harsha in the 7th century CE?
Verified Explanation
Xuanzang visited Harsha's court in Kannauj, attended the assembly at Prayag, and studied Buddhist philosophy at Nalanda University for five years.
3ID: GK-HIST-00135
hardMauryan Gupta
The Aihole Inscription composed in refined Sanskrit verse by poet Ravikirti celebrates the military victory of which Western Chalukya ruler over Harsha?
Verified Explanation
The 634 CE Aihole inscription on the Meguti Jain temple records Pulakeshin II checking the southward expansion of Emperor Harsha on the Narmada river.
4ID: GK-HIST-00393
hardMauryan & Gupta Empires
The Aihole Inscription, which records the military victory of Pulakeshin II over King Harsha, was composed by which court poet?
Verified Explanation
The Aihole inscription on the Meguti temple in Karnataka was composed in Sanskrit verse by the Jain court poet Ravikirti, detailing the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II's triumph over Harsha on the banks of the Narmada.
5ID: GK-HIST-00612
mediumAncient India & Indus Valley
Which Chalukya monarch defeated Emperor Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada River around 618–619 CE, halting Harsha's southward expansion?
Verified Explanation
Pulakeshin II of the Badami Chalukyas defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada River, an achievement immortalized by his court poet Ravikirti in the Aihole Inscription.
'Harshacharita', the earliest known historical prose biography in Sanskrit depicting the life and accession of King Harsha of Kannauj, was composed by his court poet:
Verified Explanation
Banabhatta, the Asthana Kavi in the court of King Harshavardhana (7th century CE), composed 'Harshacharita' as well as the romance 'Kadambari'.
7ID: GK-HIST-00193
hardMedieval India & Sultanates
The Aihole Inscription of 634 CE, which records the victory of Chalukya King Pulakeshin II over Emperor Harsha on the banks of the Narmada River, was authored by which court poet?
Verified Explanation
Ravikirti, the Jain court poet of Pulakeshin II, composed the Aihole Prashasti in classical Sanskrit verse at the Meguti Temple in Aihole.
8ID: GK-LIT-00160
hardAncient Indian Epics
The 12th-century Sanskrit poet Sri Harsha composed which intricate Mahakavya based on the romance of Nala and Damayanti?
Verified Explanation
Naishadhiya Charita by Sri Harsha (court poet of Gahadavala king Jayachandra) is considered the most intellectually challenging of the five classical Sanskrit Mahakavyas.
9ID: GK-LIT-00204
easyAncient Indian Epics
Which 7th-century court poet of King Harsha composed the biographical work 'Harshacharita' and the complex romantic prose novel 'Kadambari'?
Verified Explanation
Banabhatta was the Asthana Kavi in the court of King Harsha Vardhana and wrote Harshacharita (the first historical biography in Sanskrit) and Kadambari.
10ID: GK-EPIG-00248
hardCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
The Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription discovered in Sylhet, which reissued lost land charters to over 200 Brahmins, was issued by which 7th-century King of Kamarupa (Assam) and ally of Harsha?
Verified Explanation
The Nidhanpur Copper Plates were issued from the military camp at Karnasuvarna by King Bhaskaravarman of the Varman dynasty of Kamarupa. The charter renewed an earlier copper grant made by his ancestor Bhutivarman that had been damaged in a fire.
'Si-Yu-Ki' (Buddhist Records of the Western World), an exhaustive 7th-century geographical and socio-political record of 110 Indian kingdoms visited during the reign of King Harsha, was written by which Chinese pilgrim-monk?
Verified Explanation
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) traveled across India between 629 and 645 CE, studying at Nalanda and compiling 'Si-Yu-Ki', the most detailed contemporary account of 7th-century India.
Which Chinese Buddhist pilgrim visited India during the 7th century CE during the reign of King Harsha and documented his travels in 'Si-Yu-Ki' (Record of the Western Countries)?
Verified Explanation
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) travelled extensively across India between 629 and 645 CE, studying at Nalanda University during the reign of Harshavardhana and compiling the 'Si-Yu-Ki'.
13ID: GK-EPIG-00128
hardCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
The silver drachms issued by Emperor Harshavardhana in the Madhyadesha style, following the Gupta-Maukhari numismatic standard, depict the king's bust on the obverse and which symbol on the reverse with the title 'Sri Siladitya'?
Verified Explanation
Harsha's silver coins (modelled on the silver coins of the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I and Maukhari King Isanavarman) feature the royal bust facing left on the obverse, and a fan-tailed peacock (Mayura) with outspread wings on the reverse surrounded by the legend 'Vijitavanir-avanapati-sri-Siladityo divam jayati'.
14ID: GK-EPIG-00393
easyRoyal Prashastis, Pillars & Temple Charters
Composed in 634 CE by court poet Ravikirti at the Meguti Jain temple in Aihole, which celebrated prashasti eulogizes Badami Chalukya king Pulakeshin II for defeating Emperor Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada?
Verified Explanation
The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II was composed by the Jain poet Ravikirti in 37 metrical Sanskrit verses. It recounts Pulakeshin's victories, including checking Harsha's southward expansion, and concludes with Ravikirti boasting of equaling the poetic fame of Kalidasa and Bharavi.
15ID: GK-LIT-00526
hardAncient Indian Epics
Which Sanskrit poet of the 12th century composed the 'Naishadha Charita', detailing the wedding of Nala and Damayanti, considered the last of the five Great Mahakavyas?
Verified Explanation
Sri Harsha composed 'Naishadha Charita' (Naishadhiyacharita) in 22 cantos; it completes the Panchamahakavya canon of classical Sanskrit.
16ID: GK-LIT-00581
hardAncient Indian Epics
Which 12th-century Sanskrit poet composed 'Naishadha Charita', one of the five foundational Mahakavyas, elaborating the romance of King Nala and Princess Damayanti?
Verified Explanation
Sri Harsha (court poet of Gahadavala kings Vijayachandra and Jayachandra of Kannauj) composed Naishadha Charita in 22 cantos, famous for the proverb 'Naishadham vidvad-aushadham' (Naishadha is medicine for the learned).
17ID: GK-HIST-00021
mediumMauryan & Gupta Empires
Which Chinese Buddhist pilgrim visited India during King Harshavardhana's reign?
Verified Explanation
Xuanzang traveled across India from 629 to 645 CE, studying at Nalanda and visiting Harsha's court.
18ID: GK-HIST-00035
mediumMauryan & Gupta Empires
Who wrote 'Harshacharita', the Sanskrit court biography of Emperor Harshavardhana?
Verified Explanation
Banabhatta served as King Harsha's chief court poet and authored Harshacharita and Kadambari.
19ID: GK-HIST-00443
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
Which Chalukya ruler defeated Emperor Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada River around 618 CE?
Verified Explanation
Pulakeshin II of the Badami Chalukyas checked Harsha's southern expansion at the Narmada River, as recorded by court poet Ravikirti in the Aihole Inscription.
20ID: GK-HIST-00511
hardAncient India & Indus Valley
The Aihole Inscription of 634 CE, composed in Sanskrit by the court poet Ravikirti, celebrates the military victories of which Chalukya monarch?
Verified Explanation
The Aihole Prashasti, composed by Jain scholar Ravikirti at the Meguti Jain temple, eulogizes Pulakeshin II's reign and his defeat of Emperor Harsha on the banks of the Narmada.
21ID: GK-EPIG-00215
easyRoyal Prashastis, Pillars & Temple Charters
The famous Aihole Prashasti (634 CE) at the Meguti Jain temple, which records Chalukya King Pulakeshin II's victory over King Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada, was composed by which court poet?
Verified Explanation
The Aihole Inscription was composed in classical Sanskrit verse by Jain court poet Ravikirti in 634 CE (Saka 556). It describes Pulakeshin II's triumphs and proudly claims that Ravikirti attained the poetic fame of Kalidasa and Bharavi.
22ID: GK-EPIG-00490
hardCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
The Madhuban Copper Plate (Mau district, UP) and Banskhera Copper Plate of King Harshavardhana are famous in ancient socio-economic history for recording the creation of 'Agrahara' grants, which refers to what type of institutional land grant?
Verified Explanation
The Madhuban (Year 25 / 631 CE) and Banskhera (Year 22 / 628 CE) plates record Agrahara grants where villages were gifted to learned Vedic scholars in perpetuity, completely exempt from all royal taxes (Udranga, Uparikara, and forced labor / Vishti).
The Banskhera Copper Plate Inscription (628 CE) of King Harshavardhana in Shahjahanpur district of UP is uniquely celebrated for featuring what rare epigraphic artifact?
Verified Explanation
The Banskhera copper plate is famous for bearing King Harshavardhana's authentic personal signature in exquisite, flourishing Sanskrit calligraphy at the bottom: 'Sva-hasto mama Maharajadhirajasya Sri-Harshasya'.
24ID: GK-EPIG-00040
mediumRoyal Prashastis, Pillars & Temple Charters
The Banskhera and Madhuban Copper Plate Inscriptions are renowned for preserving the ornate royal calligraphic signature ('Svahasto mama...') of which North Indian emperor?
Verified Explanation
The Banskhera Copper Plate of Harsha (dated Year 22 / 628 CE) concludes with the magnificent calligraphic royal signature 'Svahasto mama Maharajadhiraja Sri Harshasya' (In the own hand of myself, the Great Emperor, Sri Harsha), testifying to Harsha's renowned artistic and literary talent.
25ID: GK-EPIG-00110
hardRoyal Prashastis, Pillars & Temple Charters
The Banskhera Copper Plate Inscription (dated Regnal Year 22 / 628 CE) concludes with which celebrated calligraphic Sanskrit phrase confirming Emperor Harshavardhana's own handwriting?
Verified Explanation
The Banskhera Copper Plate of Harsha (Shahjahanpur district, UP) famously preserves the ornate, flowing royal signature of Emperor Harshavardhana engraved in the bottom line: 'Svahasto mama Maharajadhiraja-Sri-Harshasya' (This is the own signature of me, the Supreme King of Kings, the illustrious Harsha), demonstrating his celebrated calligraphic skill.