The Problem of the Harsa Era
Summary
The article addresses the historical controversy surrounding the Harsa era, which is traditionally believed to have been founded by King Harsavardhana of Kanauj in 606 A.D. The author notes that this issue sparked a debate between Dr. R. C. Majumdar, who challenged its historicity, and Dr. D. C. Sircar, who supported it. This dispute was highlighted during a symposium at the Indian History Congress in Gwalior in December 1952. The primary evidence for the era's existence derives from a translated remark by Al-Biruni. However, the author argues that Al-Biruni's reference clearly points to an era starting in 457–458 B.C., not 606 A.D., rendering Dr. Sircar's inference unwarranted and Dr. Majumdar's criticism convincing. Furthermore, the text mentions that some dated inscriptions are conjecturally linked to the 606 A.D. era, but they lack explicit and conclusive references. To investigate the tradition of a Harsa era, the author examines Al-Biruni's observations regarding the Vikrama era. Al-Biruni notes a long interval between the initial date of the Vikrama era and the victory of a Vikramaditya over a Saka king. The author argues that Al-Biruni's second Vikramaditya, the conqueror of the Sakas, was Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty. This is supported by the defeat of the Saka king Karur, a feat attributed to Chandragupta II in Indian sources like the Harsacarita. Additionally, the Rajatarangini of Kalhana identifies a Vikramaditya of Ujjayini, who interfered in Kashmir, as Harsa. The author identifies this figure with Chandragupta II, whose involvement in Kashmir affairs is supported by the Aryamanjusrimulakalpa. Finally, the Tibetan historian Taranatha mentions a Sri-Harsa who attacked Multan after the death of Gambhirapaksa. By dating Asanga's brother Vasubandhu to the fourth century A.D., the author places Sri-Harsa in the late fourth or early fifth century A.D. This Sri-Harsa is identified as Chandragupta II. Consequently, the author concludes that the tradition of a Harsa era originated from the commemoration of Chandragupta II's victory over the Sakas, which was later attached to the era of 57–58 B.C., leading Al-Biruni to misdate it.
AI-generated summary, automatically checked against the article text.
Conclusion
This article resolves the long-standing controversy over the historicity of the Harsa era of 606 A.D. by demonstrating that the era actually originated from the victory of Candra Gupta II, identified with Al-Beruni’s second Vikramaditya and the Sri-Harsa of Taranatha. The study finds that the tradition associating Harsa with an era is rooted in the commemoration of his defeat of the Saka kings, an event later retroactively attached to the earlier Vikrama era of 57-58 B.C. Consequently, the supposed Harsa era of 606 A.D. lacks solid, conclusive evidence, and Al-Beruni’s ambiguous references are better interpreted as allusions to the 457-58 B.C. period. Ultimately, this analysis clarifies the chronological confusion surrounding the era's founding, attributing it to a conflation of historical events and regional nomenclature rather than a distinct, separate epoch initiated by King Harsavaidhana.