Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)

by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words

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Summary: This essay represents a Socio-Cultural study of the Harshacharita which is a Sanskrit poem (kavya) as well as a Historical book from the 7th century written by Banabhatta. Officially classified as a Gadyakavya, the author (Bana Bhatta) based his Harshacharita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the knowledge reflected in the Harsacarita regarding the state of Indian society, cultural events and other information such as religion, philosophy, flora and fauna, etc.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Part 1: Sanskrit Kāvya and its Divisions

. Part 2: Specialties and Divisions of Gadyakāvya

. Part 3: Position of Harṣacarita

. Part 4(a): Bāṇabhaṭṭa: His time, Date and His Works

. Part 4(b): Bāṇabhaṭṭa: His Style of Writing

. Part 5(a): Brief Note on the Harṣacarita

. Part 5(b): Kādambarī—the other Gadyakāvya of Bāṇabhaṭṭa

. Part 6: On Society, Culture and Socio-Cultural Study

. Part 7: Plan of the Thesis

+ Chapter 2 - Caste System

. Part 1: Meaning of “Caste” and its Origin

. Part 2: Caste Hierarchy, Status and Duties

. Part 3: Description of Different Tribes and Sub-Castes

. Part 4: Relation Among the Castes

. Part 5: Different Stages of the Life or Āśrama Vyavasthā

+ Chapter 3 - Education System

. Part 1: Meaning Of Education

. Part 2: Formal Education and Informal Education

. Part 3: Curriculum of Formal Education

. Part 4: Seats of Learning

. Part 5: Cultivation of Knowledge

+ Chapter 4 - Status of Women

. Part 1: Social Position of Women

. Part 2: Profession of Women

. Part 3: Position of a Daughter and Marriageable Girl

. Part 4: Amity Between Husband and Wife

. Part 5: Women Education

. Part 6: Satī System

. Part 7: Purdā System

. Part 8: Polygamy

+ Chapter 5 - Political Aspects

. Part 1: Form of Government

. Part 2: Kingship and Duties of a King

. Part 2.1: Responsibility towards the Family and the Citizen

. Part 2.2: Relation with Other Kings

. Part 2.3: Relation between the King and the Ministers

. Part 2.4: Relationship with the Sovereign Kings

. Part 3: Other Office Bearers of the Government

. Part 4: Position of Princes and Their Coronation

. Part 5: Royal Titles

. Part 6: Administration and Administrative Officials

. Part 7: Revenue and Taxation

. Part 8: Reward and Punishment

. Part 9: Arms, Army and Warfare (Introduction)

. Part 9.1: Infantry (padāti):

. Part 9.2: Cavalry (aśvārohī):

. Part 9.3: Elephantry (gajarathī):

. Part 9.4: Weapons of the War

. Part 9.5: Dress and Other Amenities of a Soldier

+ Chapter 6 - Other Socio-Cultural Aspects

. Cultural Aspects (Introdcution)

. 1. Description of City Life

. 2. Description of Hermitage Life

. 3. Description of Village Life

. 4. Economic Condition

. 5. Agriculture and Agricultural Products

. 5.1. Food and Drinks

. 6. The importance of Hospitality

. 7. Customs (1): Nāmakaraṇa Saṃskāra

. 7. Customs (2): Upanayana and Samāvarttana Saṃskāra

. 7. Customs (3): Vivāha Saṃskāra

. 7. Customs (4): Antyeṣṭi Saṃskāra

. 8. Religion and Religious Tolerance

. 9. Religious Cults

. 10. Vedic Practices and Sacrifices

. 11. Popular Beliefs, Omens and Superstitions

. 12. Festivals (Mahotsava)

. 13. Various Types of Profession

. 14.1. Different Requisites Used for Decoration

. 14.2. Ornaments (Bhūṣā)

. 15. The style of Costumes

. 16. Art and Architecture

. 16.1. Drawing and Painting

. 17. Music, Dance and Musical Instruments

. 18. Description of Machines and Tools

. 19. Description of Utensils

+ Chapter 7 - Environmental awareness and Hygiene Conciousness

. 1. Meaning of Environment (paryāvaraṇa)

. 2. Impact of Environment on Human Mind and Body

. 3. Environmental Awareness in 7th century India

. Table: Some of the medicinal plants

. 4. Health and Hygiene Consciousness

. 4. Importance of Flora

. 5. Fauna (different types of animals)

+ Chapter 8 - Comparative Society as described in the Kādambarī and the Harṣacarita

. 1. Similarities (1): Men and Women

. 1. Similarities (2): Duties of the Kings

. 1. Similarities (3): Education System

. 1. Similarities (4): Caste and Āśrama

. 1. Similarities (5): Economic Condition

. 1. Similarities (6): Religion and Religious Cults

. 1. Similarities (7): Vedic Practices and Sacrifices

. 1. Similarities (8): Art and Architecture

. 1. Similarities (9): Food and Drinks

. 1. Similarities (10): Flora and Fauna

. 2. Dissimilarities (1): Life of the People:

. 2. Dissimilarities (2): Position of Son and Daughter

. 2. Dissimilarities (3): Customs and Sacraments

. 2. Dissimilarities (4): Festivals

Chapter 9 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 02 July, 2023

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