Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘Position of Harshacarita’ of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
Part 3: Position of Harṣacarita
[Full title: Position of Harṣacarita Among the Gadyakāvyas in Sanskrit Literature]
The Harṣacarita is written by famous prose-writer Bāṇa. It is accepted as an ākhyāyikā. The theme of this gadyakāvya is based on the life of famous Gupta emperor Harṣavardhana, and has eight ucchvāsas. The author deals in the story of the Harṣacarita with the life of famous king Harṣavardhana of Northern India. In this kāvya the author not only delineates the life of the king, royal palace etc., but describes the social, political, cultural society of 7th century A. D.
While comparing the Harṣacarita with the Kādambarī, P. V. Kane[1] comments—
“…the Harshacharita enjoys certain advantages over the Kādambarī. The Harshacharita is of prime importance to the historian of ancient India. It contains a mass of information on the state of ancient Indian society, on social and religious observances and practices, on military organization, on the actualities of life in camp and city, on the progress of medicine and the various arts and industries.”
Bhāmaha comments on subject matter of an ākhyāyikā that the story here is based on the facts, but the poet is free to put a few narrations from his own imagination.[2] But, this gadyakāvya has a great importance as a historical document.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Intro. of Harṣacarita, p.XXXV.
[2]:
kaverabhiprāyakṛtaiḥ kathanaiḥ kaiścidaṅkitā, Kāvyālaṅkāra,1.2