The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c17.68

c17.68

Harṣa ruled in conjunction with his sister Rājyaśrī because the dominions of the two had been practically united. The capital of the empire was Kanauj, which seems to have been a magnificent city for several centuries. But in Yuan Chwang’s account the emperor is seen constantly on the move, except during the rains. Incessant travelling, whether on military expeditions, administrative tours, or from religious motives, was part of the personal conduct of the administration. The emperor never halted long at any place. Temporary buildings were erected at each station for his residence. These pavilions of travel, as they were called, were made of cut grass like huts or built of branches and boughs. They were burnt on the emperor’s departure. But while they stood they were furnished with all the paraphernalia of a court. It was at such a temporary court at Kajughira in Bengal that Yuan Chwang first met the emperor. On extraordinary occasions which drew together large numbers of feudatories, such temporary structures could be seen even at Kanauj. The emperor divided the day into three periods, devoting one to affairs of government and two to religious works—a rather disproportionate distribution of time. We are assured that Harṣa found the day too short for him. “He forgot sleep and food in his devotion to good works.”¹