Harsha Administration - Ancient India Study Materials

Administration

According to historian Burton Stein, a centralised administration did not even exist under the powerful Guptas.
It was restricted only to the central part of the Gangetic plain between Pataliputra and Mathura.
Beyond that zone, there was no centralised authority.
The only difference between Guptas and Vardhanas is that the former had formidable enemies like Huns, while the latter had no such opponents.
The copper plates of 632 CE record a gift of land to two Brahmans.
The names of certain political personages with state power, as protectors of the gift, are mentioned in them.
Some were mahasamantas, allied to the king but of a subordinate status.
Others were independent maharajas but acknowledged feudatories of Harsha.
There was yet another category of rulers who pledged their loyalty to Harsha and professed to be at his service.
This is the characteristic of Harsha’s imperial authority in North India.

It appears that the ministerial administration during the reign of Harsha was the same as that of the imperial Guptas.
The emperor was assisted by a council of ministers(Mantri Parishad)in his duties.
The council played an important role in the selection of the king as well as framing the foreign policy of the empire.
The prime minister was of the most important position in the council of ministers.

1. Avanti – Minister for Foreign Relations and War

2. Simhananda – Commander-in-Chief

3. Kuntala – Chief Cavalry Officer

4. Skandagupta – Chief Commandant of Elephant Force

5. Dirghadhvajas – Royal Messengers

6. Banu – Keeper of Records

7. Mahaprathihara – Chief of the Palace Guard

8. Sarvagata – Secret Service Department

Bhaga, Hiranya and Bali were the three kinds of tax collected during Harsha’s reign.
Bhaga was the land tax paid in kind.
One-sixth of the produce was collected as land revenue.
Hiranya was the tax paid by farmers and merchants in cash.
There is no reference to the tax Bali.
The crown land was divided into four parts.
- Part I – for carrying out the affairs of the state
- Part II – for paying the ministers and officers of the crown
- Part III – for rewarding men of letters
- Part IV – for charity to religious institutions

Criminal law was more severe than that of the Gupta age.
Mimamsakas were appointed to dispense justice.
Banishment and the cutting of limbs of the body were the usual punishments.
Trial by ordeal was in practice.
Life imprisonment was the punishment for the violations of the laws and for plotting against the king.
Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, spent nearly 13 years in India (630–643 CE), collecting sacred texts and relics which he took back to China.
He was known as the“ prince of pilgrims” because he visited important pilgrim centres associated with the life of Buddha.
His Si-Yu-Ki provides detailed information about the social, economic, religious and cultural conditions during the reign of Harsha.
According to Hieun Tsang, perfect law and order prevailed throughout the empire, as the law-enforcing agencies were strong.
The pilgrim records the principal penalties and judicial ordeals practised in India at that time.
Corporal punishment for serious offences was in practise.
But the death penalty was usually avoided.
Offences against social morality and defiance of law were punished by maiming.
Harsha travelled across the kingdom frequently to ensure his familiarity with his people.
He was accessible to people and kept a closer watch on his tributary rulers.

Harsha paid great attention to discipline and strength of the army.
The army consisted of elephants, cavalry and infantry.
Horses were imported.
Ordinary soldiers were known as Chatas and Bhatas.
Cavalry officers were called Brihadisvaras.
Infantry officers were known as Baladhikritas and Mahabaladhikritas.
Hieun Tsang mentions the four divisions (chaturanga) of Harsha’s army.
He gives details about the strength of each division, its recruitment system and payment for the recruits.