Pushyabhuti

Pushyabhuti, also known as the Vardhana dynasty, was a ruling house in northern India during roughly the 5th to 7th centuries CE. The dynasty had its power center in Thanesar (present-day Kurukshetra district, Haryana), with its capital shifting at times as it expanded its authority in the Punjab and western Gangetic plains.

The dynasty is traditionally said to have been founded by Pushyabhuti, after which the line continued through his descendants, including Prabhakara-Vardhana, Rajyavardhana, and the most famous monarch, Harshavardhana (Harsha). Harsha, who reigned in the early 7th century (approximately 606–647 CE), is the best-known ruler of the family. He extended his influence beyond Thanesar and is credited with unifying a large portion of northern India, with Kannauj becoming an important seat of power during his campaigns.

Culturally, Harsha’s court was a center of learning and literature. Banabhatta, the author of Harshacharita and Kadambari, served at his court, contributing to the literary achievements of the era. The dynasty is also associated with the flourishing of early medieval Indian political and cultural life, including support for Buddhist and Jain traditions within a broader environment of royal patronage.

After Harsha’s death, the Pushyabhuti realm fragmented and gradually declined. The dynasty did not reassert itself as a lasting imperial power, but it is remembered for its role in shaping the political landscape of northern India during a transitional period in Indian history.