Question

The founder of the Vardhana dynasty was ______________.
A) Prabhakar Vardhana
B) Chandragupta Maurya
C) Harisena
D) Samudragupta

Answer 1

Hint:
The Vardhana dynasty, also recognized as the Pushyabhuti dynasty, governed fragments of northern India throughout the 6th and 7th centuries. The Pushyabhuti dynasty initially governed a minor part nearby their capital Sthaneshwar (Thanesar).

Complete Answer:
Harshavardhana was an Indian ruler who governed North India from 606 to 647 CE. He was an adherent of the Vardhana dynasty; and was the child of Prabhakara Vardhana who overpowered the Alchon Huna attackers, and the younger blood brother of Rajyavardhana, a monarch of Thanesar, contemporary Haryana. At the peak of Harsha's influence, his Realm swathed much of North and North-western India, protracted East till Kamarupa, and South till Narmada River; and ultimately made Kannauj (in the current Uttar Pradesh state) his capital, and governed till 647 CE. Harsha was overpowered by the south Indian Ruler Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty in the Battle of Narmada when Harsha attempted to increase his Realm into the southern headland of India. The concord and affluence that triumphed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, fascinating academics, performers, and spiritual guests from far and wide. The Chinese wanderer Xuanzang stayed in the court of Harsha and inscribed a very promising version of him, admiring his fairness and kindness.

Thus, option (A) is correct.

Note:
Harsha's sister Rajyashri had been wedded to the Makuhari king, Grahavarman. This monarch, sometime later, had been overpowered and slain by king Devagupta of Malwa and after his demise, Rajyashri had been cast into custodial position by the winner. Harsha's brother, Rajya Vardhana, the then monarch at Thanesar, could not acknowledge this insult on his family tree. So, he trooped against Devagupta and overpowered him. Nevertheless, Shashanka, king of Gauda in Eastern Bengal, then arrived at Magadha as a comrade of Rajyavardhana, but in undisclosed association with the Malwa king. Consequently, Shashanka deceitfully assassinated Rajyavardhana. On perceiving about the assassination of his brother, Harsha determined at once to advance against the unfaithful monarch of Gauda, but this crusade continued to be unconvincing and past a point, he bowed back. Harsha climbed sovereignty at the age of 16.