Pushpavati
| Pushpavati | |
|---|---|
| Maharani | |
| Pushyabhuti Empress | |
| Died | 647 (aged 47-48), due to Sati, India |
| Spouse | Harshavardhana |
| Dynasty | Pushyabhuti |
| Father | King Pushpavarmana |
| Mother | Mahavati |
| Religion | Shaivism, Buddhism |
Rani Pushpavati or Maharani Pushpavati shortly known as Harshavardhanapatni (wife of Emperor Harshavardhana) or simply Pushpavati or Harshavardhanpriya was the wife of Emperor Harshavardhana who had no children at all but only one wife. He was the son of King Prabhakaravardhana and his wife, Yasomati and the brother of Rajyavardhana and sister, Rajyashri. Some stories say that Emperor Harshavardhana had married two wives but in some legends they mention Pushpavati. She is the daughter of King Pushpavarman . After the death of Harshavardhana, when Pushpavati was mourning, that time she sent her husband, Harshavardhana's soldiers to kill Pulakeshin II for killing her husband. After the death of Pulakeshin II, Pushpavati died because of Sati, a practice where a woman died on her husband's pyre. Her story is miraculously sad but Pushpavati was a brave queen who sent her husband's soldiers to kill Pulakeshin II. She is described to the Mahabharata character, Bhanumati to describe their beautiful complexion. [1]
Teachings[edit]
She was taught how to fight with an enemy, by her husband, Emperor Harsha. She was indeed a truthful and loyal wife to him. She had never argued or have conflicts with Harsha. In the Harshacharita of Banabhatta, her kingdom is mentioned in the story as the Varman dynasty of Kanauj. Harshacharita also mentions the marriage of Harshavardhana. Later, Pushpavati bore two sons to Harshavardhana. Both of their sons, were killed by her husband, Harsha's minister, Arunāsva.
Shashanka's capture[edit]
King Shashanka of Gauda Kingdom captured Queen Pushpavati of Kanauj. The messengers give this message to Harshavardhana. Meanwhile, Shashanka ties her to the pillar for not marrying him and when tries to seduce her, Harshavardhana smothers him and saves Pushpavati, his most beloved queen.
Her bravery is compared with Rani Lakshmibai and Rani Durgavati but similarly. Because of Pushpavati's bravery, everyone came to know Harsha being a Kshatriyan king, his wife was a kshatrani. After the death of Harshavardhana, she mourned for him and then was called as the "Rajmata" of Vardhana dynasty.
She too dies of Sati but Vagyavardhana stops her, a adaption shown in Banabhatta's Harshacharita. He promised his mother, Pushpavati, to kill who defeated his father. Later, he was too killed by Arunāsva and his brother, Kalyanvardhana also.
References[edit]
See also[edit]
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