1865.] Report of the Archeological Survey. 205 
253. In determining the period of Harsha’s reign, between the 
years 607 and 650 A. D., I have been guided by the following evi- 
dence :—Ist. The date of his death is fixed by the positive statement 
of Hwen Thsgng in the year 650 A. D.—2nd. In speaking of Harsha’s 
eareer, the pilgrim records that from the time of his accession Harsha 
was engaged in continual war for 5} years, and that afterwards for 
about 30 years he reigned in peace. This statement is repeated by 
Hwen Thsang, when on his return to China, on the authority of the 
King himself, who informed him that he had then reigned for upwards 
of 30 years, and that the quinquennial assembly then collected was 
the svath which he had convoked. From these different statements it 
is certain that at the date of Hwen Thsang’s return to China, in 
A. D. 640, Harsha had reigned upwards of 30 years, and somewhat 
less than 35 years. His accession must, therefore, be placed between 
A. D. 605 and 610.—3rd. Now, in the middle of this very period, in 
A.D. 607, as we learn from Abu Rihan, was established the Sri 
Harsha era, which was still prevalent in Mathura and Kanoj in the 
beginning of the 11th century. Considering the exact agreement of 
the names and dates, it is impossible to avoid coming to the conclusion 
that the Harsha who established an era in Kanoj in A. D. 607 was the 
great King Harsha Vardhana who reigned at Kanoj during the first 
half of the seventh century. 
254. Hwen Thsang adds some particulars regarding the family of 
Harsha Vardhana which induce me to think it probable that it may be 
identified with one of the dynasties whose names have been preserved 
in the genealogies of the Rajavali. The names differ in the various 
copies, but they agree generally in making Raj Sing, who reigned 
only nine years, the predecessor of Hara or Hari Sing, who is recorded 
to have reigned for 44 or 45 years, Now, according to Hwen Thsang, 
_ the predecessor and elder brother of Harsha Vardhana was Rajya Var- 
dhana, who was assassinated shortly after his accession. Here both the 
names of these two Kings and the lengths of their reigns agree so well 
together as to suggest the probability of their identity. In most 
copies of the Rajavali this dynasty of six Kings, of which Raja and 
Hara are the 3rd and 4th names, is made the immediate predecessor 
of the Great Tomar dynasty, whose accession has already been assigned 
in my account of the Kings of Delhi to the year 736 A. D, 











