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Harsha's nature seems to have undergone considerable change during the subsequent years. His greed for 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 1077-78 (See Stein's note). 2. Ibid., I, vii, 1077.

359 amassing wealth knew no bounds and he soon started plundering the riches of the temples all over his territories including that of Bhimakesava! However, he made certain concessions in respect of Martanda images, the Ranasvami image in the capital, and two colossal Buddha images? 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 1080-86, 90. 2. Ibid., I, vii, 1096-98. Such spoliation of temples, defilement of images and usurpation of their wealth was taken by Stein to be the result of the influence of Islam. He lends support to his view by the appellation Turushka applied to Harsha by Kalhana. (Ibid., I, vii, 1095; Stein's note). Dr. Basham, on the other hand, suggested the growing influence of Ajivikism at his court to be the cause of his actions, (Basham, A.L., Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, XII, pp. 6881 f.). According to him, the Nagnatas (verse 1092) or Nagnatakas (verse 1095) could very well have been Ajivikas who lived naked and followed certain obnoxious practices (Ibid.). Both views, however, appear to be erroneous. Harsha was designated a Turushka by Kalhana for his usurpation of temple-wealth and for employing Turushka soldiers in his army. Besides, Kalhapa has described Harsha's liking for pork, which no Muslim would even dare touch. (Rajatarangini by Kalhana I, vii, 1149; Stein's note). As such, Harsha could hardly have been influenced by Islam. Dr. Bashan equates the Nagmatas or Nagatakas with AjIvikas on the ground that Harsha was not only enamoured of Kargata beauty but also copied Karnata coin-types, on which there is a total absence of any deity-figure (Basham, A.L. Ibid., XII, pp. 688 ff.). But the Nagnatas referred by Kalhana were 'naked mendicants whose noses, feet and hands had rotted away' (Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 1092, Stein's trs., 1095). We are unaware of such practices being followed by the Ajivikas during the period under review in Karnata were Vikramaditya VI, a devout Hindu, was ruling. As such, it is not possible for us to accept either of the two suggestions. Besides, we would certainly have had more information from Kalhana about Harsha's change of religion, had he done so.

360 Not content with the appropriating of templewealth and treasures, Harsha made himself unpopular by the levy of fresh taxes on householders? A new class of revenue officers known as arthanayakas (Prefects of Property) came into being and were graded as Navakas, arthanayakas and mahattamaarthanayakas Even ministers once respected for their integrity and men from the Purohitacorporations, were lured to these posts, and money was to be raised from all possible sources including levy on night-soil? These ill-gotten gains were spent in frivolous and foolish ways by the King He showered wealth and presents on the unworthy who played upon his credulity At about this time, he is also said to have fallen in love with a picture of one of the queens of the Chalukya monarch, Vikramaditya VI AL (1076-1126) alias Permandi (Permadi), named Chandala Curiously enough, the Chalukyan king had a queen by the name of Chandralekha, a princess of the silahara family. Very probably, Chandralekha 1. R.T 2. Ibi 3. Ibid 4. Ibid 5. Ibid 6. Ibid I, vii, 1100-01. vii, 1102-07. I, vii, 1107. I vii, 1115 ff. vii, 1116-18, 1128-33. I, vii, 1119-27.

361 was the daughter of the Silahara Marasimha, a feudatory ruler of the regions roughly corresponding to the districts of modern Satara and Kolhapur with his capital at Karnataka, modern Karad Chandralekha is named Chandaladevi in Chalukyan inscriptions which name is 'also occasionally used by Bilhana'? If Chandala be the shortened Prakritised form of that name (Chandralekha), we may credit Kalhana with considerable historical accuracy in his account. The The licentious king had crossed all limits of decorum and was guilty of the worst incests? royal harem soon turned into a place of intrigues, and plots for his own murder were also hatched by irresponsible male and female members of the household. Fortunately, Harsha came to know of them and the guilty were executed forthwith