10-GUPTA TIMES

GUPTA DYNASTY
Contemporary literary works like the Devichandraguptam and the Mudhrakshasam written by Visakadatta,
Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription and the Allahabad Pillar inscription provide information regarding the Guptas along with Puranic references
The Chinese traveler Fahien, who visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II, has left a valuable account of the social, economicand religious conditions of the Gupta empire.
Second urbanisation
most important source for the reign of Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar inscription, engraved on an Asokan pillar
written in classical Sanskrit, using the Nagari script consists of 33 lines composed by Harisena
coins issued by Gupta kings contain legends and figures which provide interesting details about the titles and sacrifices performed by the Gupta monarchs.
The founder of the Gupta dynasty was Sri Gupta.
He was succeeded by Ghatotkach
Chandragupta I (320 – 330 A.D.circa)
The next ruler was Chandragupta I and he was the first to be called Maharajadhiraja (the great king of kings).
his marriage to the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power.
The obverse of gold coins depicts portraits of Chandragupta and Kumaradevi, with their names in the Gupta script. The reverse shows a goddess seated on a lion, with the legend "Lichchhavayah" ("the Lichchhavis") below
The Meherauli Iron Pillar inscription mentions his extensive conquests.
Chandragupta I is considered to be the founder of the Gupta era which starts with his accession in A.D. 320.
Samudragupta (330-380 A.D.circa)
The Allahabad Pillar inscription and the Eran stone inscription of Samudragupta state that his father Chandragupta selected him as the next king.
A son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchaviprincess
The Allahabad Pillar inscription/prashasti (eulogy) provides a detailed account of his reign.
Three stages in his military campaign:
1. Against some rulers of North India
2. His famous Dakshinapatha expedition against South Indian rulers.
3. A second campaign against some other rulers of North India.
After these military victories, Samudragupta performed the asvamedha sacrifice.
His southern expedition may have been motivated by economic considerations of controlling the trade between India and South-East Asia.
issued gold and silver coins.
because of his military achievements Samudragupta was hailed as “Indian Napoleon”.
Called as Kaviraja.
The Mathura stone inscription of his son Chandragupta II describes him as equal to the deities Kubera, Varuna, Indra, and Yama.
His image depicting him with Veena is foundin the coins issued by him.
the promotion of Sanskritisation of literature and learning.
He was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism.
patron of the great Buddhist scholar Vasubandu.
Chandragupta II (380-415 A.D.)
Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.
But according to some scholars, the immediate successor of Samudragupta was Ramagupta, the elder brother of Chandragupta II.
The fragment from Vishakhadatta's play "Natya-darpana" mentions that Ramagupta, the elder brother of Chandragupta II, decided to surrender Dhruvadevi to the Saka ruler Rudrasimha III of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty, when faced with a military defeat. Chandragupta himself went to Rudrasimha III disguised as the queen, and then assassinated the enemy rulers.
inherited the military genius of his father and extended the Gupta Empire by his own conquests.
The most importent of the military achievements of Chandragupta II was his war against the Saka satraps of western India to control trade with the western countries with its capital at Ujjain
Rudrasimha III, the last ruler of the Saka satrap was defeated, dethroned and killed.
His territories in western Malwa and the Kathiawar Peninsula were annexed into the Gupta Empire.
the western boundary of the Empire reached to the Arabian Sea gaining access to Broach, Sopara, Cambay and other sea ports which enabled the Gupta empire to control trade with the western countries.
After this victory he performed the horse sacrifice and assumed the title “Sakari”,(Destroyer of Sakas).
He also called himself Vikramaditya.
started producing silver coins in the Western Satrap tradition in his western territories.
Ujjain became an important commercial city and soon became the alternative capital of the Guptas.
Chandragupta II's daughter, Prabhavatigupta, by his Naga queen Kuberanaga was married to the powerful Vakataka dynasty ruler Rudrasena II
His son-in-law died following which Queen Prabhavatigupta (r. 385–405) ruled the Vakataka kingdom as a regent on behalf of her two sons.
During this twenty-year period, the Vakataka realm was practically a part of the Gupta empire.
nine famous scholars known as the Navaratnas ("nine gems") arguably attended the court of the legendary Vikramaditya.
Besides Kalidasa himself, these included Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Ghatakarapara, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, and Vetala Bhatta.
Fahien’s Visit
The famous and first Chinese pilgrim, Fahien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II [AD 405-411]
Out of his nine years stay in India, he spent six years in the Gupta empire.
Fahien provides valuable information on the religious, social and economic condition of the Gupta empire.
According to him, Buddhism in the Gangetic valley was in a state of neglect.
He refers to the Gangetic valley as the “land of Brahmanism”
Fahien mentions the unsatisfactory state of some of the Buddhist holy places including Kapilavastu and Kusinagara.
he reported about the absence of capital punishment, the lack of a poll-tax and land tax.
Kumar Gupta
the son and successor of Chandragupta II.
reign was marked by general peace and prosperity.
issued a number of coins and his inscriptions are found all over the Gupta empire.
performed an asvamedha sacrifice.
Most importantly, he laid the foundation of the Nalanda University which emerged an institution of international reputation.
At the end of his reign, a powerful wealthy tribe defeated the Gupta army.
A branch of the Huns from Central Asia made attempts to cross the Hindukush mountains and invade India.
the Gupta power totally disappeared due to the Hun invasions and later by the rise of Yasodharman in Malwa.
ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIETY
A high official called Sandivigraha was mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions, most probably minister for foreign affairs.
Provinces in the Gupta Empire were known as Bhuktis and provincial governors as Uparikas.
They were mostly chosen from among the princes. It shows the aristocratic nature of the Gupta rule
Bhuktiswere subdivided into Vishyas or districts governed by Vishyapatis.
Nagara Sreshtis were the officers looking after the city administration.
The villages in the district were under the control of Gramikas.
Fahian characterises the Gupta administration as mild and benevolent.
There were no restrictions on people’s movements and they enjoyed a large degree of personal freedom.
Punishments were not severe.
Imposing a fine was a common punishment.
There was no spy system.
The administration was so efficient that the roads were kept safe for travelers, and there was no fear of thieves.
The position of women had become miserable during the Gupta period.
They were prohibited from studying the religious texts like the Puranas
The subjection of women to men was thoroughly regularized.
The practice of Swyamvara was given up and the Manusmriti suggested the child marriage for girls.
In the sphere of religion, Brahmanism reigned supreme during the Gupta period.
It had two branches - Vaishnavism and Saivism.
Most of the Gupta kings were Vaishnavaites.
The worship of images and celebration ofreligious festivals with elaborate rituals made these two sects popular.
Religious literature like the Puranas was composed during this period.
neglected Buddhism and Jainism.
But a few Buddhist scholars like Vasubandhuwere patronized by Gupta kings.
In western and southern India Jainism flourished.
The great Jain Council was held at Valabhi duringthis period and the Jain Canon of the Swetambras was written.
Art and Architecture
In the history of Indian art and architecture the Nagara style of art originated during this period.
But most of the architecture of this period had been lost due to foreign invasions like that of Huns.
The temple at Deogarh near Jhansi and the sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimenof the Gupta art.
the beautiful statue of standing Buddha at Mathura reveals a little Greek style.
The Buddha statue unearthed at Saranath was unique piece of Gupta art.
The Bhitari monolithic pillar of Skandagupta is also remarkable.
Metallurgy
The craftsmen were efficient in the art of casting metal statues and pillars.
The gigantic copper statue of Buddha, originally found at Sultanganj now kept at Birmingham museum, was about seven and a half feet height and nearly a ton weight.
The Delhi Iron pillar of the erected by Chandragupta II is still free from rust though completely exposed to sun and rain for so many centuries.
The pillar is made of 98% wrought iron and has stood more than 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.
The paintings of the Gupta period are seen at Bagh caves near Gwalior.
The mural paintings of Ajantha mostly illustrate the life of the Buddha as depicted in the Jataka stories.
The paintings at Sigiriya in Sri Lanka were highly influenced by the Ajantha style.
The Gupta coinage was also remarkable.
Samudragupta issued eight types of gold coin
Nagari script had evolved from the Brahmi script.
Numerous works in classical Sanskrit came to be written in the forms of epic, lyrics, drama and prose.
The best of the Sanskrit literature belonged to the Gupta age.
The Mahabharatha and the Ramayana were given final touches and written in the present form during this period.
The Bhagavata Purana entails the fully developed tenets and philosophy of the Bhagavata tradition wherein Krishna gets fused with Vasudeva and transcends Vedic Vishnu and cosmic Hari to be turned into the ultimate object of bhakti.
Varahamihira composed Pancha Siddhantika, (the five astronomical systems) and Brihad samhita in Sanskrit.
It deals with a variety of subjects like astronomy, astrology, geography, architecture, weather, animals, marriage and omens.
His Brihad jataka is considered to be a standard work on astrology.
In the field of medicine, Vagbhata lived during this period.
He was the last of the great medical trio of ancient India.
The other two scholars Charaka and Susruta lived before the Gupta age.
Vagbhata was the author Ashtangasamgraha (Summary of the eight branchesof medicine).