Gupta Empire
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Gupta Empire |
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3rd century
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• c.
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3rd century CE |
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550 CE |
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400 est.[1] |
3,500,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi) |
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440 est.[2] |
1,700,000 km2 (660,000 sq mi) |
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The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the
mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to
467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent.[3] This period is considered as the Golden Age of India by
historians.[4][note 1] The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by the
king Sri Gupta; the most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta
I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta
II alias Vikramaditya. The 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits
the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside
India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes
located in the west and east Oxus
valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and
others.[6][non-primary source
needed]
The high points of this period are the great cultural
developments which took place primarily during the reigns of Samudragupta,
Chandragupta II and Kumaragupta I. Many of the literary sources, such as Mahabharata and Ramayana, were
canonised during this period.[7] The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa,[8] Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Vatsyayana who
made great advancements in many academic fields.[9][10][11] Science and political
administration reached new heights during the Gupta era.[10] The period gave rise to achievements in
architecture, sculpture, and painting that "set standards of form and
taste [that] determined the whole subsequent course of art, not only in India
but far beyond her borders".[12] Strong trade ties also made the region an important
cultural centre and established the region as a base that would influence
nearby kingdoms and regions in South Asia and Southeast
Asia.[13][unreliable source?] The Puranas, earlier
long poems on a variety of subjects, are also thought to have been committed to
written texts around this period.[12][14] Hinduism was followed by the rulers and the
Brahmins flourished in the Gupta empire but the Guptas tolerated people of
other faiths as well. Ritualistic sacrifices were reduced in the Gupta period[15]
The empire eventually died out because of many factors
such as substantial loss of territory and imperial authority caused by their
own erstwhile feudatories, as well as the invasion by the Huna
peoples (Kidarites and Alchon Huns)
from Central Asia.[16][17] After the collapse of the Gupta Empire in the 6th
century, India was again ruled by numerous regional kingdoms.
Contents
·
1Origin
·
2History
o
2.4Chandragupta
II "Vikramaditya"
§ 2.4.1Chandragupta
II's campaigns against foreign tribes
o
2.8Post-Gupta
successor dynasties
·
6Legacy
·
9Notes
Origin[edit]
Main article: Origin of the Gupta dynasty
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The homeland of the Guptas is uncertain.[18] According to one theory, they originated in the
present-day lower-doab[19] region of Uttar
Pradesh, where most of the inscriptions and coin hoards of the
early Gupta kings have been discovered.[20][21] This theory is also supported by the Purana, as argued
by the proponents, that mention the territory of the early Gupta kings as Prayaga, Saketa, and Magadha areas
in the Ganges basin.[22][23]
Another prominent theory locates the Gupta homeland in
the present-day Bengal region in Ganges basin, based on the account of the
7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing. According
to Yijing, king Che-li-ki-to (identified with the dynasty's founder Shri Gupta) built a
temple for Chinese pilgrims near Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no (apparently a
transcription of Mriga-shikha-vana). Yijing states
that this temple was located more than 40 yojanas east
of Nalanda, which
would mean it was situated somewhere in the modern Bengal region.[24] Another proposal is that the early Gupta kingdom
extended from Prayaga in the west to northern Bengal in the east.[25]
The Gupta records do not mention the dynasty's varna (social
class).[26] Some historians, such as A.S.
Altekar, have theorised that they were of Vaishya origin,
as certain ancient Indian texts prescribe the name "Gupta" for the
members of the Vaishya varna.[27][28] According to historian R. S.
Sharma, the Vaishyas – who were traditionally associated with
trade – may have become rulers after resisting oppressive taxation by the
previous rulers.[29] Critics of the Vaishya-origin theory point out that
the suffix Gupta features in the names of several non-Vaishyas before as well
as during the Gupta period,[30] and the dynastic name "Gupta" may have
simply derived from the name of the family's first king Gupta.[31] Some scholars, such as S.R. Goyal, theorise that
the Guptas were Brahmanas, because they had matrimonial relations with Brahmans,
but others reject this evidence as inconclusive.[32] Based on the Pune and Riddhapur inscriptions of the
Gupta princess Prabhavati-gupta, some
scholars believe that the name of her paternal gotra (clan)
was "Dharana", but an alternative reading of these inscriptions
suggests that Dharana was the gotra of her mother Kuberanaga.[33]
History[edit]
Early rulers[edit]
Gupta script inscription Maharaja Sri Gupta 
("Great King, Lord
Gupta"), mentioning the first ruler of the dynasty, king Gupta.
Inscription by Samudragupta on the Allahabad pillar, where Samudragupta presents king Gupta as his great-grandfather. Dated
circa 350 CE.[34]
Queen Kumaradevi and
King Chandragupta I, depicted on a gold coin
Gupta (Gupta
script: gu-pta,
fl. late 3rd century CE) is the earliest known king of the dynasty: different
historians variously date the beginning of his reign from mid-to-late 3rd
century CE.[35][36] Sri Gupta founded the Gupta Empire c. 240-280 CE,
and was succeeded by his son, Ghatotkacha, c. 280-319 CE, followed by
Ghatotkacha’s son, Chandragupta, c. 319-335 CE.[37]"Che-li-ki-to", the name of a king mentioned by
the 7th century Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing, is
believed to be a transcription of "Shri-Gupta"
(IAST:
Śrigupta), "Shri" being an honorific prefix.[38] According to Yijing, this king built a temple for
Chinese Buddhist pilgrims near "Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no" (believed to
be a transcription of Mṛgaśikhāvana).[39]
In the Allahabad
Pillar inscription, Gupta and his successor Ghatotkacha are described as Maharaja ("great
king"), while the next king Chandragupta
I is called a Maharajadhiraja ("king
of great kings"). In the later period, the title Maharaja was
used by feudatory rulers, which has led to suggestions that Gupta and
Ghatotkacha were vassals (possibly of Kushan
Empire).[40] However, there are several instances of paramount
sovereigns using the title Maharaja, in both pre-Gupta and
post-Gupta periods, so this cannot be said with certainty. That said, there is
no doubt that Gupta and Ghatotkacha held a lower status and were less powerful
than Chandragupta I.[41]
Chandragupta I married the Lichchhavi princess
Kumaradevi, which may have helped him extend his political power and dominions,
enabling him to adopt the imperial title Maharajadhiraja.[42] According to the dynasty's official records, he was
succeeded by his son Samudragupta. However,
the discovery of the coins issued by a Gupta ruler named Kacha have
led to some debate on this topic: according to one theory, Kacha was another
name for Samudragupta; another possibility is that Kacha was a rival claimant
to the throne.[43]
Samudragupta[edit]
Main article: Samudragupta
Coin of Samudragupta,
with Garuda pillar. British Museum.
Samudragupta succeeded his father around 335
or 350 CE, and ruled until c. 375 CE.[44] The Allahabad Pillar inscription,
composed by his courtier Harishena, credits
him with extensive conquests.[45] The inscription asserts that Samudragupta uprooted
8 kings of Aryavarta, the northern region, including the Nagas.[46] It further claims that he subjugated all the kings
of the forest region, which was most probably located in central India.[47] It also credits him with defeating 12 rulers
of Dakshinapatha, the southern region: the exact
identification of several of these kings is debated among modern scholars,[48] but it is clear that these kings ruled areas
located on the eastern coast of India.[49] The inscription suggests that Samudragupta advanced
as far as the Pallava kingdom
in the south, and defeated Vishnugopa, the Pallava regent of Kanchi.[50] During this southern campaign, Samudragupta most
probably passed through the forest tract of central India, reached the eastern
coast in present-day Odisha, and then marched south along the coast of Bay of
Bengal.[51]
The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that rulers of
several frontier kingdoms and tribal oligarchies paid
Samudragupta tributes, obeyed his orders, and performed obeisance before him.[52][53] The frontier kingdoms included Samatata, Davaka, Kamarupa, Nepala, and
Karttripura.[54] The tribal oligarchies included Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, and Abhiras, among
others.[53]
Finally, the inscription mentions that several foreign
kings tried to please Samudragupta by personal attendance; offered him their
daughters in marriage (or according to another interpretation, gifted him
maidens[55]); and sought the use of the Garuda-depicting
Gupta seal for administering their own territories.[56] This is an exaggeration: for example, the
inscription lists the king of Simhala among
these kings. It is known that from Chinese sources that the Simhala king Meghavarna sent rich presents to the Gupta
king requesting his permission to build a Buddhist monastery at Bodh Gaya:
Samudragupta's pangyerist appears to have described this act
of diplomacy as an act of subservience.[57]
Samudragupta appears to have been Vaishnavite, as
attested by his Eran inscription,[58][59] and performed several Brahmanical ceremonies.[60] The Gupta records credit him with making generous
donations of cows and gold.[58] He performed the Ashvamedha ritual
(horse sacrifice), which was used by the ancient Indian kings to prove their
imperial sovereignty, and issued gold coins (see Coinage below)
to mark this performance.[61]
The Allahabad Pillar inscription presents Samudragupta as
a wise king and strict administrator, who was also compassionate enough to help
the poor and the helpless.[62] It also alludes to the king's talents as a musician
and a poet, and calls him the "king of poets".[63] Such claims are corroborated by Samudragupta's gold
coins, which depict him playing a veena.[64]
Samudragupta appears to have directly controlled a large
part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain in
present-day India, as well as a substantial part of central India.[65] Besides, his empire comprised a number of
monarchical and tribal tributary states of northern India, and of the
south-eastern coastal region of India.[66][49]
Ramagupta[edit]
Standing Buddha in red sandstone, Mathura, Gupta period circa 5th century
CE. Mathura Museum.[67]
Main
article: Ramagupta
Ramagupta is known from a sixth-century play, the Devichandragupta, in which
he surrenders his wife to the enemy Sakas and
his brother Chandragupta has to sneak into the enemy camp to rescue her and
kill the Saka king. The historicity of these events is unclear, but Ramagupta's
existence is confirmed by three Jain statues
found at Durjanpur, with inscriptions referring to him
as the Maharajadhiraja. A large number of his copper coins also
have been found from the Eran-Vidisha region
and classified in five distinct types, which include the Garuda,[68] Garudadhvaja, lion and border
legend types. The Brahmi legends
on these coins are written in the early Gupta style.[69]
Chandragupta II "Vikramaditya"[edit]
Main article: Chandragupta
II
Maximum extent of
Gupta Empire during Chandragupta II, 414 AD including tributaries
According to the Gupta records, amongst his sons,
Samudragupta nominated prince Chandragupta II, born of queen Dattadevi, as his
successor. Chandragupta II, Vikramaditya (the Sun of Power),
ruled from 375 until 415. He married a Kadamba princess of Kuntala and of Naga
lineage (Nāgakulotpannnā), Kuberanaga. His daughter Prabhavatigupta from
this Naga queen was married to Rudrasena
II, the Vakataka ruler of Deccan.[70] His son Kumaragupta I was married to a Kadamba
princess of the Karnataka region. Chandragupta II expanded his realm westwards,
defeating the Saka Western Kshatrapas of Malwa, Gujarat and Saurashtra in a campaign lasting until 409.
His main opponent Rudrasimha
III was defeated by 395, and he crushed the Bengal chiefdoms. This
extended his control from coast to coast, established a second capital at Ujjain and
was the high point of the empire.[citation needed] Kuntala inscriptions indicate rule of Chandragupta
in Kuntala region of Indian state of Karnataka.[71] Hunza inscription also indicate
that Chandragupta was able to rule north western indian subcontinent and
proceeded to conquer Balkh, although some scholars have also disputed the identity
of gupta king.[72][73] Chalukyan ruler Vikramditya
VI (r. 1076 – 1126 CE) mentions Chandragupta with his title and states
'why should the glory of the Kings Vikramaditya and Nanda be a hindrance any
longer ? he with a loud command abolished that (era), which has the name
of Saka, and made that (era) which has the Chalukya counting ” [74]
Gold coins of Chandragupta II.
Despite the creation of the empire through war, the reign
is remembered for its very influential style of Hindu art,
literature, culture and science, especially during the reign of Chandragupta
II. Some excellent works of Hindu art such as the panels at the Dashavatara
Temple in Deogarh serve to illustrate the magnificence of Gupta art.
Above all, it was the synthesis of elements that gave Gupta art its distinctive
flavour. During this period, the Guptas were supportive of thriving Buddhist and Jain cultures
as well, and for this reason, there is also a long history of non-Hindu Gupta
period art. In particular, Gupta period Buddhist art was to be
influential in most of East and Southeast Asia. Many advances were recorded by
the Chinese scholar and traveller Faxian in
his diary and published afterwards.
The court of Chandragupta was made even more illustrious
by the fact that it was graced by the Navaratna (Nine Jewels),
a group of nine who excelled in the literary arts. Amongst these men was Kālidāsa, whose
works dwarfed the works of many other literary geniuses, not only in his own
age but in the years to come. Kalidasa was mainly known for his subtle
exploitation of the shringara (romantic) element in his verse.
Chandragupta II's
campaigns against foreign tribes[edit]
The 4th century Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits
Chandragupta Vikramaditya with conquering about twenty-one kingdoms, both in
and outside India. After finishing his campaign in East and West India,
Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) proceeded northwards, subjugated the Parasikas, then
the Hunas and the Kambojas tribes
located in the west and east Oxus valleys
respectively. Thereafter, the king proceeded into the Himalaya mountains
to reduce the mountain tribes of the Kinnaras, Kiratas, as well
as India proper.[6][non-primary source
needed] In
one of his works Kalidasa also credits him with the removal of the Sakas from
the country. He wrote 'Wasn't it Vikramaditya who drove the Sakas out from the
lovely city of Ujjain?'.[75]
The Brihatkathamanjari of the Kashmiri writer Kshemendra states,
King Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth of
the Barbarians like the Sakas, Mlecchas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Parasikas, Hunas, and
others, by annihilating these sinful Mlecchas completely".[76][non-primary source
needed][77][78][unreliable source?]
Faxian[edit]
Faxian (or Fa Hsien etc.), a Chinese Buddhist, was one
of the pilgrims who visited India during the reign of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta
II. He started his journey from China in 399 and reached India in 405. During
his stay in India up to 411, he went on a pilgrimage to Mathura, Kannauj, Kapilavastu, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashi, and Rajagriha, and made
careful observations about the empire's conditions. Faxian was pleased with the
mildness of administration. The Penal Code was mild and offences were punished
by fines only. From his accounts, the Gupta Empire was a prosperous period. His
writings form one of the most important sources for the history of this period.[79]
Faxian on reaching Mathura comments––
"The snow and heat are finely tempered, and there is
neither hoarfrost nor snow. The people are numerous and happy. They have not to
register their households. Only those who cultivate the royal land have to pay
(a portion of) the gain from it. If they want to go, they go. If they want to
stay on, they stay on. The king governs without decapitation or (other)
corporal punishments. Criminals are simply fined according to circumstances.
Even in cases of repeated attempts at wicked rebellion, they only have their
right-hand cut off. The king's bodyguards & attendants all have salaries.
Throughout the whole country, the people do not kill any living creature, not
drink any intoxicating liquor, nor eat onions or garlic."[79]
Kumaragupta I[edit]
Main article: Kumaragupta
I
Silver coin of the
Gupta King Kumaragupta I (Coin of his Western territories, design derived from the Western Satraps).
Obv: Bust of king with crescents, with traces of corrupt Greek script.[80][81]
Rev: Garuda standing facing with
spread wings. Brahmi legend: Parama-bhagavata rajadhiraja Sri Kumaragupta Mahendraditya.
Chandragupta II was succeeded by his second son Kumaragupta
I, born of Mahadevi Dhruvasvamini. Kumaragupta I assumed
the title, Mahendraditya.[82] He ruled until 455. Towards the end of his reign a
tribe in the Narmada valley, the Pushyamitras, rose in
power to threaten the empire. The Kidarites as
well probably confronted the Gupta Empire towards the end of the rule of
Kumaragupta I, as his son Skandagupta mentions
in the Bhitari pillar
inscription his efforts at reshaping a country in disarray,
through reorganisation and military victories over the Pushyamitras and
the Hunas.[83]
He was the founder of Nalanda University which on 15
July 2016 was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.[84]
Skandagupta[edit]
Main article: Skandagupta
Jain tirthankara relief Parshvanatha on Kahaum
pillar erected by
Skandagupta[85]
Skandagupta, son and successor of Kumaragupta I
is generally considered to be the last of the great Gupta rulers. He assumed
the titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya.[86] He defeated the Pushyamitra threat, but then was
faced with invading Kidarites (sometimes
described as the Hephthalites or "White Huns", known
in India as the Sweta Huna), from the
northwest.
He repelled a Huna attack around 455 CE,
but the expense of the wars drained the empire's resources and contributed to
its decline. The Bhitari Pillar inscription of Skandagupta, the
successor of Chandragupta, recalls the near-annihilation of the Gupta Empire
following the attacks of the Kidarites.[87] The Kidarites seem to have retained the western
part of the Gupta Empire.[87]
Skandagupta died in 467 and was succeeded by his agnate
brother Purugupta.[88]
Decline of the empire[edit]
Following Skandagupta's death, the empire was clearly in
decline,[89] and the later Gupta coinage indicates their loss of
control over much of western India after 467–469.[3] Skandagupta was followed by Purugupta (467–473), Kumaragupta
II (473–476), Budhagupta (476–495), Narasimhagupta (495—530), Kumaragupta
III (530—540), Vishnugupta (540—550), two lesser known
kings namely, Vainyagupta and Bhanugupta.
In the 480's the Alchon Huns under Toramana and Mihirakula broke
through the Gupta defences in the northwest, and much of the empire in the
northwest was overrun by the Huns by 500. According to some scholars the empire
disintegrated under the attacks of Toramana and
his successor Mihirakula.[90][91] It appears from inscriptions that the Guptas,
although their power was much diminished, continued to resist the Huns. The Hun
invader Toramana was defeated by Bhanugupta in
510.[92][93] The Huns were defeated and driven out of India in
528 by King Yashodharman from Malwa, and
possibly Gupta emperor Narasimhagupta.[94]
The much-weakened
Late Guptas, circa 550 CE.
These invasions, although only spanning a few decades,
had long term effects on India, and in a sense brought an end to Classical
Indian civilisation.[95] Soon after the invasions, the Gupta Empire, already
weakened by these invasions and the rise of local rulers such as Yashodharman, ended as
well.[96] Following the invasions, northern India was left in
disarray, with numerous smaller Indian powers emerging after the crumbling of
the Guptas.[97] The Huna invasions are said to have seriously
damaged India's trade with Europe and Central
Asia.[95] In particular, Indo-Roman trade relations, which the Gupta
Empire had greatly benefited from. The Guptas had been exporting numerous
luxury products such as silk, leather goods, fur, iron products, ivory, pearl, and
pepper from centres such as Nasik, Paithan, Pataliputra, and Benares. The Huna
invasion probably disrupted these trade relations and the tax revenues that
came with them.[98]
Furthermore, Indian urban culture was left in decline,
and Buddhism, gravely weakened by the destruction of monasteries and
the killing of monks by the hand of the vehemently anti-Buddhist Shaivist Mihirakula,
started to collapse.[95] Great centres of learning were destroyed, such as
the city of Taxila, bringing cultural regression.[95] During their rule of 60 years, the Alchons are said
to have altered the hierarchy of ruling families and the Indian caste system. For example, the Hunas are often
said to have become the precursors of the Rajputs.[95]
The succession of the 6th-century Guptas is not entirely
clear, but the tail end recognised ruler of the dynasty's main line was
king Vishnugupta, reigning from 540 to 550. In
addition to the Hun invasion, the factors, which contribute to the decline of
the empire include competition from the Vakatakas and
the rise of Yashodharman in Malwa.[99]
Coin of King
Iśanavarman of the Maukharis of Kannauj, successors of the Guptas in
the Gangetic region circa 535-553 CE. The ruler faces to the left, whereas in
Gupta coinage the ruler faces to the right. This is possibly a symbol of
antagonism and rivalry, as also seen on some
similar coins of Toramana.[100]
The last known inscription by a Gupta emperor is from the
reign of Vishnugupta (the Damodarpur copper-plate inscription),[101] in which he makes a land grant in the area of Kotivarsha (Bangarh in West Bengal) in 542/543
CE.[102] This follows the occupation of most of northern and
central India by the Aulikara ruler Yashodharman circa
532 CE.[102]
A 2019 study by archaeologist Shanker Sharma has concluded
that the cause of the Gupta empire's downfall was a devastating flood which
happened around the middle of the 6th century in Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar.[103]
Post-Gupta successor dynasties[edit]
In the heart of the former Gupta Empire, in the Gangetic
region, the Guptas were succeeded by the Maukhari
dynasty and the Pushyabhuti dynasty.[104] The coinage of the Maukharis and Pushyabhutis
followed the silver coin type of the Guptas, with portrait of the ruler in
profile (although facing in the reverse direction compared to the Guptas, a
possible symbol of antagonism)[100] and the peacock on the reverse, the Brahmi legend
being kept except for the name of the ruler.[104]
In the western regions, they were succeeded by the Gurjaras, the Pratiharas, and later
the Chaulukya-Paramara dynasties,
who issued so-called Indo-Sasanian coinage, on the model of
the coinage of
the Sasanian Empire, which had been introduced in India by the Alchon Huns.[104]
Military organisation[edit]
Sculpture of Vishnu
(red sandstone), 5th century CE.
In contrast to the Mauryan
Empire, the Guptas introduced several military innovations to
Indian warfare. Chief amongst these was the use of Siege
engines, heavy cavalry archers and heavy sword cavalry.
The heavy cavalry formed the core of the Gupta
army and were supported by the traditional Indian army elements of elephants
and light infantry.[105]
The utilisation of horse archers in the Gupta period is
evidenced on the coinage of Chandragupta
II, Kumaragupta I and Prakasaditya (postulated to
be Purugupta[106]) that depicts the emperors as horse-archers.[107][108]
An 8 gm gold coin
featuring Chandragupta II astride a caparisoned horse with a bow in his left hand[109]
Unfortunately there is a paucity of contemporary sources
detailing the tactical operations of the Imperial Gupta Army. The best extant
information comes from the Sanskrit mahakavya (epic poem) Raghuvaṃśa written
by the Classical Sanskrit writer and dramatist Kalidasa. Many
modern scholars put forward the view that Kalidasa lived from the reign of
Chandragupta II to the reign of Skandagupta[110][111][112][113] and that the campaigns of Raghu – his protagonist
in the Raghuvaṃśa – reflect those of Chandragupta II.[114] In Canto IV of the Raghuvamsa, Kalidasa relates how
the king's forces clash against the powerful, cavalry-centric, forces of the
Persians and later the Yavanas (probably Huns) in the North-West. Here he makes
special mention of the use horse-archers in the kings army and that the horses
needed much rest after the hotly contested battles.[115] The five arms of the Gupta military included
infantry, cavalry, chariot, elephants and ships. Gunaighar copper plate
inscription of Vainya Gupta mentions ships but not chariots.[116] Ships had become integral part of Indian military
in the 6th century AD.
Religion[edit]
.jpg)
Dharmachakra
Pravartana Buddha at Sarnath from the Gupta era, 5th century CE.
The Guptas were traditionally a Hindu dynasty.[117] They were orthodox Hindus, but did
not force their beliefs on the rest of the population, as Buddhism and Jainism also
were accepted, and sometimes even supportive.[118] Sanchi remained
an important centre of Buddhism.[118] Kumaragupta
I (c. 414 – c. 455 CE) is said to have founded Nalanda.[118] Modern genetic studies indicate that it was during
the Gupta period that South Asian caste groups ceased to intermarry.[119]
Some later rulers however seem to have especially
promoted Buddhism. Narasimhagupta Baladitya (c. 495–?),
according to contemporary writer Paramartha, was
brought up under the influence of the Mahayanist philosopher, Vasubandhu.[117] He built a sangharama at Nalanda and
also a 300 ft (91 m) high vihara with
a Buddha statue within which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great
Vihara built under the Bodhi tree".
According to the Manjushrimulakalpa (c. 800 CE),
king Narasimhsagupta became a Buddhist monk, and left the world through
meditation (Dhyana).[117] The Chinese monk Xuanzang also
noted that Narasimhagupta Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama
as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".[120]:45[121]:330
Gupta administration[edit]
A study of the epigraphical records of the Gupta empire
shows that there was a hierarchy of administrative divisions from top to
bottom. The empire was called by various names such as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, Prithvi and Avani.
It was divided into 26 provinces, which were styled as Bhukti, Pradesha and Bhoga.
Provinces were also divided into Vishayas and put under the
control of the Vishayapatis. A Vishayapati administered
the Vishaya with the help of the Adhikarana (council
of representatives), which comprised four representatives: Nagarasreshesthi, Sarthavaha, Prathamakulika and Prathama
Kayastha. A part of the Vishaya was called Vithi.[122] The Gupta also had trading links with the Sassanid
and Byzantine Empire.[citation needed]. The four-fold varna system was observed under the Gupta
period but caste system was fluid. Brahmins followed non-Brahmanical profession
as well. Khastriyas were involved in trade and commerce. The society largely
coexisted among themselves.[123][need quotation to verify]
Legacy[edit]
Scholars of this period include Varahamihira and Aryabhata, who is
believed to be the first to consider zero as a
separate number, postulated the theory that the Earth rotates about its own
axis, and studied solar and lunar eclipses. Kalidasa, who was a
great playwright, who wrote plays such as Shakuntala, and
marked the highest point of Sanskrit literature is also said
to have belonged to this period. The Sushruta Samhita, which is
a Sanskrit redaction text on all of the major concepts of ayurvedic medicine
with innovative chapters on surgery, dates to the Gupta period.
Chess is said to have developed in this period,[124] where its early form in the 6th century was known
as caturaṅga, which translates
as "four divisions [of the military]" – infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry –
represented by the pieces that would evolve into the modern pawn, knight,
bishop, and rook, respectively. Doctors also invented several medical
instruments, and even performed operations. The Indian
numerals which were the first positional base 10 numeral
systems in the world originated from Gupta India. The names of the seven days in a week appeared
at the start of the Gupta period based on Hindu deities and planets
corresponding to the Roman names. The ancient Gupta text Kama Sutra by
the Indian scholar Vatsyayana is
widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behaviour in Sanskrit
literature.
Aryabhata, a noted mathematician-astronomer of the Gupta period
proposed that the earth is round and rotates about its own axis. He also
discovered that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight. Instead of
the prevailing cosmogony in which eclipses were caused by pseudo-planetary
nodes Rahu and Ketu, he
explained eclipses in terms of shadows cast by and falling on Earth.[125]
Art and architecture[edit]
Main article: Gupta art
·
A tetrastyle prostyle Gupta period temple
at Sanchi besides the Apsidal hall with Maurya foundation, an example of Buddhist architecture. 5th century CE.
·
The current structure of the Mahabodhi Temple dates to the Gupta era, 5th
century CE. Marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained
enlightenment.
·
Dashavatara Temple is a Vishnu Hindu temple built during the Gupta period.
The Gupta period is generally regarded as a classic peak
of North Indian art for all the major religious
groups. Although painting was evidently widespread, the surviving works are
almost all religious sculpture. The period saw the emergence of the iconic
carved stone deity in Hindu art, as well as the Buddha-figure and Jain tirthankara figures,
the latter often on a very large scale. The two great centres of sculpture
were Mathura and Gandhara, the
latter the centre of Greco-Buddhist art. Both exported
sculpture to other parts of northern India.
The most famous remaining monuments in a broadly Gupta
style, the caves at Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora (respectively
Buddhist, Hindu, and mixed including Jain) were in fact produced under later
dynasties, but primarily reflect the monumentality and balance of Guptan style.
Ajanta contains by far the most significant survivals of painting from this and
the surrounding periods, showing a mature form which had probably had a long
development, mainly in painting palaces.[126] The Hindu Udayagiri
Caves actually record connections with the dynasty and its ministers,[127] and the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh is a
major temple, one of the earliest to survive, with important sculpture.[128]
·
Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha (Ananta), Dashavatara Temple 5th century
·
Buddha from Sarnath, 5–6th century CE
·
The Colossal trimurti at the Elephanta Caves
·
Painting of Padmapani Cave 1 at Ajanta
·
The Shiva mukhalinga (faced-lingam) from the Bhumara
Temple
·
Nalrajar Garh
fortification wall in Chilapata Forests, West Bengal, is one of the last surviving
fortification remains from the Gupta period ,currently 5–7 m high
·
Nalanda
university was first established under Gupta empire
·
Bitargaon
temple from the Gupta period provide one of the earliest
examples of pointed arches anywhere in the world
·
Ajanta caves from
Gupta era
·
.jpg)
Krishna fighting
the horse demon Keshi, 5th century
Summarised notes :
The Kadambas (345–525 CE) were an
ancient royal family of Karnataka, India, that ruled northern Karnataka and the
Konkan kingdom was founded by Mayurasharma in
c. 345 Mayurasharma defeated the armies of the Pallavas of Kanchi possibly with the help
of some native tribes and claimed sovereignty. The Kadamba power reached its
peak during the rule of Kakusthavarma.
The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western Ganga Dynasty and together they
formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with autonomy. One of
their earliest inscriptions, the Talagunda inscription of crown prince
Santivarma (c.450) gives what may be the most possible cause for the emergence
of the Kadamba kingdom. It states that Mayurasharma was a native of Talagunda,
(in present-day Shimoga district of
Karnataka state) and his family got its name from the Kadamba tree that grew
near his home. grandfather The inscription narrates how Mayurasharma proceeded to Kanchi in c.345 along with his guru and
Veerasharma to pursue his Vedic studies at a Ghatika ("school").
There, owing to some misunderstanding between him and a Pallava guard or at
an Ashvasanstha ("horse sacrifice"), a quarrel
arose in which Mayurasharma was humiliated. Enraged, the Brahmin discontinued
his studies, left Kanchi swearing vengeance on the Pallavas and took to arms.
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