Later Guptas In India Study Materials collapsed, its fragmented remnants existed here LATER GUPTAS and there, till they too. finally disappeared from Chandragupta II had two queens, the historical map of India by the end of sixth Dhruvadevi and Kuberanaga Govindagupta and centun ad. After the decline of the Gupta Kumaragupta I were the two sons of Empire, another line of kings with names ending Chandragupta (I from the first queen and a with ‘Gupta’ rose in the Magadh region. daughter Vakataka was from his second queen. However, there is no evidence of their Kumaragupta I ascended the throne after his genealogical relationship with that of the father Chandragupta II, in AD 414 Although not Imperial Guptas. The Vallahha in Gujarat, the many details of his reign are ava,ilable, he ruled Gowda-padas in Bengal and the descendants of close to 40 years dunng which he performed the Pushyabhuti in Sthaneshwar became Ashvamedha yajna, which indicates his military independent Simultaneously, another line of Towards the end of his life the Gupta Empire Mukhari kings emerged m the northern Ganges was constant threat of invasion by the Hunas plains of Kanauj. Out of the chaos emerged the rulers. He died in AD 455. His son, powerful kingdom of Sthaneshwar. Towards the Skandagupta Vikramaditya (AD 455- end of the century, the Maukari dynasty. 467)succeeded him. But Skandagupu had to face Mukharis defeated the Guptas and captured the a political crisis, because of the threat from the entire of the Magadha region. The Guptas then other heirs to the moved towards the east, where they came throne, during his 12 years of reign. The Gupta underthe influence of King Empire became brittle from within because of Prabhakaravardhana(Harsha's father) of the political unrest and this opportunity was Thanesar (Kannauj). The last king in the utilised by the invanding Hunas ruler. Maukhari Dynasty. Ghrahavarman, died Skandagupta is reported to have repulsed with without heirs and Kanauj passed to his brother- vigour and strength to save the empire. But this in-law Harsha (whose reign is discussed later). temporary set back for the Hunas who invaded When Harshu’s Empire fell, the Guptas again again succeeded in the long run. The heavy emerged under King Aditysen(AD 675). but expenses incurred the wars and civil unrest they were finally defeated by another Maukahri depreciated the Gupta currency. This coupled King of Kanauj, Yasovarma, in the eighth with the repehfed Huna attacks became the century. prime reason for the Elapse of the Gupta Gupta Administration Empire. The later Guptai were Puru Gupta. Much light is thrown on the nature of Narasimha Baladityav Kumara Gupta II, Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s administration by Tathagata Gupta or Gupta, Kumara Gupta III Fa-hien’s narrative inscriptions that have and Vishnu Gupta. By the Huna king Toraman hitlicrto been discovered. Vikramadityahimself and his son Mihiragula because powerful was a devout Vaishnvlie, but had appointed and'controlled central India for some time. By many people from other scots in high posts in then the descendants of the Gupta Dynasty ruled his court. His counsellor (mantrin) only apart aPataliputra as several states that were Shikaravamin and his minister of peace Saha- merged with the Gupta Empire had become Virasena) were Saivitis. His commander-in independent. After Vishnu Gupta the empire -chief, Amarakarddava, was a examsdaily.in Page 1 Later Guptas In India Study Materials Buddhist. However, regarding the machinery of worship, devotionalism and the importance of administration we do not have many details. But the temple. Education included grammar, various inscriptions detail the following facts: composition, logic, metaphysics, mathematics, The king raja, was mostly nominated by his medicine and astronomy. These subjects became predecessor. The king was regarded as a highly specialised and reached an advanced divinity—Achintya Purusha (or level. The numeral system—sometimes Incomprehensible Being) and erroneously attributed to the Arabs, who took it Dhanadaa- Varunendrantaka- sama, which from India to Europe where it replaced the means equal to Kuvera, Varuna. Indra and Roman system—and the decimal system are Yama.as well as Loka dhama deva (meaning a Indian inventions of this period. Aryabhatta’s God dwelling on earth). He is assisted by the expositions on astronomy in ad 499. moreover, Chief Minister. Sachiva or Mantri, who was the gave calculations of the solar year and the shape chief advisor to the king. The post of Sachiva and movement of astral bodies with remarkable was also determined by heredity. There was accuracy. In medicine Charaka and Sushruta further a central council of ministers, also called wrote about a fully evolved system, resembling Mantri Parishad, but the existence of local those of Hippocrates and Galen in Greece. parishads has also been proved by a Barash seal Although progress in physiology and biology discovered by 'Block’. The entire empire was was hindered by religious injunctions against divided, into a number of provinces called desas, contact with dead bodies, which discouraged bhuktis, etc. which were further sub-divided into dissection and anatomy. Indian physicians districts called pradesas or vishayas. The desas excelled in pharmacopoeia, caesarean section, were governed by officers called Goptris and the bone setting and skin grafting. hukiis were usually governed by Uparikas or Sanskrit Literature Mahabharata and Uparika Maharaja. The heads of vishayas were were given the last touch in this era as it saw the called Vishyapatis. These districts were further last phase of Smriti literature. Sanskrit was the divided into mandats, which were again sub- official language. The Puranas were composed divided into khomas. The village panchayats, during this era containing information on Hindu which were autonomous bodies, were pivotal in; sects, rites and customs in the classical Sanskrit handling the daily administrative affairs of the language. village. The Purupala or Nagaragakshaka looked Buddhist literature Buddhist literature after the administration of towns and cities. But Was translated from Pali to Sanskrit. Notable Parishads, the municipal councils or, writers include names like Arya Deva, Arya committees, were also an important element in Asanga, Vasubandhu and Dignage. the machinery of the local government. Vasubandhu is known for the first book on logic, a Buddhist work. Gupta Literature Gupta Administration The most significant achievements of this period, however, were in religion, education, King— Paramadvaita, Paramabhattataka, mathematics' art and Sanskrit literature and Maharajadhiraj, Samrat; Chakravartin drama. The religion that later developed into Chief Minister—Sachiva, Mantri modem Hinduism witnessed acrystallisation of King's Advisor its components: major sectarian denies, image examsdaily.in Page 2 Later Guptas In India Study Materials Military Officers: (provinces) Commander—Infanity—Bhatasvapati Other Officers of Province—Bhogika. Gopta, Commander—Elephant corps—Katuka Rajasthanias, Upanko-maharaja Chief Treasury War Office— Districts of Province and its Head Officer— Ranabhandagaradhikorana Vishayas headed by Vishayapatis Foreign Minister—Sandhivigrahika of Headquarter of District—Adhishthana Mahasandhivigrahika Superintendent of District Magistrate—Samvyovahori and Central and Provincial Offices— Ayuhakas Village Elders—Maharattanas Saravadhyakshas Office In-charge of Families Asthakuladhi- Commercial Royal Officers— Dutaka (dutas) hKaranikas in local area (minimum eight Chief of Police—Dandapasadhi karana families) Other Police Officers—Chauroddhoraniko (for Village Headman—Gramikot thieves), Tax Collectors—Utkhetayita Chatas, Bhatas, Dandaparika, etc. forest and Forts In-charge— Gramika Provincial Administration Officers— Brahmin Settlements In-charge—Agriaharika Kumaramatyas and Ayukfas Governor of Land Revenue Head Officer— Province — Uparikas, who governed Bhukh's Dharuvadhikaranika (provinces) Treasurer-Bhandagaradbikrita Other Officers of Province—Bhogika Gcpta, Village Accountant— Talavataka Rojasthanicrs, Upanka-maharaja . Record Keeper and Notary Authority— Districts of Province and its Mead Officer— Pustapata Vishayas headed by VishayapaHs Customs and Toll Collector— Saulvika Headquarter of District—Adhishthana District The Advisory District Council mainly Magistrate—Samvyavahari and Ayuktokas constituted of four members Village Elders—Moharatranas Chief, the Guild President — Nagarasreshthi Chief of Police - Dandopasadh i karana Other The Head Merchant— Sarthavaha Police Officers— Chauroddharanika (for The Head Artisan — Prathamakulika thieves), Chatas, Bhatos, Dandaparika etc. The Head Scribe—Prathamakayastha Provincial Administration Officers — Mayor of the City— Purapala Kumaramatyas and Ayuktas Governor of Important Officers of the Royal Courts — Province — Upankas, who governed Bhukti's Parthiharas and Mahaparthiharas Jain literature Jain works were mainly in Prakrit Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit grammar based on dialects. Vimala (who wrote the Jaina version of Panini’s work; Mahahhashya, Sanskrit grammar translated Ramayanan) and Divatara (author of based on Patanjali's work; a book on logic) are notable writers. Itihas and Chandravyakaranam, book of grammar by a Puranas were also translated in jaina versions. Bengali Buddhist scholar Chandragomia; Other notable works and authors of the Gupta Surya Siddhanta by Aryabhatta, dealing in the era are Kaviraja by Samudragupta; study of the solar system;