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Gupta Dynasty Gupta Dynasty Sources Author Name of the Book Information Kamandaka Nitisara Gupta administration Vajjika Kaumudi Mahotsava Coronation of Chandragupta I Sudraka Mrichchakatika Brahmin Charudatta falling in love with Vasantasena Visakhadatta Devi Chandraguptam Marriage of Chandragupta II with Dhruvadevi Somadeva Kathasaritsagara Spread of Indian Culture to SE Asian countries Inscription’s of Samudragupta Information Allahabad Prashasti (UP) Written on an Ashokan pillar found in Allahabad by Harisena (Mahadandanayaka, Sandhivigrahaka in the court of Samudragupta); gives details of kingdoms conquered by Samudragupta Eran Prashasti (MP) Samudragupta’s conquests Nalanda Copper Plate Inscription (Bihar) It is a land charter, speaks about a village endowed by Samudragupta to a brahmin (the term Agrahara appears for the first time in the Nalanda copper plate inscription of Samudragupta). Gaya Copper plate inscription (Bihar) Tells us that Samudragupta granted a village to a Buddhist Vihara at Gaya and that the vihara was built by King Mahameghavarma of Sri Lanka. Mehrauli (Delhi) Iron Pillar Inscription of Describes the victories of Chandragupta II. The iron Chandragupta II pillar on which the inscription was written, weighs about 6 tons and is 23 feet tall. Junagarh Inscription (Gujarat) Prashasti of Skandagupta; says he got the Sudarsana lake repaired. (Earlier, the Saka king Rudradaman I also gave the same information in his Junagarh inscription). Pune Copper Plate Inscription (Maharashtra) This danashasana was issued by Prabhavatigupta (Daughter Chandragupta II). It provides some information about the land survey system. Mandasore Inscription of Yasovarman (MP) Issued by Yasovarman, who ruled over Central India with Mandasore as his capital. This inscription tells us that Yasovarman defeated the Guptas. Polity • After the break-up of the Maurya empire, the Satavahanas and Kushans emerged as the two large powers. • The Satavahanas acted as a stabilizing factor in the Deccan and the south to which they provided political unity and economic prosperity on the strength of their trade with the Roman empire. • The Kushans performed the same role in the north. Both these empires came to an end in the mid-third century. Srigupta Chandragupta I Samudragupta Skandagupta Kumaragupta Chandragupta II Narasimhagupta Vishnugupta Baladitya Srigupta (CE 275- 300) • Founder of the dynasty and took the title ‘Maharaja’ • According to the Chinese traveller Itsing, Srigupta built a Buddhist vihara at Mrugasikhavana. Chandragupta-I (CE 320- 335) • The first important king of the Gupta dynasty was Chandragupta I. He married a Lichchhavi princess, in all probability from Nepal, which strengthened his position. • Chandragupta I seems to have been a ruler of considerable importance because he started the Gupta era in AD 319–20, which marked the date of his accession. • Later many inscriptions of the Gupta era came to be dated in this era. Samudragupta (A.D. 335- 380) • The Gupta kingdom was enlarged enormously by Chandragupta’s son and successor Samudragupta (AD 335–80). He was the opposite of Ashoka. • Ashoka believed in a policy of peace and non-aggression, but Samudragupta delighted in violence and conquest. • His court poet Harishena wrote a glowing account of the military exploits of his patron • The places and the countries conquered by Samudragupta can be divided into five groups. • Group one includes the princes of the Ganga– Yamuna doab who were defeated and whose kingdoms were incorporated into the Gupta empire. • Group two includes the rulers of the eastern Himalayan states and of some frontier states such as Nepal, Assam, and Bengal. It also covers some republics of Punjab. • Group three includes the forest kingdoms situated in the Vindhya region and known as Atavika rajyas which Samudragupta brought under his control. • Group four includes twelve rulers of the eastern Deccan and south India who were conquered and liberated. Samudragupta’s arms reached as far as Kanchi in Tamil Nadu, where the Pallavas were compelled to recognize his suzerainty. • Group five includes the names of the Shakas and Kushans, some of them ruling in Afghanistan. • According to a Chinese source, Meghavarman, the ruler of Sri Lanka, sent a missionary to Samudragupta for permission to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya. This was granted, and the temple was developed into a huge monastic establishment. • In some coins he is portrayed playing the veena, in some he is shown as an archer. Chandragupta-II (CE 380- 412) • The reign of Chandragupta II saw the high watermark of the Gupta empire. He extended the limits of the empire by marriage alliance and conquest. • He occupied western Malwa and Gujarat, which had for about four centuries been under the rule of the Shaka Kshatrapas. The conquest gave Chandragupta control over the western sea coast, famous for trade and commerce. • It was during Chandragupta’s reign that the Chinese pilgrim Fa-hsien (CE 399–414) visited India and wrote an elaborate account of the life of its people. • The exploits of a king called Chandra are glorified in an iron pillar inscription fixed near Qutb Minar in Delhi. • Had direct contacts with Europe and Egypt. • First Gupta ruler to have issued silver coins. • Famous poets-Kalidas, Amarsimha, Vishakhadutta and physician Dhanvantari Kumaragupta • During his reign, Huns invaded India for the first time. • Introduced worship of god Kartikeya in North India. • Performed an Ashwamedha and assumed the title of Mahendraditya. • He founded Nalanda University, the most famous Mahayana institution. According to Hiuen Tsang, 8300 students and 1500 instructors were present at Nalanda University. Skandagupta (455-467 AD) • He and his successors had to fight against the Huns who came from Central Asia. • He defeated the Huns and erected a victory pillar at Bhitari near Allahabad. • The Junargarh rock inscription informs us that his Governor Chakrapalita also repaired the Sudarshana lake. Narasimhagupta Baladitya • He was one of the last rulers of the Gupta dynasty. • According to Hiuen Tsang, he embraced Buddhism and built a Mahavihara at Ratnagiri. • He defeated Mihirakula (Huna king) and pardoned him. Vishnugupta • He was the last ruler of the Gupta dynasty. • By 550 AD, the Guptas had lost all their territories. • The rise of feudatories and decline of foreign trade undermined the Guptas. Literary Works Author Literature type Name Kalidasa Drama Abhijnana Shakuntalam- Story of marriage of Shakuntala (D/o sage Vishwamitra & Menaka) with king Dushyanta Drama iMalavikagnimitram- love story and marriage of Agnimitra (Sunga king) with Malavika Drama Vikramorvasiyam- marriage of a warrior Vikramaditya with Urvasi Poem Kumarasambhava- birth of Kumaraswami to Shiva & Parvati Poem Meghadoota- A Yaksha living in Vindhya mountains sends a message of passionate love to his wife in the Himalayas through a passing cloud. Poem Ritusamhara- describes different seasons in India Poem Raghuvamsa- story of Rama, is an incomplete poem Author Literature type Name Uniqueness Vishnu Sharma Short story Panchatantra Was later translated into Arabic by Ibn al Muqaffa under the name Calila-e- Dimna Amarasimha Sanskrit lexicon Amarakosa Vararuchi Grammar Prakrita Prakasa Only Prakrit poet among the Navaratnas Dhanwantari Dictionary on Ayurveda Susrutha Susruta Samhita A book on surgery Aryabhatta Astronomy Surya Siddhanta Talks about Heliocentric theory, revolution of earth, causes of solar & lunar eclipses etc Mathematics Aryabhattiyam Decimal system and ‘0’ Administration Empire Provinces (Bhuktas)-Uparika Districts (Vishayas)-Vishayapatis Village-Grama • Cities- adminstered by Nigamasabhas (merchants) • The Gupta empire was divided into provinces known as deshas or bhuktis, administered by governors who were usually designated as uparikas. • The provinces of the Gupta empire were divided into districts known as vishayas, under offi cers known as vishayapatis. The vishayapati seems to have been generally appointed by the provincial governor. • Administrative units below district level included clusters of settlements known variously as vithi, patta, bhumi, pathaka, and petha. There are references to officials known as ayuktakas and vithi-mahattaras. • Gupta kings assumed imperial titles such as maharajadhiraja, parama-bhattaraka, and parameshvara. • Seals and inscriptions mention official ranks and designations. • The term kumaramatya occurs on six Vaishali seals, which suggests that this title represented a high- ranking officer associated with an office (adhikarana) of his own. • The designation ‘amatya’ occurs on several Bhita seals, and the kumaramatya seems to have been pre-eminent among amatyas and equivalent in status to princes of royal blood. • Kumaramatyas were variously attached to the king, crown prince, revenue department, or a province. • Individuals of the rank of kumaramatya sometimes had additional designations as well, and such ranks could be hereditary. Officials Sandhivigrahaka In charge of Foreign Affairs Kumaramatya Higher officials employed in different departments Mahabaladhikrita Commander of military forces Bhataswapati Commander of cavalry Katuka / Pilupati Commander of the elephantry Dandapasadhikarana Head of Police Department Shaulkika Customs Officer Hiranika & Audrangika Tax collectors Mahadandanayaka Chief Justice Social Milieu and Land Grants • Large-scale land grants to the brahmanas suggest that the brahmana supremacy increased in Gupta times. • The Guptas, who probably were originally vaishyas,
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