Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)

Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)

• In 4th Century AD the Guptas, a new dynasty, arose in Magadha and established a large kingdom over the greater part of Northern India (though their empire was not as large as that of the Maury as). Their rule lasted for more than 200 years.

• This period is referred to as the 'Classical Age' or 'Golden Age' of ancient India and was perhaps the most prosperous era in the Indian history.

• According to epigraphic evidence, the founder of the dynasty was a person named Gupta. He used the simple title of Maharaja.

• Gupta was succeeded by his son Ghatotkach, who also inherited the title of Maharaja.

Chandragupta I : 319-334 AD

• He was the first Gupta ruler to assume the title Maharajadhiraja

• He strengthened his kingdom by matrimonial alliance with the powerful family of Lichchhavis who were the rulers of Mithila.

• His marriage to Lichehhvi princess Kumnradevi brought him enormous power, resources and prestige.

• He took advantage of the situation and occupied the whole of fertile Gangetic Valley.

• He started the Gupta Era in 319-20 AD.

• Chandragupta I was able to establish his authority over Magadha, Prayaga and Saketa.

• Original type of Gold Coins (Dinaras) Chandragupta I -Kumaradevi type.

Samudragupta : 335-380 AD

• Samudragupta was the greatest king of Gupta dynasty.

• The most detailed and authentic record of his reign ispreserved in the Prayaga Prasasti/Allahabad pillar inscription, composed by his court poet Harisena.

• According to Prayaga Prasasti, he was a great conqueror.

• In the Gangetic Valley and Central India, Samudragupta annexed the territories of the defeated monarchs, but in South India he remained content with victories alone and did not annex the territories of the vanquished rulers.

• Samudragupta's military compaigns justify description of him as the 'Indian Napoleon' by V.A. Smith.

• The reference to his dominion over Java, Sumatra and Malaya islands in the sea shows that he had a navy.

• When he died his mighty empire bordered that of the Kushan of Western province (modem Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Vakatakas in Deccan (modem Southern Maharashtra).

• His greatest achievement was the political unification of most of India or Aryavarta into a formidable power.

Titles:

• Kaviraja i.e. king of poets (Prayaga Prasasti), Param Bhagavat (Nalanda copperplate), Ashvamedha- parakrama i.e. whose might was demonstrated by the horse-sacrifice (coin), Vikrami.e. prowess (coin), Sarva- raj-ochchettai.e. uprooter of all kings (coin) etc.

Note : Only Gupta ruler to be the title of Sarva-raj-ochehhetta.

Original types of Gold Coins (Dinars):

Garud type, Dhanurdhari i.e. Archer type, Axe type, Ashvamedha type, Vyaghrahanan i.e. Tiger killing type, Veenavadani.e. lute playing type.

• Samudragupta was a Vaishnavite.

• According to the Chinese writer Wang-Hiuen-Tse, Meghavarna, king of Sri Lanka, sent an embassy to Samudragupta for his permission to build a monastery for Buddhist pilgrims at Bodh Gaya.

Chandragupta II "Vikramaditya": 380-414 AD

• According to 'Devi Chandragupta' (Vishakhadatta), Samudragupta was succeeded by Ramgupta. It seems Ramgupta ruled for a very short period. He was 'the only Gupta ruler to issue copper coins'.

• Ramagupta, a coward and impotent king, agreed to surrender his queen Dhruvadevito Saka invader. But the prince Chandragupta II, the younger brother of the king, resolved to go to the enemy's camp in the guise of the queen with a view to kill the hated enemy. Chandragupta II succeeded in killing the Saka ruler.

• Chandragupta II also succeeded in killing Ramgupta,and not only seized his kingdom but also married his widow Dhruvadevi.

• Chandragupta II extended the limits of his empire through matrimonial alliances (with the Nagas and Vakatakas) and conquests (Western India). He married Kubemaga of Naga dynasty and married his daughter prabhavatigupta with Vakataka prince Rudrasena II.

• As a result of the overthrow of Saka rule in Western India, the Gupta empire extended upto Arabian sea. He issued silver coins in the memory of victory over Sakas.

• He was 'the first Gupta ruler to issue silvercoins' and adopted the titles Sakari and Vikramaditya.Ujjain seems to have been made the second capital by Chandragupta II.

• Mehrauli (near Kutub Minar, Delhi) Iron Pillar inscription says that the king defeated the confederacy of Vangas and Vahilkas (Bulkh).

Navaratna (i.e. nine gems) of Chandragupta II:

1. Kalidasa (Poetry-Ritusamhar, Meghadutam, Kumarsambhavam, Raghuvamshama; Dramas Malvikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiyam, Abhijnan Shakuntalam)

2. Amarsinh (Amarsinhkosha)

3. Dhanavantri (Navanitakam-medicine text)

4. Varahmihira (Panch Sidhantaka, Vrihatsamhita, VrihatJataka, Laghu Jataka)

5. Araruchi (Vartika-a comment on Ashtadhyayi)

6. Ghatakama Kshapranak

7. Velabhat

8. Shanku

Fahien, a Chinese pilgrim, visited India during Chandragupta's reign and described what he saw in his travelogue 'fo-gu-oji'

Titles:

Devagupta / Devaraja / Devashri, Parama Bhagavata, Narendra Chandra, Sinh Vikram etc.

Original types of Gold coins (Dinaras):

Ashvarohi type, Chhatradhari type, Chakra-Vikram type etc.

Kumaragupta I : 415-455 AD

• Chandragupta-II was succeeded by his son Kumaragupta-I.

• Towards the end of his reign, the Gupta empire was threatened from the North by the Huns, who were temporarily checked by his son Skandagupta.

• Kumaragupta was the worshipper of god Kartikeya.

• He founded the Nalanda Mahavihara which developed into a great centre of learning.

Titles:

Mahendraditya, Mahendra Singh and Ashvamedha Mahendrah (coins) etc.

Original types of Gold Coins (Dinars):

Khadgadharitype, Gajarohi type, Gajarohi Sinh-nihanta type,Khang-nihanta i.e. rhinoceros-slayer type, Kartikeyatype, Apratigh-mudra type etc.

Skandagupta: 455-467 AD

• Skandagupta, the last great ruler of the Gupta dynasty.

• During his reign the Gupta empire was invaded by the Huns. He succeeded in defeating the Huns. Success inrepelling the Huns seems to have been celebrated by the assumption of the title 'Vikramaditya' (Bhitari Pillar Inscription).

• The continuous attacks of the Huns weakened empire and adversely affected its economy. The gold coinage of Skandagupta bears testimony to this.

• The decline of the empire began soon after his death.

Titles:

Vikramaditya and Kramaditya (coins), Parart/ Bhagavat (coins), Sharkropama (Kahaum Pilj) (lr Inscription), Devaraja (Arya Manjushri Mula Kalpa) etc.

The Huns : 

• 500-530 AD-Huns were primitive pastora/iste owing herds of cattle and horses but knowing nothing of agriculture.

• They roamed in the Steppe in search of pasture and water. From the white Huns came into Afghanistan, destroyed the local power and, after establishing themselves there, began to pour into India in 458 AD.

• However, Skandagupta who was at the time ruling  Northern India, checkmated them effectively. Whenever the Gupta empire's resistance collapsed the Huns occupied the areas upto Central India and Malwa about 500 AD.

• There were two powerful Hun rulers Toramana and his son MihirkuJa. They ruled during 500-530 AD. Mihirkula, a Shaivite was a persecutor of Buddhism, In 530AD, the Huns were uprooted by Yashodarmana of Mandsaur

Vakatakas:

• 3rd Century-5,h Century AD—The Vakatakas were the most important power that held sway over parts of Deccan and Central India after the fall of the Satavahanas and before the rise of Chalukyas.

• The founder of the Vakataka dynasty was Vindhyasakti (255-75 AD). Vindhyasakti was succeeded by his' son Pravarasena I (275-335 AD), who was the real founder of the akataka empire.

• He perfomed 4 Ashuvamedha Yajnas. After his death, the empire was divided. Rudrasena I took over the reigns of main branch i.e. Northern branch.

• He was the contemporary of Samudragupta.

• Rudrasena I was succeeded by Prithvisen L. He was contemporary of Chandragupta II. Chandragupta married his aughter Prabhavatigupta to the prince Rudrasena II. Prithvisena was succeeded by his son Rudrasena U. Rudrasena U died er a s ort reign of five years, leaving behind two minor sons4 lva arasena and Damodarsena. Prabhavatigupta ruled as 4 gen o er son. Later, Damodarsena became ruler with the name ^masm II. Pravarasena II composed 'Setubandh/Ravanaho. (Poetry) in Marathi Script.

Gupta Administration

The Gupta Empire had a decentralized administration, unlike the centralized Mauryan system. Power was shared with self-governing tribes, tributary kingdoms, and local chiefs, reflecting a quasi-feudal structure supported by hereditary land grants.

The Gupta rulers adopted exalted titles like Mahadhiraja, Chakravartin, and Samrat. The practice of appointing a crown prince (Kumara) became common.

A Council of Ministers (Mantriparishad) advised the king, as referenced in the Prayaga Pillar Inscription.

Key officials included:

• Kumaramatyas – core administrative cadre

• Sandhivigrahika – Minister of peace and war (first appeared under Samudragupta)

Important provinces (Bhuktis) included Magadha, Pundravardhana, Tirabhukti, Barddhaman, Eastern & Western Malwa, and Saurashtra.

Gupta Society: A Brief Overview

• Varna System changed with the rise of many castes:

  • Foreigners assimilated as Kshatriyas.

  • Tribal groups absorbed into Shudras via land grants.

  • Craft guilds turned into castes due to the decline of trade and cities.

• Shudras’ position improved:

  • Allowed to hear epics and Puranas.

  • Worshipped Krishna as a new deity.

• Untouchability increased:

  • First use of the term Asprasya (untouchable) by Katyayana.

  • Notable rise in the number of untouchables from the 3rd century AD.

• Women's status declined:

  • Polygamy was common.

  • Early and pre-puberty marriages were encouraged.

  • First instance of Sati recorded in Eran (510 AD) during Bhanugupta’s reign.

  • Women had no property rights except Stridhana (jewels, garments).

• Religious trends:

  • Vaishnavism grew under Gupta patronage.

  • Deities were paired with consorts: Lakshmi-Vishnu, Parvati-Shiva.

  • Vajrayanism and Buddhist Tantric cults emerged.

  • Idol worship became widespread in Hinduism.

Gupta Economy & Land Ownership: A Summary

• Many scholars believe the state exclusively owned land.

  • Strongest proof: Pahadpur Copper Plate Inscription of Buddhagupta.

• Types of Land (5 categories):

  1. Kshetra Bhoomi – Cultivable land

  2. Khila – Waste land

  3. Vastu Bhoomi – Habitable land

  4. Charagah Bhoomi – Pasture land

  5. Aprahata Bhoomi – Forest land

• Land Survey practices are recorded:

  • Seen in Poona Plates of Prabhavati Gupta.

  • Pustapala: Officer who maintained land records and transactions.

• Coins and Currency:

  • Guptas issued the highest number of gold coins in ancient India.

  • Gold purity was less than Kushan coins.

  • Also issued silver coins for local exchange.

Culture

The architecture of the Gupta period may be divided into three categories:

1. Rock-cut caves:

• Ajanta and Ellora Group (Maharashtra) and Bagh (MP).

2. Structural Temples:

• Dasavatara temple of Deogarh (Jhansi district, UP)

• The oldest and the best, Siva temple of Bhumra (Nagod, MP)

• Vishnu and Kankali temple (Tigawa, MP)

• Parvati temple of Nanchana-Kuthwa (Parma district, MP)

• Shiva temple of Khoh (Satna, Panna, MP)

• Krishna brick temple of Bhittargaon (Kanpur, UP)

• Laxman temple of Sirpur (Raipur, MP)

• Vishnu temple and Varah temple oi Eran (MP).

3. Stupas:

Mirpur Khas (Sindh), Dhamekh (Sarnath), Ratnagiri (Odisha)

• Temple Architecture:

  • Gupta era saw the rise of Nagara (Shikhara) style.

  • Shikhara shrine (Vaishnava symbol) fully developed.

  • Introduction of Garbha Griha (sanctum) concept.

  • Example: Dasavatara Temple, Deogarh – ornate and beautiful.

• Sculpture:

  • Gandhara art declined; Mathura, Benaras, Pataliputra rose in prominence.

  • First-time images of Vishnu, Shiva, etc.

  • Famous: Seated Buddha at Sarnath (preaching pose),

  • Notable: Varaha relief at Udayagiri caves.

• Paintings:

  • Found in Ajanta (Maharashtra) and Bagh caves (MP).

Literature

Religion Literature

• Hindu Texts : Some of the old religious books (viz. Vayu Purana Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana; Ramayan and Mahabharata, Manu Smriti) were re-wrltten. Nnrada Smriti, Parashara Smriti, Brihaspati Smriti and Katyayana Smriti were written in this period.

• Buddhist Texts : Abhidharma Kosha (Dignaga), Vishudhimagga (Buddhghosa)

• Jain texts: Nvavavartam (Sidhsena)

Secular Literature

• Ritusamhar (first poetry), Meghadutam, Kumarasambhavam Raghuvamsam; Malavikagnimitra (first drama), Vikramorvashi-yam Abhijnana-Shakun-talam (Kalidasa); Mudrarakshasa (Visakhadatta); Kirataijuniya (Bharavi); Kavyadarsa, Dasa Kumar Charita (Dandin}; Mrichchhakatika (Sudraka), Panchatantra (Vishnu Sharma), Kamasutra (Vatsyayan).

Scientific Literature

• Aryabhatiya, Surya Sidhant (Aryabhatta), Brahmasidhanta (Brahmagupta); Pancha Sidhantaka, Vrihat Samhita, Vrihat Jataka, Laghu Jataka (Varaliamihira), Ashtanga Hridaya (medicine) (Vagbhatta), Navanitakam (Dhanvantri); Mahabhaskarya, Laghubhaskarya (Bhaskara); Hastyayurveda (Palkapya) |