Sample Material of Our IAS Mains History Study Kit
Subject: History (Optional)
Topic: Gupta Empire
Some 500 years after the collapse of the Mauryan Empire, a new dynasty called the Guptas arose in Magadha and established its control over the greater part of India. The empires of the Satavahanas and Kushanas came to an end in the middle of the third century A.D. and a new dynasty emerged in north India, known as the Guptas. This period is also referred as the ‘Classical Age’ or ‘Golden Age’ of ancient India and was perhaps the most prosperous era in the Indian history.
Sources
Epigraphic Evidence
42 inscriptions related to the period of the Imperial Guptas are known. Out of them 27 are engraved on stone. Of these 22 are private endowments, one is an official grant and the remaining 4 are Prasasties (2 of Samudra Gupta and 2 of Skanda Gupta). Of the remaining 15, one is on an iron column (Mehrauli Pillar at Delhi) and is the prasasti of Chandra Gupta II. The others are copper plates. These inscriptions furnish a good deal of valuable information about the political history as well as the religious, social and economic conditions of the Gupta period.
Literary Evidence
Secular Sources: Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Sakuntalam, Meghdhootam, Raghuvansam, Malavikagnimitram, Ritusamhara, Kumarasambhava, Sudrak’s Mrichchakatika, Visakhadatta’s Devi Chandra Guptam, Vajjika’s Kaumidi Mahotsava, Kamandaka’s Nitisara, Narada and Brihaspati Smritis, Kathasarithsagara by Somadeva, Swapnavasava Datta by Bhasa etc.
Religious Sources: Hindu literatures: Puranas,
Kalijugaraja Vrithanta, etc.
Buddhist literatures: Arya Manjusri Mulakalpa is an indigenious Buddhist
work, which gives knowledge about Guptas.
Jaina literatures: Jinasena Suri’s Harivamsa Purana, though belongs to a
much later period, and makes some references to Guptas.
Foreign travelers account: The accounts of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims to
India, Fahien (he visited during the reign of Chandra Gupta II), Hiuen Tsang
(though he visited India during the reign of Harsha, he gives us information
about the popularity of Buddhism during Gupta period), and Itsing (he visited
India in 6725 AD, but refers to the donation of some villages to Chinese
Buddhists at Nalanda monas-tery by the first ruler, Sri Gupta, of the Gupta
Dynasty).
The Gupta Dynasty
The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta mentions maharaja Srigupta and maharaja Ghatotkacha as his ancestors. I-tsing who travelled India from AD. 671 to 695 refers to Srigupta as the builder of a temple at Gaya for the Chinese pilgrims 500 years before his time. This king Srigupta has been identified with the first Gupta king of that name mentioned in the Allahabad pillar inscription. But real empire building process was started since the reign of Chandra gupta I.
Chandragupta I
Chandragupta I was definitely a strong ruler whose hands were sought by the Lichchhavis who gave their princess Kumaradevi in marriage to him. This matrimonial alliance enhanced the status of the obscure Guptas. He was the first Gupta ruler to assume the title of Maharajadhiraj. He strengthened his kingdom by matrimonial alliance with the powerful family of Lichchhavis who were the rulers of Mithila, which brought an 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.