Gupta Dynasty – Gupta period (Based on NCERT)

Gupta Dynasty – Gupta period (Based on NCERT)
Posted on 26-04-2022

Gupta Dynasty – Gupta period

The ruler who laid the foundation of the Gupta Empire was Sri GuptaShri Gupta established the Gupta dynasty in  275 AD. After the Maurya period, the Gupta period has also been considered the golden age of Indian history.

Information about the Gupta dynasty is obtained from Vayu Purana. The official language of the Gupta period was SanskritIt is also believed that the decimal system was also introduced in the Gupta period. And the construction work of temples also started in the Gupta period.

It is also believed that the practice of child marriage probably started in the Gupta period. The gold currency of the Gupta period was called the dinar. Most of the coins of the Gupta period were made of goldPanchatantra was also composed during the Gupta period.

In the Gupta Empire, Brahmins were given tax-free agricultural landWhile others had to pay one-sixth of their produce to the king as land revenue. The Gupta dynasty was famous for its imperialism.

The great astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata and Varahamihira were related to the Gupta period. Varahamihira was the author of the Indian epic of astronomy, the PanchasiddhantikaThe writer Sushruta, who composed the science related to medicine, was also related to the Gupta period.

The rise of the Gupta dynasty

Shrigupta

Shrigupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty and the founder of the Gupta dynasty. Shrigupta has been addressed by the name Adiraj ' in the copper sheet received from Poona.

Ghatotkach Gupta

After Shrigupta, his son  Ghatotkacha ascended the Gupta throne. In some inscriptions, Ghatotkacha has been described as the first king of the Gupta dynasty.

Chandragupta I

Chandragupta was the son of Ghatotkacha Gupta, who assumed the reins of power after Ghatotkacha Gupta. Chandragupta is also known as Maharajadhiraja Chandragupta, Maharajadhiraja was a title given to Chandragupta I. Perhaps this title was given to him only because of his great works.

Chandragupta I is considered to be the first great emperor of the Gupta dynasty. Chandragupta is credited with starting the Gupta era. Chandragupta, I had also introduced coins for the first time in the Gupta period.

Samudragupta

After Chandragupta,  around 350 AD, his son Samudragupta ascended the throne. Samudragupta had built a vast empire that extended from the Bay of Bengal in the east to eastern Malwa in the west and from the Himalayas in the north to the Vindhya mountains in the south. According to the Allahabad inscription, Samudragupta was a great poet and musicianSamudragupta has also been called ' Napoleon of India ' due to his state expansion policies.

Chandragupta II

The next ruler of the Gupta dynasty was  Chandragupta II, the son of Samudragupta, also known as Vikramaditya and DevaguptaVikramaditya was its titleIt is also called by the name of ' Shaka-Vijeta '. Chandragupta Vikramaditya ruled for about 40 yearsThe reign of Vikramaditya is called the golden age of Indian art and literature, as well as it was the golden age of the history of India.

Chandragupta II's vast empire extended from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the banks of the Narmada river in the south, and from Bengal in the east to Gujarat in the westThe first capital of Chandragupta II was Pataliputra and the second capital was Ujjayini (Ujjain)  .

The famous poet Kalidas was the courtier of Chandragupta II, who was considered to be the chief among the Nauratnas included in the court. Including the famous doctor  Dhanvantari, who is considered by the Vaidyas of Ayurveda as the ' Lord of Medicine '. The other seven gems were Amar Singh, Shanku, Kshapanak (astrology), Betal Bhat, Varahmihira, Ghatkarpar, and Varruchi.

The Chinese traveler Fahien or Fahien came to India only during the reign of Chandragupta II. The first ruler to introduce silver (silver) coins was Chandragupta II, who was called Rupaka or Rapyak.

The Lohastambh of Rajchandra at Mehroli was built by Chandragupta II.

Kumaragupta I

After the death of Chandragupta II, his son Kumaragupta I ascended the throne. Kumaragupta I had performed the Ashwamedha Yagya and assumed the title of Mahendraditya. Nalanda University was established during the reign of Kumaragupta I. Kumaragupta I, like his father Chandragupta II, had run the state with good order and good governance and kept the empire given by his father as it is.

 

Skandagupta

After the death of Kumaragupta, his successor son Skandagupta ascended the throne. He has been considered a very public benevolent emperor. He received the titles Kramaditya and Vikramaditya etc. Skandagupta also saved the country from the invasion of the Huns.

After Skandagupta, no Gupta king could increase his dominance so much, whose information is recorded in the pages of history. Due to this clear information about the successors of Skandagupta is not available.

Vishnugupta was the last ruler of the Gupta dynasty.

Reason for the downfall of the Gupta dynasty

Family disputes and frequent foreign invasions are believed to be the reason for the decline of the Gupta dynastyIn which the invasion by the Huns is considered to be the main reason.

 

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