Gupta Dynasty-Literature
Navaratans of Chandragupta Maurya II
- Amarasimha
- Sanskrit Lexicographer
- written Amarakosha
- Also celled as Trikanda
- consists of vocabulary on Sanskrit
- Dhanvantri
- a renowned physician
- Harisena
- Composed Prayag Prasasti or Allahabad pillar inscription
- Kalidasa
- Poet
- Kahapanka
- Astrologer
- Sanku
- Skilled architect
- Varahmihira
- works
- Panhasiddhantika
- Brihat Sabhita
- Brihat Jataka
- Vararuchi
- Sanskrit scholor
- wrote prakrit prakasha – first grammar of prakrit language
Important Works
- Important Works
- Yajnavalkyasmriti
- regarded as official law work of Guptas
- Naradsmriti
- Kalidasa
- Malavikagnimitram – story of maid falling in love with Agnimitra
- Abhijananasakuntalam – story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala
- Vikramorvasiyam – Love story of Puruvas and Urvashi
- Raghuvansa – narration on genealogy of Raghu vamsa
- Kumarasambhava – Story on Lord Karthikeya
- Ritusamhara
- Poems on fellings and emotions of lovers in six seasons
- his earliest work
- Megadhuta
- Sanskriti literature was dominant
- Ramayana and Mahabharata took their final shape
- Bharavi – Kiratarjunya – Shiva speaking to Arjuna
- Bhatti – Bhattikavya
- Magha – Sisupalvadha
- Sudraka – Merichhakatika – Story between Charudatta and Vasantasena
- Vishakadutta
- Mudraraksasa
- Devichandraguptam
- Dandin
- Dasakumarcharita
- Kavyadarshan
- Bhatrihari
- vakyapadiya
- Satatraya
- Vatsyayana
- Nyaya sutra Bhashya
- Kamasutra
Gupta Dynasty-Inscriptions
Inscriptions
- Prayag prasasti
- Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta
- Inscribed by Harisena
- Garuda pillar
- Mehrauli pillar inscription
- Describes about Chandragupta II
- Mandsaur Inscription
- Describes about Vattasbhatta
- mention about the guild of Sild weavers
- Indore copper plate inscription
- mention about the Guild of Oil merchants
- Erran Inscription
- Mentions about Samudragupta
- Nalanda Inscription
- Gaya Inscritions
- Copperplate inscriptions
- Details about Samudragupta
- Udayagiri cave inscription
- Kumaragupta
- Chandragupta II
- Junagarh Inscriptions
- Rock inscription
- skandagupta
Gupta Dynasty-Art and Architecture
Temple Architecture
- Free standing temples were built extensively
- Temples were built with Square shaped Sanctum Sanctorum
- Porches were pillared with multiple pillars
- Shikaras were built in many temples
- Temples styles
- Nagara Style
- Dravida Style
- Panchayatan Syle – Dasavatara temple at Deogarh
Termed as Golden age of India
Paintings
- Ajanta cave paintings
- Nagaraja and Nagini
- Mahaparinirvan Buddha
- Mural paintings
Cave architecture
- Ajanta Caves
- 5 Chitya Viharas
- 31 Rockcut Cave munuments
- Wall paintings found extensively
- Caves after post gupta period were built by Vakataka kings
Sculpture
- Mathura school of art was followed
Gupta Dynasty-Culture
Society
- Rigid Caste system was followed
Religion
- Hinduism took centre statge
- Devotion and meditation was preferred over sacrifice
- Bhakti tradition grew rapidly
- Worship of female deities Increased
Science and Technology
- Arybhatta
- Aryabhattiya
- Arya Siddhanta
- Calculated the value of Pi
- Calculated the length of a Solar year
- Solved problems in Trigonometry
- He developed Chakra Yantra, Gola Yantra and shadow devices
- Varahmihira
- Panhasiddhantika – five treatises on Astronomy
Philosophy
- Six schools of Hindu philosophy was developed
- Nyaya
- Vaisshesika
- Sankhya
- Yoga
- Mimansa
- Vedanta
Gupta Dynasty-Administration
Administration
- Kings adopted various titles
- King was assisted by a council of ministers
- Civil and criminal crimes were demarcated clearly
- territory divisions
- Bhuktis – Governed by Uparaka
- Vishayas or Bhogas
- Sub-division of Bhuktis
- Governed by Vishayapati
- Gramas
- Smallest unit
- administered by headman called Gramapati or Gramadhyaksha
- Guilds
- Chiefs of Guilds were called Nagarseths
- Trading and artisan communities formed guilds
Tax
- Bali
- Compulsory offerings
- Bhaga
- 1/6th of produce
- Ghoga
- Gifts
- Shulka
- Customs
- Udinaga
- Social security tax
- Klipta
- tax for selling or purchasing lands
- Halivakara
- Phoughshare tax
- Hiranya
- Gold tax
- Kara
- irregular tax
Trade
- Trade contacts were well established with roman empire
- Ujjain became a major commercial centre
- Silk, Pearl, leather goods, Jewellery, Ivory and spices formed a major part of trade
Gupta Dynasty and Its Rulers
Establishment
- May be of Vaishya origin
- Initially Guptas were Feudatories of Kushanas
- Succeeded Kushanas to establish Gupta empire
- Established by Sri Gupta
Rulers
- Sri Gupta
Founder of the empire
- Gatotkacha
Son and Successor of Sri Gupta
- Chandragpta I
- Son and Successor of Gatotkacha
- Termed as real founder of Gupta empire
- Married to Licchavi Pricess Kumaradevi
- Introduced the Gupta era, starting with his coconation in 320 A.D.
- First Gupta king to adopt the title Maharajadhiraja
- Samudragupta
- Son and successor of Chandragupta I
- Allahabad inscription details about samudragupta
- composed by Harisena
- engraved on Ashoka’s pillar at Allahabad
- He performed Ashwamedha Yajna and issued gold coins depicting the sacrificial horse
- He is a great musician and poet
- titled as Kavi Raja and Vikramanka
- he was depicted in coins playing Veena
- He defeated Shakas and Kushanas
- Allowed Meghavarma to built monastery at Bodh Gaya
- Chandragupta II
- Son and Successor alliances to extend his power
- His daughter Prabhavati was married to Vakataka prince Rudrasena II
- He defeated Rudrasena II and annexed his kingdom
- defeated Sakas and annexed the Malwa region
- Brought direct contact with western sea ports
- Ujjain became the second capital of Gupta empire
- issued silver coins to commemorate his victory over Sakas
- Kalidam was a member of his court
- Chinese traverller Fahien visited his court
Kumaragupta I
- Son and successor of Chandragupta II
- had troubles from Hun invasions
- issued Ashwamedha type of coins
- issued gold and silver coins
Skandgupta
- Last great Gupta ruler
- repelled the Huna invasions
- quality of coins declined due to continuous wars with Huna invasions
- restored and repaired dam on sudarshan lake
- succeeded by his brother Purugupta