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

1. Nagara Style
2. Dravida Style
3. 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
• 1/6^th 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