Summary

Ancient India Class 08

Gupta empire (5:09 PM)

Sources for the Guptas: Puranas.
Work of Kalidas:
Meghadutam.
Raghuvansham.
Kumarasambhavam.
Abhigyanshankutalam.
Other sources:
Nitisara by kamandak.
Devichandraguptam by Vishakhadatta.
Mrichchhakatika by Sudraka.
Panchatantra.
Accounts of Chinese traveller Fa-Hien.
Kamasutra by Vatsyayana.
Epigraphy:
Mehrauli Iron pillar by Chandragupta.
Prayag Prashasti- It was composed by the court poet of Samudragupta, Harisena.
Junagragh rack inscription by Skandgupta.
Numismatics.
Archaeology.
Political developments:
Guptas are believed to be feudatories of Kushans.
They may have been vaishya.
The Gupta period is referred to as the golden age of ancient India because of their contribution to literature, science and astronomy, medicine, art, and architecture and issuing of the largest number of gold coins in ancient India.
The Dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta in around mid of 3rd century.
His son Ghatotkach was the 2nd ruler, both these rulers adopted the title maharaja.
Chandraputa-I (320-335 AD):
He was son of Ghatotkach.
He married a princess Kumaradevi to strengthen the position of the Guptas.
He issued coins with pictures of both king and queen.
He assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja and is generally considered the 1st ruler of the Gupta empire.
Samudragupta (335-375AD):
As per Prayag Prashasti, he followed a policy of war and conquest.
He was a restless conqueror who defeated many kingdoms in different parts of the country such as rulers of Ganga-Yamuna doab, central India, Deccan, and south, Shakas, and Kushans in western India.
However, his direct control included northern territories.
The ruler of Sri Lanka Meghavarman sent to ask permission to build a Buddhist temple at Bodhgaya, which was accepted.
After conquering territories, he performed the Ashwamedha sacrifice and called himself the restorer of Ashwamedha in his coins.
He is often called the Napolean of India due to his military conquest.
He is also called Kaviraj and is praised for his musical skills, some coins depict Samudragupta holding a Veena.
He was an ardent follower of Vaishnavism and also became a patron of Buddhism for example a Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu was patronized by him.
Chandragputa-II/Vikarmaditya (376-413 AD)
As per Devichandraguptam by Vishakhadatta, Ramgupta succeeded Samudra Gupta, he surrendered his wife to his enemy shakas, however, Chandragupta-II sneaked at the enemy champ, killed the Shaka king, and rescued the queen.
During Chandragupta-II Gupta dynasty reached its zenith through conquest and marriage alliances.
He married Naga princess Kuber Naga and had a daughter named Prabhavati Devi.
Prabhavati was married to prince Rudrasena-II of the Vaktaka dynasty.
This alliance was very useful as Shakas were uprooted from Gujrat and western Malwa by Chandragupta.
After this victory, Ujjain became the next capital along with Patliputra.
He adopted the title Vikramaditya and Singhvikram.
During his reign, a Chinese traveller Fa-Hien visited India and wrote in detail about India and its people.
Udhyagiri cave inscription calls him Digvijaya, conqueror of all directions.
His court at Ujjain was adorned by Navaratanas and was the following:
Kalidas.
Amarasimha: His work Amarakosha is the vocabulary of Sanskrit work and is divided into 3 parts called Trikand.
Varahamihira: He was an astronomer and astrologer, who composed Panchasiddhantika.
His work Brihad-Samhita is considered a great work in the Sanskrit language and deals with many subjects.
Brihad Jataka is also an important work of Varahamihira.
Dhanvantani: He is considered one of the greatest names in Ayurveda.
Shanku: An architect who wrote Shilpasastra.
Vararuchi: He authored Prakrit Prakash, a work on Prakrit grammar.
Vetalabhatta: He was a magician and author of Mantra shastra.
Ghatakarpara: He was an expert on sculpture and architecture.
Kahapanaka: An astrologer who wrote Jothisya shastra.
Kumargupta(415-455 AD):
He was the son of Chandragupta-II and adopted the title of Shakraditya and Mahendraditya.
He laid the foundation of Nalanda University, which became a great university in ancient India.
At the end of his reign, Huns of central Asia, attacked from the northwest frontier, this attack was thwarted by prince Skandagupta, who became the next ruler.
Skandagupta(455-467 AD):
He adopted the title of Vikramaditya and repaired Sudarshan lake in Gujarat.
After his death, his successor such as Purugupta, Kumargupta-II, and Buddhagupta, among others could not save the Gupta empire from disintegration.

Reasons for decline of Gupta empire (7:02 PM)

Hun invasion:
Hun chief Tormana by the 5th century occupied regions of Punjab, Rajasthan, Kashmir, and also parts of central India.
Tormana's son Mihirkul has been portrayed as a tyrant in Buddhist work as well as Rajtarangi written by Kalhana.
Mihirkul was defeated by an alliance of Yashodharman of Malwa, and Narsihma Gupta of the Gupta dynasty.
Yasodharman declared his independence and was followed by many other feudatories.
Rise of regional kingdoms: Many feudatories asserted their independence such as Yashodharman of Malwa, Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, and Vakataka rulers in Deccan among others.
Economic decline: With losing of western India, which was important for trade and commerce, the economy was crippled.
Later Gupta rulers did not issue gold coins and their territories were linked to regions around Pataliputra.
With the decline of Guptas, the prominent regional kingdoms in India were Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, Makuhari of Kannauj, Maitrakas of Vallabhi, Pallavas of Kanchi, Chalukyas of lower Deccan.

Administration under the Gupta empire (7:23 PM)

The empire was divided under the princes called Bhuktis under the charge of Uparika.
Bhuktis were divided into Vishayas under the charge of Vishaypati.
Vishayas were divided into Vithis which comprised many villages.
Many settlements below the district level were known by various names such as Patta, Bhumi, Pathak, and Petha.
At the village level, Gramika and Gramadhyaksha played important roles in the administration.
Vishayapti was assisted in administration by prominent members of the town Nagarsreshthin (chief merchant, banker), Sarthvaha (chief Karwan trader), Prathamkulika(chief artisan), Prathamkayastha (chief revenue collector).
Important officials at the central level were called Kumaramatya.
Sandhivigraha was the minister of foreign affairs.
Gupta kings focused more on cavalry than horse chariots.
Villagers were subjected to forced labour called Vishti(a term also mentioned in Arthashastra, however during the Gupta period became popular and was considered a type of tax).
Shrenis (Guilds):
It means an association of traders, merchants, and artisans.
This system of Guilds began during the Mahajanpada period and continued through the Mauryan period.
Generally, a separate Shreni existed for a particular group of persons engaged in the same vocation.
They were often governed by their laws and enjoyed certain immunities.
They also acted as banks and provided loans to people.
Elements of feudalism found in the Gupta administration:
A major part of the empire was held by the feudatory chiefs.
These chiefs offered homage and paid tribute to the empire.
Religious functionaries were granted land free of tax.
High officials were paid in cash but some of them were also given land grants.

Economy during Gupta age (7:49 PM)

They issued the largest number of gold coins which were called Dinaras.
Silver coins were also issued, but the number of copper coins was less.
There was a decline in long-distance trade, however inland trade was prosperous.
The land was divided into many categories such as Kshetra(cultivable land), Khila(wasteland), Aprahata(forest land), Vasti(habitable land), and Gapta-Saraha(pastoral land).
Land grants were known as Agrahara(given to brahmins, tax-free heredity land) and the village on such land was called Brahmadeya.
Devagrahara was given to Brahmins as well as merchants for the repair and maintenance of temples.
Various types of land unit measurement emerged such as Angul, Hasta, and Dhanu were smaller units of measurement, while Ardhavapa, Dronavapa, and Kulavapa were larger units of measurement.

The topic for the next class: The Gupta empire(to continue).