The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire

The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire

Background

After the fall of Mauryan empire, the Kushans in the North and Satavahanas in the south had held power. Gupta empire replaced the Kushans in the North with its center of power at Prayag and gave politicial unity for more than a century (335AD-455AD). It was founded by Sri Gupta. Gupta strength laid in the use of horses and material advantage of fertile land and natural resources abundant region.

Chandragupta I (319-334 AD)

He was the first great ruler of Gupta Dynasty. He assumed the title Maharajadhiraja. Married Licchhavi princess

Started the Gupta Era by 319-20 AD

The original type of Gold coins Dinaras was issued.

Samudragupta (335-380 AD)

He followed a policy of violence and conquest which led to enlargement of Gupta empire

Harisena, his court poet, vividly mentions his military exploits in Allahabad inscriptions

He reached Kanchi in the south which was ruled by Pallavas

Meghavarman, the ruler of Srilanka, sent a missionary for permission to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya

Samudragupta is called as Napoleon of India

Chandragupta II (380-412 AD)

He adopted the title Vikramaditya

He conquered Malwa and Gujarat which provided him access to the sea which enabled trade and commerce. Ujjain was made as the second capital

His court was adorned by the Navaratnasincluding Kalidasa and Amarasimha.

His exploits are glorified in Iron Pillar at Qutub Minar

Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hsien (399-414AD) visited India during his period.

Life in Gupta Age

System of Administration

They adopted Pompous titles such as Paeamabhattaraka and Maharajaadhiraja

The administration was highly decentralizedwith feudal lords ruling over minor provinces

Civil and criminal laws were highly demarcated

Kumaramatyas were the most important officers. But Guptas lacked elaborate bureaucracy like Mauryas. These offices also became hereditary in nature.

Grant of fiscal and administrative concessions to priests was also in practice. Agrahara grants and Devagraha grants were practiced.

Trends in trade and agrarian economy

Guptas issued a large number of Gold coins which were called as Dinars

There was a decline in the long distance trade with Romans which led to lesser gold content in the Dinars.

Land grants made to the priests brought many virgin lands under cultivation

Social developments

Brahmana supremacy continued during Gupta period

The Huns came to be recognized as one of the 36 clans of the Rajputs

The position of Shudras improved as they were permitted to hear Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas

The number of untouchables, the Chandalas, increased

The position of women improved as they were permitted to hear Ramayana, Mahabharata and worship Krishna. But the first example of Satialso appears in the Gupta period.

State of Buddhism

Buddhism did not receive royal patronage in Gupta Period, still stupas and Viharas were constructed and Nalanda became a center for Buddhist learning

Origin and growth of Bhagavatism

Worship of Vishnu and Narayana merged to form Bhagavatism or Vaishnavism

It was marked by Bhakti (loving devotion) and Ahimsa

Religious teachings were mentioned in Bhagavadgita, Vishnu Purana and Vishnu Smriti

Idol worship became a common feature of Hinduism

Gupta rulers followed a principle of tolerance

Art: Gupta period is called Golden age of ancient India. Art was mostly inspired by Religions

Rock cut caves – Ajanta, Ellora and Bagh caves

Structural temples – Dashavatar temple of Deogarh, Laxman temple of Sirpur, Vishnu temple and Varah temple of Eran. The growth of Nagara style also enabled the development of temple architecture in India

Stupas – Dhammek stupa of Sarnath, Ratnagiri stupa of Orissa, Mirpur Khas in Sindh developed in this period.

Paintings – Ajanta paintings and Bagh caves paintings

Sculpture – the Bronze image of Buddha near Sultanganj, Sarnath and Mathura school flourished during this period which supports the growth of Mahayana Buddhism and Idol worship.

Images of Vishnu, Shiva and some other Hindu gods were also found.

Literature

Religious – Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vayu Purana etc were re-written. Dignaga and Buddhagosha were certain Buddhist literature written in this period

Secular

Mudrarakshasha by Vishakadatta

Malavikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiyam, AbhijanaShakuntalam – Dramas by Kalidasa

Ritusamhar, Megadoot, Raghuvamsam, Kumarasambhavam – Poetries by Kalidasa

Mricchakatika by Sudraka

Kamasutra by Vatsyayana

Panchatantra by Vishnu Sharma

Scientific

Aryabhatiya and Surya Siddhanta by Aryabhatta

Romaka Siddhanta

Mahabhaskarya and Laghubhaskarya by Bhaskara

Pancha Siddhanta, Vrihat Jataka, Vrihat Samhita by Vrahamihira

Fall of the empire

Huns invasion during the reign of Skandagupta and his successors greatly weakened his empire

Rule of Yashodharman dealt a severe blow to Gupta empire.

The rise of feudatories and Governors becoming independent led to the disintegration of Gupta empire. Loss of western India had crippled them economically.