The Gupta Empire | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

The Gupta Empire rose in Magadha around the 4th century AD and covered a greater part of Northern India (though smaller than the Mauryan Empire). It is worth noting the Gupta Dynasty ruled for more than about 200 years.
The Gupta Period is popularly known as the ‘Golden Age of India’. The Gupta empire's lifestyle and culture are known to us through the availability of various ancient scriptures, coins, inscriptions, texts, etc. belonging to the Gupta era.

Origin Of Gupta Empire

• Post-Maurya Decline:
  • After the decline of the Maurya Empire, two significant powers emerged.
  • Satavahanas (Andhras): Established dominance in the Deccan and the South.
  • Kushans: Controlled the Northern regions.
• Shift of Power:
  • Around A.D. 230, the Kushan rule in North India concluded.
  • Murundas: Possibly Kushan kinsmen, assumed control over central India.
  • Murundas' rule endured for approximately 25 years.
• Gupta Empire Ascendancy:
  • Around A.D. 275, Gupta Empire emerged on the remnants of the Kushan Empire.
  • Former Dominions: Gupta Empire extended its rule over the territories once held by both Kushans and Satavahanas.
  • Political Unity: For over a century, North India experienced political cohesion under Gupta rule.

Material Advantages Of Gupta Empire

There are typically three types of sources for reconstructing the Gupta period's history.

(i) Literary Sources

• Vishakhadatta has written Devichandraguptam and Mudrarakshasa, which provide details about the rise of the Guptas.
• Social, economic, and religious accounts were left by the Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who had visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.

(ii) Epigraphical Sources

• Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription – achievements of Chandragupta II.
• Allahabad Pillar inscription – About the reign of Samundragupta describing his personality and achievements. It is engraved on an Ashokan pillar, written in Sanskrit in Nagari script, composed of 33 lines by Harisena.

(iii) Numismatic Sources

• The coins issued by Gupta kings contain legends and figures.
• These gold coins give insights into the titles and sacrifices that were performed by the Guptas.

The Gupta Dynasty

Sri Gupta founded the Gupta empire. He was then succeeded by Ghatotkacha. Not much information is available about the rule of these two Maharajas. After that, significant rulers from the Gupta dynasty ruled during this period.

Sri Gupta (A.D. 240-280)

• Founder of the Gupta dynasty
• He was described as Maharaja in the Allahabad pillar inscription.

Ghatotkacha (A.D 280- 319)

• Succeeded his father Sri Gupta
• Along with Sri Gupta,  he was also described as Maharaja in the Allahabad pillar inscription.

Chandragupta I (A.D. 319-334)

• Succeeded Ghatotkacha as the ruler
• He was the first important king of the Gupta dynasty
• The Gupta Era began with his accession to the throne in A.D.320
• He was the first king to be called Maharajadhiraja.
• He married the Lichchhavi princess (Possibly from Nepal), Kumaradevi. With this matrimonial alliance, he strengthened his position and added prestige to the Gupta dynasty.
• The Mehrauli iron pillar inscription explains in detail about his lengthy conquests.
• Magadha, Saketa and Prayaga were brought under the authority of the Gupta dynasty by him. 
• During his period , Pataliputra was the capital city of the Gupta empire.

Samudragupta (330-380 A.D.)

• He is also known as “Indian Napoleon”. He was the greatest of the rulers of the Gupta dynasty.
• The Allahabad Pillar inscription contains details of his military conquest in stages:- Against rulers of North India, Samundragupta’s Dakshinapatha expedition against South India, and Another campaign against other rulers of North India.
• It is a little ironic that these military achievements are engraved on the same pillar which contains the inscriptions of the peace-loving Ashoka.
• He also performed Ashwamedha sacrifices after his military victories. This is known by the coins issued by him commemorating him as the “restorer of Ashwamedha”.
• His greatest achievement was the political unification of India as a formidable force.
• Also, a Chinese source tells that the ruler of Sri Lanka, Meghvarman sought permission from Samudragupta to build a Buddhist temple at Bodh Gaya.
• The different name called Samudragupta was ‘Kaviraja’ because of his ability to compose verses. Certain coins show him with a Veena.
• He patronised poets and scholars like Harisena, who played a part in promoting Sanskrit literature(which is a characteristic feature of the Gupta dynasty).
• Samudragupta was a follower of Vaishnavism. However, he also patronised the great Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu.

Kumaragupta (415-455 A.D.)

• He succeeded Chandragupta II.
• Kumar Gupta, I was a worshipper of Kartikeya.
• The coins of his time tell that he took titles like Mahendraditya and Ashwamedha Mahendrah.
• Nalanda University
• He laid the foundation of Nalanda University which later grew to become an international learning center.

Skandagupta (455-467 AD)

• He was the last great ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
• He saved the empire from the Hun invasion coming from Central Asia. But these invasions weakened the empire.
• Details about him are mentioned on the Bhitari Pillar inscription, proclaiming him the title of ‘Vikramaditya’.

Gupta Administration

• The various inscriptions mention the following titles as usual for Guptas: Paraniadvaita, Pararnabhattaraka, Maharajadhiraja, Prithvipala, Paramesvara, Samrat, Ekadhiraja and Chakravartin.
• The king was assisted in his administration by a chief minister called mantra or shiva.
• Pratiharas and Mahapratiharts were important officers in the royal court, though they did not participate in the administration.
• Among the important military officers are mentioned Senapati, Mahasenapati, Baladhyaksha; Mahabaladhyaksha, Baladhikrita and Mahabaladhikrita who perhaps represented different grades.
• There were two other high military officers – the Bhatasvapati, commander of the infantry and cavalry and the Katuka, commander of the elephant corps.
• Another important official mentioned in the Basarh seals was Ranabhandagaradhikarana, chief of the war office's treasury.
• One more high officer, mentioned for the first time in the Gupta records, was Sandhivigrahika or Mahasandhivigrahika, a foreign minister.
• One of the inscriptions mentions Sarvadhyakshas, superintendents of all, but it is not clear whether they were central or provincial officers.
• Numerous inscriptions mention Dutaka or Duty who communicated royal commands to officers and people concerned.
• Dandapasadhikarana represented the chief of the police.
• Ordinary police officials were known as Dandapasika, Chatas, Bhatas, Dandika (chastiser), and Chauroddharanika (officer apprehending thieves).
• The king maintained close contact with the provincial administration through a class of officials called Kumaramatyas and Ayuktas.
• Provinces in the Gupta Empire were known as Bhuktis and provincial governors as Uparikas. They were mostly chosen from among the princes.
• Bhuktis were subdivided into Vishyas or districts. Vishyapatis governed them.
• Nagara Sreshtis were the officers looking after the city administration.
• The villages in the district were under the control of Gramikas.
• Fahien’s account characterises the Gupta administration as mild and benevolent. There were no restrictions on people’s movements and they enjoyed a large degree of personal freedom. There was no state interference in the individual’s life. Punishments were not severe. Imposing a fine was a common punishment. The administration was so efficient that the roads were kept safe for travellers, and there was no fear of thieves. He mentioned that people were generally prosperous and the crimes were negligible.
• Fahien also appreciated the Gupta administration's efficiency as he was able to travel without any fear throughout the Gangetic Valley.
• On the whole, the administration was more liberal than that of the Mauryas.

Central Administration

• Maha Mantri (Chief Minister): stood at the head of civil administration.
• Maha-baladhikrta: commander-in-chief
• Sandhivgrahika: the foreign minister
• Maha-dandanayaka: Chief justice
• Maha-asvapati: commander of the Calvalry
• Maha-pilupati: commander of elephant
• Maja-ranabhandagarika: Master general of military stores

The Maukharis

• The Maukharis, as a political entity, have been mentioned in Patanjali's work and other early documents.
• The Maukharis must have started gaining political power towards the end of the 5th century AD as the Harsha inscription of 554 AD mentions the rise of Yagnavarman from Gaya during this period.
• There are names of three Maukhari kings mentioned in the Nagarjuna inscriptions who ruled in Gaya, about 150 years earlier than their successors at Kanauj.
• The first three Maukhari kings were Yagnavarman, Sardulavarman and Anantavarman. Some of these kings held simply the title of samanta which indicates that they were acting as kings under the overlordship of the Guptas.
• From the Asirgarh copper seal we get the names of (1) Harivarman, (2) Adityavarman, (3) Isvaravarman, (4) Isanavarman (5) Sarvavarman, who had ruled over Kanauj in UP. The first three kings had maharaja, whereas Saravarman is called maharajadhiraja.
• It was perhaps Lsanavarman who set up an independent kingdom.
• The early Maukhari kings had established family ties with the later Guptas.
• However, Isanavarman’s declaration of his independence must have spoilt the relations between the Later Guptas and the Maukharis for the Apshad inscription tells of the victory of Kumaragupta, the fourth king of the later Gupta family of Maghadha, over Isanavarman. But the dynasty seems to have continued its rule.
• Sarvavarman, the second son of Lsanavannan, successfully retrieved the lost prestige of the Maukharis by defeating Damodaragupta of the Later Gupta dynasty.
• The last of the Maukhari kings was Grahavarman who was married to Rajyasri, the daughter of Prabhakaravardhan of Thaneshwar and sister of the famous ruler Harshavardharna.
• The Malaya king, Devagupta attacked Kanauj and killed Grahvarman bringing the Maukhari kingdom to an end.
• The Maukhari held sway over modern UP and parts of Magadha, however, the innumerable wars they lost and won kept changing their boundaries.

Causes of the Fall of the Gupta Empire

• External Threats:
  • The Gupta Empire faced repeated invasions from external forces, including the White Huns and Vakatakas.
  • The Pushyamitra clan attempted invasions during Kumaragupta I's reign but was consistently defeated.
• Skandagupta's Defenses:
  • Skandagupta, considered the final great emperor, successfully defended the Gupta Empire against Huns during his rule.
  • Invasion threats began during Kumaragupta I's reign, but Skandagupta's skillful leadership thwarted the attempts.
• Hun Invasions:
  • Skandagupta's successors were weak rulers, unable to effectively govern the vast Gupta Empire.
  • The Huns, particularly the White Huns, attempted to overrun the Gupta Empire during Skandagupta's successors' rule.
  • Successive weak rulers after Skandagupta were unable to maintain the defense against the Huns.
• Skandagupta's Death:
  • After Skandagupta's death, the Huns successfully invaded the Gupta Empire.
  • Provinces like Malwa, Gujarat, and Thanesar were conquered by the Huns.
• Gupta Resistance:
  • Despite the Gupta Empire's declining authority, they fought against the Huns for a period, preventing immediate conquest.
• Narasimha Gupta's Alliance:
  • To resist the Huns in northern India, Narasimha Gupta of the Gupta dynasty formed alliances with autonomous kingdoms.
  • This alliance was an attempt to keep the Huns out of key regions and protect the Gupta Empire.

The fall of the Gupta Empire was a result of a combination of internal weaknesses, succession issues, and external invasions, particularly from the White Huns, leading to the gradual decline and eventual collapse of this once-mighty kingdom.