Gupta (king)

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Gupta
Maharaja
Maharaja Sri Gupta inscription on the Allahabad pillar Samudragupta inscription.jpg
Mahārāja Shrī Gupta Gupta allahabad m.svg Gupta allahabad haa.jpg Gupta allahabad raa.jpg Gupta allahabad j.svg Gupta allahabad shrii.jpg Gupta allahabad gu.jpg Gupta allahabad pt.jpg ("Great King, Lord Gupta") in Gupta script on the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, where Samudragupta presents king Gupta as his great-grandfather. [1]
Founder and Great King of Gupta dynasty
Reignc. late 3rd century
Successor Ghatotkacha
Issue Ghatotkacha
Dynasty Gupta

Gupta (Gupta script: Gupta allahabad gu.jpg Gupta allahabad pt.jpg Gu-pta, fl. late 3rd century CE) was the founder of the Gupta dynasty of northern India. He is identified with king Che-li-ki-to (believed to be the Chinese transcription of " Shri -Gupta"), who, according to the 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing, built a temple near Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no (Mṛgaśikhāvana) for Chinese pilgrims.

Contents

Name

Gupta is not attested by his own inscriptions or coins, although some seals and coins have been wrongly attributed to him. [2] The earliest description of him occurs in his great-grandson Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, and is repeated verbatim in several later records of the dynasty: [3]

Samudragupta the Mahārājādhirāja, son of the prosperous Chandragupta (I), the Mahārājādhirāja, born of the Mahādēvī Kumāradēvī, (and) daughter's son of the Licchavi, son's son of the prosperous Ghaṭōtkacha, the Mahārāja and the son of the son's son of the prosperous Gupta, the Mahārāja [4] [5]

The Allahabad Pillar inscription names Samudragupta's ancestors as Shrī Gupta ( Gupta allahabad shrii.jpg Gupta allahabad gu.jpg Gupta allahabad pt.jpg shri gu-pta), Shrī Ghatotkacha, and Shrī Chandragupta. [3] Some earlier scholars believed that the name of the dynasty's founder was "Shri-gupta" (IAST: Śrigupta), as Gupta does not appear to be a given name. However, it is now generally agreed that Shri is an honorific title and not an integral part of the king's name; "Gupta" was the actual name of the king. The Vishnu Sahasranama mentions Gupta among the 1008 names of Vishnu, which suggests that it can be used as a given name. [6] The name derives from the word gup ("to protect"). [7]

Date

Gupta most probably ruled in the second half of the 3rd century, although his reign cannot be dated with certainty based on existing evidence. Various estimates of his reign include: [8] [2]

Political status

The Allahabad Pillar inscription uses the title Maharaja ( Gupta allahabad m.svg Gupta allahabad haa.jpg Gupta allahabad raa.jpg Gupta allahabad j.svg "Great King") for Gupta and his son Ghatotkacha, as opposed to the title Maharajadhiraja ("king of great kings") for later ruler Chandragupta I. In the later period, the title Maharaja was used by feudatory rulers, which has led to suggestions that Gupta and Ghatotkacha were feudatory kings. [9] For example, scholars R. D. Banerji and K. P. Jayaswal theorize that they were Kushana vassals. [10]

There is no doubt that Gupta and Ghatotkacha held a lower status and were less powerful than Chandragupta I. [9] However, there are several instances of paramount sovereigns using the title Maharaja, in both pre-Gupta and post-Gupta periods, so the use of the title Maharaja cannot be considered as conclusive evidence of Gupta's vassal status. [9] The sovereign kings of several contemporary or near-contemporary dynasties, including the Vakatakas, used the title Maharaja. Moreover, the Kushana Empire had already declined before the rise of the Guptas, so Gupta is unlikely to have been a Kushana vassal. [10]

Identification with Che-li-ki-to

The 7th century Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing, in his description of the itinerary of the earlier Korean traveler(of Silla) Hwui-lun(慧輪) alias Prajnavarma, mentions that in ancient times, king Che-li-ki-to (室利笈多) built a temple near Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no (Mṛgaśikhāvana) for Chinese pilgrims. The king endowed the temple with the revenue of 24 villages for its maintenance. [11] Only the brick foundation of this temple survived in Yijing's time. [12]

Numismatist John Allan read Che-li-ki-to as a transcription of Shri-Gupta. J. F. Fleet opposed this theory, pointing out that according to Yijing's writings, Che-li-ki-to flourished five hundred years before him (that is, in the second century), while Gupta ruled in the late 3rd century. Moreover, the Gupta inscriptions mention the king's name as "Gupta" (which would be transcribed as ki-to, 笈多), not "Shri-gupta" (Che-li-ki-to). Allan argued that Yijing's statement about the king's date should not be taken literally, and that the Chinese writers visiting India often used "Shri" as an honorific. [10]

Based on available evidence, Gupta's religious affiliation is unclear. Historian A. K. Narain theorizes that he was a Vaishnavite, who was tolerant of Buddhist activity in his kingdom. [13] This latter scenario would have been comparable with the later Gupta monarchs, who were predominantly Vaishnavite, but under whose regimes heterodox religious movements like Buddhism and Jainism were allowed to flourish. [14]

Territory

Some scholars, such as D. C. Ganguly and R. C. Majumdar, have interpreted Yijing's description to mean that the temple was located more than 40 yojana s east of Nalanda, along the Ganges river, and have identified its location in present-day Bengal region. [15] Majumdar read Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no as a transcription of Mriga-sthapana, the name of a stupa which was located in the historical Varendra region of Bengal. [15] According to Ganguly, this suggests that the Gupta dynasty originated in Bengal, while according to Majumdar, this only proves that Bengal was a part of Gupta's kingdom. [16]

Other scholars, such as B. P. Sinha and Jagannath Agrawal, read Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no of Yijing's account as a transcription of Mriga-shikha-vana (IAST: Mṛgaśikhāvana), and identify it with Mrigadaya (Deer Park) in Sarnath, in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. [12] Ashvini Agrawal argues that Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no is not an exact transcription of Mriga-sthapana: Mriga-shikha-vana is closer, and a different interpretation of Yijing's writings suggests that Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no was located in Sarnath. [17] Sinha theorizes that Hwui-lun erroneously mentioned its location as east of Nalanda. [18] These historians propose that the Gupta dynasty originated in eastern Uttar Pradesh. [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the early 4th century CE to early 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is considered as the Golden Age of India by historians. The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by Gupta, and the most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Skandagupta. The 5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandragupta II</span> Ruler of Gupta Empire from c. 376 to c. 415

Chandragupta II, also known by his title Vikramaditya, as well as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the third ruler of the Gupta Empire in India, and was one of the most powerful emperors of the Indian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandragupta I</span> 4th-century king of the Gupta Empire

Chandragupta I was a king of the Gupta Empire, who ruled in northern and central India. His title Maharajadhiraja suggests that he was the first emperor of the dynasty. It is not certain how he turned his small ancestral kingdom into an empire, although a widely accepted theory among modern historians is that his marriage to the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi helped him extend his political power. Their son Samudragupta further expanded the Gupta empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samudragupta</span> 4th-century ruler of the Gupta Empire

Samudragupta (Gupta script: Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta, was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India, and is regarded among the greatest rulers of India. As a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he greatly expanded his dynasty's political and military power. Samudragupta remained undefeated during his entire reign and is considered one of the greatest emperors in the history of the world. During his and his son, Chandragupta II's rule the Gupta Empire was undoubtedly the strongest and the most powerful empire in the world at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumaragupta I</span> Maharajadhiraja, Parama-bhattaraka, Paramadvaita, Mahendraditya

Kumaragupta I was an emperor of the Gupta Empire of Ancient India. A son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and Queen Dhruvadevi, he seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, which extended from Gujarat in the west to Bengal region in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Licchavi (kingdom)</span> Ancient kingdom of Kathmandu valley, Nepal

Licchavi was a kingdom which existed in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal from approximately 400 to 750 CE. The Licchavi clan originated from Vaishali, and conquered Kathmandu Valley. The Licchavis were ruled by a maharaja, aided by a prime minister and other royal officials, but in practice local communities were controlled by caste councils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramagupta</span> Maharajadhiraja

Ramagupta, according to the Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, was an emperor of the Gupta dynasty of northern India. The surviving fragments of the play, combined with other literary evidence, suggest that he agreed to surrender his wife Dhruvadevi to a Shaka enemy: However, his brother Chandragupta II killed the Shaka enemy, and later dethroned him, marrying Dhruvadevi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skandagupta</span> Gupta Emperor who ruled parts of Indian subcontinent during c. 455–467

Skandagupta was a Gupta Emperor of India. His Bhitari pillar inscription suggests that he restored the Gupta power by defeating his enemies, who may have been rebels or foreign invaders. He repulsed an invasion by the Indo-Hephthalites, probably the Kidarites. He seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, and is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors. The Gupta genealogy after him is unclear, but he was most probably succeeded by Purugupta, who appears to have been his younger half-brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghatotkacha (king)</span> King of northern India (died c. 319)

Ghatotkacha was a pre-imperial Gupta king of northern India. He was a son of the dynasty's founder Gupta, and the father of the dynasty's first emperor Chandragupta I.

There are conflicting theories regarding the original homeland and ancestry of the Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India between 4th and 6th centuries. Modern historians variously theorize that it originated in present-day Uttar Pradesh or Bengal, based on epigraphic, numismatic and literary evidence. The social group (varna) of the dynasty is also a matter of debate, with scholars variously placing them in kshatriya Vaishya, Brahmana, or other categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toramana</span> Ruler of the Alchon Huns

Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla was a king of the Alchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE. Toramana consolidated the Hephthalite power in Punjab, and conquered northern and central India including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings", equivalent to "Emperor", in his inscriptions, such as the Eran boar inscription.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vainyagupta</span> ? Gupta Ruler

Vainyagupta was one of the lesser known kings of the Gupta dynasty.

Mi-li-kia-si-kia-po-no, believed to be a Chinese transcription of Mṛgaśikhāvana (Mriga-shikha-vana), was the site of a Buddhist establishment in eastern India. It is mentioned in the writings of the Chinese traveler Yijing, who states that king Che-li-ki-to had constructed a temple for Chinese Buddhist pilgrims near it.

Dhruva-devi was the queen of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II, who ruled in present-day northern India. She was the mother of his successor Kumaragupta I, and was most probably same as Dhruva-svamini, who has been mentioned as a queen of Chandragupta and the mother of prince Govindagupta in a clay seal inscription.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gupta era</span>

The Gupta era is a historical calendar era that begins from c. 318–319 CE. It was used by the Gupta emperors, as well as their vassals and their successors in present-day northern India and Nepal. It is identical to the Vallabhi era, which was used in the Saurashtra region of western India, although regional differences lead to a slightly different calculation for the conversion of Vallabhi era years to Common Era (CE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kacha (king)</span> Maharajadhiraja, Sarva-rajocchetta

Kacha was a king of India, possibly a member of the Gupta dynasty. He is known only from his gold coins, which are similar to those of the Gupta king Samudragupta.

Devi-Chandraguptam or Devi-Chandragupta is an Indian Sanskrit-language political drama attributed to Vishakhadeva, who is generally identified with Vishakhadatta. The complete text of the play is now lost, but its portions survive in form of quotations in the later works. The plot also survives in form of a Persian language story, which appears to be an adaptation of the play, and is included in the 11th century text Majmal-ut-Tawarikh.

Govindagupta was a Gupta prince of ancient India. He was a son of Chandragupta II and Dhruvadevi, and a brother of Kumaragupta.

Śanakanika Maharaja was a feudatory of Chandragupta II or Vikramaditya of the Gupta Dynasty. Śanakanika Maharaja is known from his record on his gift on a Vaishnavism cave temple at Udayagiri, which is dated 82.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achyuta of Panchala</span> King of Panchala

Achyuta Naga was the last independent ruler of Panchala, in what is now northern India. He was defeated by Samudragupta, a powerful Gupta emperor.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Full inscription, Fleet, John Faithfull (1888). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. 3. pp.  1-17.
  2. 1 2 Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 86.
  3. 1 2 R. C. Majumdar 1981, p. 6.
  4. ↑ Bhandarkar, D. R.; Chhabra, B. C. (1981). Gai, G. S. (ed.). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the early Gupta Kings. Archaeological Survey of India.
  5. ↑ Ganguly, Dilip Kumar (1987). The Imperial Guptas and Their Times. Abhinav Publications. pp. 63–64. ISBN   8170172225.
  6. ↑ Ashvini Agrawal 1989, pp. 84–85.
  7. ↑ Tej Ram Sharma 1989, p. 42.
  8. ↑ Tej Ram Sharma 1989, pp. 49–55.
  9. 1 2 3 R. C. Majumdar 1981, pp. 6–7.
  10. 1 2 3 Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 85.
  11. ↑ Dilip Kumar Ganguly 1987, p. 7.
  12. 1 2 Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 80.
  13. ↑ A. K. Narain 1983, pp. 17–52.
  14. ↑ A. K. Narain 1983, p. 44.
  15. 1 2 Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 79.
  16. ↑ Ashvini Agrawal 1989, pp. 79–80.
  17. 1 2 Ashvini Agrawal 1989, pp. 81–82.
  18. 1 2 Tej Ram Sharma 1989, p. 38.

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