Chapter - 7 The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity

 Chapter - 7 The Gupta Era: An Age  of Tireless Creativity

A New Power Emerges :-

Decline of the Kushāṇa Empire:

• By the 3rd century CE, the Kushāṇa Empire began to weaken.
• This decline allowed new kingdoms to emerge in the Indian subcontinent.

Rise of the Gupta Dynasty:

• The Gupta dynasty emerged as a significant new power during this transitional period.
• Their origin is believed to be in the region near present-day Uttar Pradesh.
• Initially regional rulers, they gradually established a powerful empire.

Golden Age of the Gupta Period:

• The Gupta era is considered a remarkable phase in Indian history.
• Major advancements were made in art, architecture, literature, and science.
• This flourishing of culture was especially prominent during the reign of Chandragupta II.

Chandragupta II (Vikramāditya):

• He was one of the most famous Gupta rulers.
• Mentioned as ‘Chandra’ in the inscription on the iron pillar in Delhi.
• Should not be confused with Chandragupta Maurya of the earlier Maurya dynasty.
• He was a devotee of Viṣṇu, and the deity’s mount, Garuḍa, often appears in inscriptions related to him.

"The Warrior King":

1. Samudragupta's Achievements

• The Prayāga Praśasti (inscription at Prayagraj) praises Samudragupta, father of Chandragupta II.
• Written by Harisena, the court poet.
• Samudragupta aimed to unify the Earth (dharaṇi-bandha).
• He fought and won many wars, expanding the Gupta Empire significantly.

2. Treatment of Defeated Kings

• Some defeated kings were reinstated and made to pay tribute.
• Others submitted without resistance, fearing his power.

3. Patron of Arts and Learning

• Harisena highlights that Samudragupta:
• Promoted art, education, and trade.
• Brought wealth and prosperity to his kingdom.
• Was also musically talented – depicted playing the veena on his coins.

4. Literary and Territorial Insights

• Viṣṇu Purāṇa lists key regions under Gupta control:
• Anugaṅga (middle-Gangetic basin)
• Prayāga (Prayagraj)
• Sāketa (Ayodhya)
• Magadha (Bihar)
• At its peak, the Gupta Empire covered:
• Most of north and west India
• Parts of central and east India

 "A Traveller’s Account of Indian Society in the Gupta Age":

1. Faxian’s Visit to India

• Faxian was a Chinese Buddhist traveller who visited India in the early 5th century CE.
• His purpose was to:
• Visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
• Learn from Indian scholars.
• Collect Buddhist texts to take back to China.
• He travelled widely across India and documented his observations in a travelogue.

2. Importance of Faxian’s Account

• His travelogue provides valuable historical information about Indian culture, governance, and society during the Gupta age.
• These records are helpful primary sources for historians.

3. Limitations of Historical Accounts

• Faxian's account reflects:
• His personal viewpoint.
• A specific time period and limited section of society.
• Example: He noted the harsh treatment of the chaṇḍālas (outcastes), who lived outside city limits.

4. Importance of Multiple Sources

• Different people (like friends or historians) may interpret the same source differently.
• Therefore, historians:
• Compare multiple sources.
• Consider varied perspectives.
• Aim to form a more balanced and accurate understanding of the past.

"Glimpses of the Gupta Empire – Governance and Administration":

1. Coexistence and Competition of Kingdoms

• Many kingdoms existed during the Gupta period; some were rivals.
• There were wars and alliances to gain dominance.
• Referencing Kauṭilya’s saptānga theory, rulers were advised to form alliances (mitra) as part of effective governance.

2. Royal Titles and Authority

• Gupta rulers adopted grand titles to assert supremacy:
• Mahārājadhirāja (King of Great Kings)
• Samrāṭ (Emperor)
• Chakravartin (Universal Ruler)
• These titles were more powerful than earlier ones like rājan and mahārāja.

3. Strategies for Empire Building:- Expansion through:

• Military conquests
• Diplomacy
• Matrimonial alliances
• Example: Prabhāvatī Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II:
• Married into the Vākāṭaka dynasty.
• Became regent after her husband’s early death.
• Strengthened Gupta–Vākāṭaka relations.
• Devotee of Viṣṇu, associated with building seven temples, including in Ramagiri (Ramtek), Maharashtra.
• Described as the “mother of two kings”.

4. Administrative System

• The Gupta Empire had a decentralized but well-organized administration:
• Divided into provinces for better governance.
• Land grants were given to:
• Local rulers
• Priests
• Chieftains
• These grants were documented on copper plates (many found by archaeologists).
• Helped in efficient tax collection and allowed local autonomy.

"Thriving Trade":

1. Sources of Revenue in the Gupta Empire:- Primary revenue source: 

• Land tax
• Other sources included:
• Fines
• Taxes on mines
• Taxes on irrigation systems
• Taxes on trade and crafts

2. Use of Revenue

• Administration
• Maintaining the army
• Building temples and infrastructure
• Supporting scholars and artists

3. Importance of Trade:- To sustain a large empire, internal and external trade was essential.

India traded with:

• The Mediterranean world
• Southeast Asia
• China

Major exports:

• Textiles
• Spices
• Ivory
• Gemstones

4. Indian Ocean Trade Network

• Indian ports were linked to distant global markets.
• Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea was a key stop on trade routes to the Mediterranean.
• Archaeological finds there include:
• Pottery
• Inscriptions in Brahmi script
• A Buddhist stūpa design

Evidence shows long-term Indian presence and interaction with:

• Egyptian
• Arab
• Roman
• Greek traders

5. Cultural Exchange

• Trade helped promote rich cultural interactions across regions connected by the Indian Ocean.

 "New Ideas and Wonders: The Classical Age":

1. Religious Inclusivity

• Gupta rulers were devotees of Viṣṇu, often shown in their coins and inscriptions.
• Despite their personal beliefs, they were inclusive:
• Supported other religious traditions, including Buddhism.
• Patronized institutions like Nālandā University and other vihāras (Buddhist monasteries).

2. The Gupta Period as the ‘Classical Age’

• A long era of peace and stability enabled:
• Cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievements.
• Compilation and preservation of earlier knowledge.
• This led historians to describe the Gupta period as India’s Classical Age.

3. Advancements in Literature and Knowledge

• Sanskrit literature thrived:
• Works of Kālidāsa
• Compilation of several Purāṇas
• Mathematics and Astronomy:
• Contributions by Āryabhaṭa and Varāhamihira
• Medicine:
• Medical texts consolidated and improved earlier theories and practices
• Metallurgy:
• Advanced techniques, as seen in the rust-resistant Iron Pillar

4. Cultural and Intellectual Support:- A strong economy allowed state sponsorship of:

• Scholars
• Artists
• Scientists
• Chandragupta II:
• Surrounded himself with learned individuals, poets, and artists
• His court became a hub of cultural richness and intellectual activity

"The Quest for Beauty":

1. Support for Creativity

• Gupta rulers provided an environment where art and craftsmanship flourished.
• Their patronage led to the creation of iconic artistic works.

2. Important Art Centres

• Sārnāth (Uttar Pradesh):
• Known for exquisite sculptures of the Buddha.
• Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra):
• Famous for awe-inspiring rock-cut caves and murals.
• Udayagiri (Madhya Pradesh):
• Features rock-cut caves and detailed carvings of deities.

3. Legacy of Gupta Art

• Often referred to as “Gupta art”.
• Known for its aesthetic excellence, refined style, and spiritual depth.
• Set high artistic standards that influenced later Indian art and sculpture.

 "The Decline of the Guptas":

1. Onset of Decline (6th Century CE)

• By the 6th century CE, the Gupta Empire began to lose its previous strength and cohesion.
• Later Gupta rulers struggled to maintain control.

2. External Invasions

• Repeated attacks by the Hūṇa tribe (from Central Asia) severely weakened Gupta authority in north India.
• These invasions disrupted administration, trade routes, and the flow of tribute.

3. Rise of Regional Powers and Internal Strife

• Powerful regional rulers emerged in various parts of the subcontinent.
• Competition among these local dynasties led to internal conflicts, further eroding Gupta influence.

4. End or Turning Point?

• While the Gupta polity fragmented, this period set the stage for new political configurations.
• The decline marks both an end to Gupta supremacy and the beginning of a transformative era in Indian history (to be explored later).

 "Meanwhile in the South and Northeast ...":

1. Rise of the Pallavas (South India)

• Pallavas became powerful during the Gupta period, in regions of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Likely rose to power after the decline of the Sātavāhanas, under whom they may have once served as tributaries.
• Devotees of Śhiva, they were great patrons of art and architecture.
• Built magnificent temples and rock-cut caves.
• Capital: Kānchipuram – known as the “city of a thousand temples”.
• Established ghaṭikās (centres of learning), promoting education and intellectual growth.

2. Kāmarūpa Kingdom (Northeast India):- Ruled by the Varman dynasty.

• Covered Brahmaputra valley (now Assam) and parts of northern Bengal and Bangladesh.
• Known as Prāgjyotiṣa in ancient epics like the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata.
• Temples and monasteries were major hubs of learning and culture.

3. Gupta Relations with Regional Powers

• Both Pallavas and Kāmarūpa are mentioned in the Prayāga Praśasti inscription.
• Samudragupta:
• Defeated both kingdoms during his campaigns.
• Did not annex them but allowed local kings to stay in power if they accepted his rule and paid tribute.
• A strategy seen repeatedly during his reign, promoting peaceful relations.

4. Lasting Legacy of the Gupta Period:- The Gupta era was a period of:

• Scientific and technological advances (math, astronomy, medicine, metallurgy).
• Flourishing art, literature, and temple architecture.
• Cultural influence that extended beyond their empire.
• Their governance model, cultural values, and achievements shaped future generations.
• It remains one of the high points in Indian history.

NCERT QUESTIONS:-

2. Which Gupta ruler was also known as the ‘Vikramāditya’?

Answer:- The Gupta ruler also known as Vikramāditya was Chandragupta II.

3. “Periods of peace support the development of various aspects of sociocultural life, literature, and the development of science and technology.’ Examine this statement in the light of the Gupta empire. 

Answer:- “Periods of peace support the development of various aspects of sociocultural life, literature, and the development of science and technology.”

The Gupta Empire’s long period of peace and stability allowed art, literature, science, and technology to flourish. During this time, great works like Kālidāsa’s plays were written, advancements in mathematics and astronomy were made by scholars like Āryabhaṭa, and beautiful temples and sculptures were created. Peace also boosted trade and the economy, which supported learning and culture, making the Gupta era a classical age of Indian history.

5. Match the two columns:

 Column A                                                                 Column B

 (1) Kānchipuram                                 (a) Known for vibrant cave paintings that depict  the Jātaka tales.

 (2) Ujjayinī                                          (b) Famous for rock-cut caves featuring intricate carvings of                                                                         Hindu deities, especially Viṣhṇu.

 (3) Udayagiri                                         (c) Capital of the Guptas.  

 (4) Ajanta                                               (d) Known as ‘a city  of a thousand temples’.

 (5) Pāṭaliputra                                        (e) A prominent centre of learning in ancient India.

Answer:-  1 - d,    2 - e,   3 - b,   4 - a,   5 - c

6. Who were the Pallavas and where did they rule? 

Answer:- The Pallavas were a powerful dynasty in South India who rose to prominence during the time of the Gupta Empire.

• They ruled over parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Their origins are unclear, but they are believed to have been tributaries of the Sātavāhanas and gained power after the Sātavāhanas declined.
• Their capital was Kānchipuram (in Tamil Nadu), known as the "city of a thousand temples".
• The Pallavas were great patrons of art, architecture, and education, building magnificent temples and rock-cut caves.
• Most Pallava kings were devotees of Śhiva.
• They promoted learning through institutions called ghaṭikās, helping Kānchipuram become a major centre of education in the south.