Gupta Empire

Gupta Period

1. We get information from the golden coins ( dinaras) of the Gupta period. The abundance of gold coins from the Gupta era has led some scholars to regard this phenomenon as the “ rain of gold”. The gold coins are

example of artistic excellence during the period.

2.We also get information from the murals of the Ajanta Caves

3. We get information from inscriptions and Prashastis

Dinaras

The intricately designed golden coins minted during the Gupta period were called the Dinaras

Some of the dinaras minted during Samudragupta's reign shows him playing the veena.

Prashasti

We know about Samudragupta from a long inscription in the Ashokan pillar in Allahabad

It was composed as Kavya by Harishena , who was a poet and a

minister in the court of Samudragupta

Prashasti , a Sankrit word means “ in praise of”

Samudragupta- Prashasti

Whose body was most charming, being covered with the plenteous beauty of the marks of hundreds of scars caused by battle-axes, arrows, spikes, spears, barbed darts, swords, iron clubs, javelins, barbed arrows, long arrows and many other weapons.

Gupta Empire - The foundation

The Gupta empire was founded by Sri Gupta sometime between 240 and 280 CE.

Sri Gupta's son and successor, Ghatotkacha, ruled from around 280 to 319 CE.

Chandragupta I , Ghatokacha’s son, ascended the throne around 319 and ruled until 335 CE.

He married Lichchhavi princess Kumradevi. The Lichchhavis were ruling parts of Nepal

He confined his rule to Magadha and parts of eastern Uttarpradesh

He assumed the title of Magarajadhiraj