Eternal India Encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

Eternal India encyclopedia

kingdoms and republics (Allahabad pillar inscription). * Advance of Chandragupta II to Arabian Sea and conquest of Saurashtra or Kathia- war; the conquest of western Satrap, cap- ture of Vahlika (Balkh or Bactria). A.D. Samudragupta succeeded Chandragupta I in 335 A.D. The Allahabad pillar inscription (inscribed on an Asokan pillar at Prayaga- Allahabad) is the chief source of information about his reign, battles, conquests, etc; the in- scription is undated, it was composed by Harisena (the court poet of Samudragupta); the inscription classifies the campaigns of Samudragupta under 4 heads; campaign di- rected against the 11 kings of the south, 9 named kings of Aryavarta, chief of the wild forest tribes and frontier kingdoms and repub- lics and also his relations with foreign powers. Samudragupta "violently uprooted" 9 rul- ers of Aryavarta (the upper Ganges Valley) (line 13 of the inscription), he extended his campaigns down the east coast as far as Kan- chipuram (near Madras) forcing the southern states to acknowledge his suzerainty and re- turned their kingdoms (lines 19 and 20); rulers of the 5 frontier countries (Samatata, Davaka, Kamarupa, Nepal, Kartripur) paid tribute to him (line 22). Samudragupta is famous for his conquests and he has been rightly given the title "the Indian Napolean" (by V.A.Smith) and his campaigns extended Gupta power in south and eastern India and virtually elimi- nated the republics and the minor kings of central India and the Ganges valley; his con- quests were of different degrees - there were kings who were killed, defeated, taken prison- ers and then liberated and reinstated. Samudra- gupta was not a ruthless annexationist, "He was a magnanimous conqueror who was gen- erous to the fallen foe. It has rightly been stated that hisfame which pervades the whole world, is due to his re-establishing many royal families whom he had overthrown and de- prived of their sovereignty "; maintained good relations with Ceylon, received two Buddhist . monks; after his victories he performed the Ashvamedha Yagna - the Horse Sacrifice, is- sued gold coins to commemorate the event, he inaugurated and Indianised the Gupta coinage. He was a great patron of art and composed a large number of poems; he is shown on his coins as playing on a veena or lute; well versed in Sastras; had in his court a famous poet, Harisena, who composed the Allahabad pillar inscription which is the only available record Samudragupta c. 335-375

Administration * Gupta kingship was not a crude autocracy; it had constitutional checks in the form of council of ministers; the administration was guided by precedents; the theory of di- vinity of kings was popular; emperor was variously called as Paramadevata, Mahara- jadhiraja, Samrat, Prithivipala etc.; the de- partment of revenue and police existed - Uparikas Dashaparadhiva, Dandika, Rajuka etc. The military officers- Senapati, Mahasenapati, Dandanayaka; punishments were very lenient (Fahien). * The empire was called as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, etc., divided into Bhukti, Pradesh, Bhoja\ provincial'administration was headed by Vishayapatv, documents were maintained by Karanika ; city was headed by Purapala or Nagara Rakshaka', Gramika was the village head; village parishad or assembly existed. Land tax - udranga, uparika, vata, bhuta, dhanya, hiranya, adeya, bhoga, baga etc., existed.

of the achievements of Samudragupta. He was succeeded by his son Ramagupta and later by Chandragupta II. Impact * Consolidation of Gupta power in northern, central and southern India. Strengths * Strong personality of Samudragupta. * Superb military campaigns of Chandra- gupta II. * Religious toleration. * Local autonomy. * All - round development. Achievements * Golden and classical age of India. * Battles and reforms of Samudragupta and Chandragupta II. * Development of art, architecture, literature and sculpture. * Contributions of Aryabhata and Brahma- gupta to the science of astronomy.