Gupta Empire
The Gupta empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from approximately from 319 to 605C.E. and covered much of the Indian subcontinent. The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by Sri Gupta. The most notable rulers of the dynasties were: Chandragupta-1, Samudragupta and Chandragupta-2. The 5th century CE. Sanskrit poet 'Kalidasa' credits the Guptas with having conquered about 21 kingdoms both, in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east, Oxus valley, the Kinnaras, Kiratas and others.
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| Aryabhatta |
The Gupta period produce scholars such as, Kalidasa, Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, Vishnu sharma and Vatsysyana, who made great achievements in the academic fields. Science and political administration reached new heights during the Gupta era.
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The period gave rise to achievements in architecture, sculpture, paintings. Strong trade ties also made the region an important cultural centre and established the region as a base that would influence nearby regions in Burma, Srilanka and Southeast Asia.
The empire eventually died out because of many factors, such as substantial loss of territories as well as the invasion by the Huna people from central Asia. A minor line of Gupta clan continued to rule Magadh after the disintegration of the empire. These Guptas were ultimately ousted by the Vardhana ruler Harsha who estd. his empire in first half of 7th Cent.
Contribution To Religion
It is generally held that, the Gupta kings were the followers of Vishnu. The Gupta kings called themselves Parambhagvatas. This shows that, they were the followers of Vishnu. The figure of Lakshmi is found on many coins of Guptas, and she is consort of Vishnu. The figures of Garuda are also found on the seals of Gupta period and Garuda is the 'Vahana' of Vishnu. In some inscriptions, the term Vishnudhwaja(flag of Vishnu) is used.
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| Great Varaha Image |
Shaivism was also the accepted religion of both, royalty and the common folk. Both, Shiva and Vishnu temples were erected side by side by the devotees during the Gupta period. Shiva temples in Nagod, Ajaigarh show that, the Gupta kings were worshippers of Shiva. They were not only devotees of Shiva, but also of Parvati-wife of Shiva and Kartikeya-son of Shiva.
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The bull type coins of Skanda Gupta shows that, he had Shiva leanings. The Gupta inscriptions generally compare Gupta kings with lord Shiva.
It appears that, the cult of Shakti was also prevalent in the Gupta period. There is a Parvati temple in Ajaigarh. In all these temples, there are figures full of vigour and energy. In the Sanakanika cave at Udaygiri, there are many images. Next to image of Vishnu, there is a figure of Mahishasurmardini. This figure has four arms. The figure of Mahishasurmardini is another form of Durga.
The hymns to Durga are found in the Puranas. The Purana like, Brahmand Puran, Bhagwat Purana, Markandeya Purana deal with the Durga cult. The term 'Sapta Matrika' frequently occurs in Gupta inscriptions. The seven mothers are- Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari,Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri and Chamundi.
The Guptas engaged themselves in he worship of Shakti, as they realised that, Shaktism as an aspect of religion was rooted in the vedic literature and without Shakti, the Purusa became an inactive principle.
A number of temples dedicated to Kartikeya or Swami mahasena as he was known during the Gupta period, have been found. The cult of 'Skanda' as riding on a Peacock and as a war god was known to the Gupta people. The popularity of this cult was due to a great extent to Kalidasa, who spoke highly of the temple of war god in his time. The Guptas were generally the followers of thus cult as they were the followers of other cults.
There is an elaborate mention of the Surya cult in the Gupta period. The Gupta kings patronised the cult of Surya or Sun. The Brahmanas of enlightened minds have re-course to the God-Sun. When he people have lost control of themselves, they get back consciousness from Surya.
The Gupta rulers patronised Hinduism. If one was the follower of Vishnu, second was follower of Shiva, the third one of Maurya and the fourth one of the Sun. However, this did not make them intolerant of other religions. The result was that, both, Buddhism and Jainism were give full religious toleration.
In the time of Samudragupta, the king of Ceylon requested the Gupta king to give him permission to construct a monastry at Bodhgaya and the necessary permission was granted. It is stated that, an official of Chandragupta-2 built a Buddhist Vihar at Sanchi for maintaining the 'Bhikshus'. Fahien, who visited India in the time of Candragupta-2 tells us that, there was a Hinayana institution at Gandhara.
He saw hundreds of monks a Peshawar. At Sankasi, he found a thousand minks and nuns, belonging to Hinayanism and Mahayanism.
The testimony of monuments and epigraphs show that, Buddhism continued to to flourish in the time of Guptas as they did not interfere faith of the people. The Gupta kings also gave toleration to Jainism. However, there are only two or three inscriptions of Gupta period which mentions about Jain images installed by pious individual.
Contribution Of Guptas To Science
Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, and Brahmagupta were the foremost astronomers and mathematicians of the world. Aryabhatta wrote 'Suryas Siddhanta'. In that, book, he explained the two causes of solar and lunar eclipses. Aryabhatta was the first Indian astronomer to declare that, the earth revolves around it's own axis.
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| Suryas Siddhanta |
He explained the variatons in the planetary motions. The Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira deals with astronomy , botany, natural history and physical geaography. Varahmihira also wrote 'Pach Siddhantika', Brihat jataka and Laghujataka.
Brahmagupta was a great astronomer and mathematician of his age. He anticipated Newton by declaring that, 'all things fall to earth by a law of nature: For it is the nature of earth to attract and keep things'. The 'Navanitakam' was written during Gupta period. This book contains formulae and prescriptions. Palakapya wrote 'Hastyayurveda' on the veterinary sciences.
The Gupta Art
The Gupta art is the flower of our established tradition, a polished and perfect medium for the establishment of thought and feeling. The glories of the Gupta period are partly due to Gupta art. It was during this period that, there was an unprecedented artistic activity all over India.
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| Gupta art |
Sculpture, architecture, paintings and terracotta made achievements during this period. Some of our most beautiful monuments are a heritage of Gupta period. Mathura, Banaras and Patna were centres of artistic activity.
The Gupta artist relied more on elegance than on volume. Their art shows simplicity of expression and spiritual purpose. There is balance and freedom from conventions. There is sobriety in the use of drapery, ornaments and other things of decoration. There is naturalness in the Gupta art. The Gupta artist were masters of technique.
The Gupta art is famous for Rupam or concept of beauty. The Gupta artists applied themselves to the worship of beautiful form in many ways. They worshipped art in order to awaken a new sense of spiritual joy and nobility.
A profound religious and spiritual appeal can be found in the Gupta art. The painted forms of Gods, sages, kings, queens and their attendants in the Ajanta caves give an idea of good and evil.
We find in Gupta art the simplicity of style and felicity if expression. Great ideas are given a concrete form in a natural and easy manner. The outer form and inner meaning are linked up in the same way as the body and mind are connected.
Scholars are of opinion that, the Gupta art represented Indian art at it's best.
It did wonders both, at home and abroad. Sculpture has contributed the most to the high esteem, in which the Gupta art is held. Nudity, as a rule was eliminated from the Gupta art. The Gupta artist employed drapery to conceal the charms of flesh.
Thus can be seen from the images of Buddha, belonging to Gupta period. We have the seated Buddha at Sarnath, standing Buddha at in Mathura museum and copper statue of Buddha at Sultanganj. We find not only the smile of Buddha but also his serene contemplative mood. The images of Buddha of Gupta period have beautiful curly hair. The Gupta artists used transperant drapery. Freshness and vitality of art is found in those images.
Some of the most beautiful Shiva images belong to the Gupta period. It is true that, Shiva worshipped in the form of 'Linga' in the Kushan period, but Ekamukhi and Chaturmukhi shivlingas were introduced by Gupta artist. The Gupta artist also created the Ardhanareshwara form of Shiva, where the deity is represented as half male and half female.
We learn from the Gupta sculpture that, the worship of Vishnu in his various incarnation was very popular with the people. We find in Vishnu a human head with those of a boar and a lion. The great Varaha image at Udaygiri has been rightly regarded as a monument to the genius of Gupta sculptors.
The Gupta artists handled successfully the stories of the various incarnations of Vishnu and Shiva in a masterly manner. In the Deogadh temple, we find the representations of the epic stories of Ram and Krishna.
The iron pillar at Mehrauli near New-Delhi is an outstanding example of Gupta craftsmenship. It's total height is 23 feet 8 inches. It's entire weight exceeds 6 tonnes.
Architecture
The chief surviving temples of the Gupta period are Vishnu temple at Tigawa in Jabalpur district, Shiva temple at Bhumara in the former Nagod state, Parvati temple at Nacha-Kuthar in the Former Ajaigarh state, Buddhist shrines at Sanchi and Bodhgaya, the Dasavtara temple at Deogarh. The beautiful Ekamukhi Linga and mass sculptors showing Ganas from the temple are now deposited in the Allahbad museum.
In addition to these, we have Gupta temples made entirely of brick from Bhitargaon in Kanpur district, Paharpur in Bengal and Sripur in Madhya pradesh. The temple at Bhitargaon has pyramidal roof. It's walls are decorated with terracotta panels. They show scenes from Hindu mythology.
As regards the stone temples, those are small and unimposing. Those were meant for images and was not meant for worshippers. Their roof is usually flat. There are no high shikaras and big mandapas or halls.
As regards the Buddhist buildings, Stupas, chapels and monastries have been found at Jaulian, Charsadda and other old cities. The excavation at Sarnath have brought to light, a Buddha temple and a number of monastries. A stupa at Rajgir and Sarnath belong to the Gupta period. The stupa at Sarnath is 128 feet. height. It has four niches at four points for the images of Buddha.
The main cave structures of the Gupta period belong to Ajanta and in Andhra. Both, Chaitya and Vihara caves were excavated at Ajanta during the Gupta period. Each cave have a large number of pillars. No two pillars are exactly the same. Inspite of that, there is a general harmony of design and form. These caves have fresco paintings.
The expression created by the caves can be better experienced than described. All the walls were once covered with painted scenes with life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The roofs and pillars have beautiful designs in hold outlines and pleasing colours.
Literature Under Gupta Period
The Gupta period has rightly been called golden age of Sanskrit literature. Kalidas gives minute details and he was patronised by Chandragupta-2. The most important works of Kalidas were:Abhijana-Shakuntala, Ritu-Sambhara, Malavikagnimitram, Kumar Smabhava, Meghdut, Raghuvamsa and Vikrama orvashiya. It is pointed out that, poetry of Kalidasa is famous for it's grace, simplicity, sentiments and figures of speech.
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| Mudra-rakshasa |
Bhasa has been praised by Kalidasa and Bana. Works of Bhasa include: Avimarka, Pratidnya-yaugandharya, Svapmavasavadatta, Charudatta, Urubhanga, Karnabhara, Duta-Ghatotkach and Panchatantra. Vishakadatta wrote Mudra-rakshasa, which gives story of revolution which put Chandragupta Maurya on the throne of Magadh.
There are some scholars who identify 'Bhatti' with Bhatrihari, the courtier, philosopher, grammarian and poet who wrote the famous three satakas, Marigupta and Bhartimedha, which belongs to Gupta period. The original 'Panchatantra' was composed by Vishnu sharma. This book has played an important part in literature of world.
About 200 version of the book exist in more than 50 languages of the world . Eg: English, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek etc. The smritis of Yajnyavalkya, Narada, Katyayana were written during this period.
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