Gupta Empire: Difference between revisions

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The 4th century [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Kalidasa]] credits Chandragupta Vikramaditya with conquering about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India. After finishing his campaign in East and West India, Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) proceeded northwards, subjugated the [[Parasika]]s, then the [[Huna people|Hunas]] and the [[Kambojas]] tribes located in the west and east [[Oxus]] valleys respectively. Thereafter, the king proceeded into the [[Himalaya]] mountains to reduce the mountain tribes of the [[Kinnara Kingdom|Kinnaras]], [[Kiratas]], as well as India proper.<ref name="Raghu Vamsa v 4.60–75" />{{npsn|date=August 2016}} In one of his works Kalidasa also credits him with the removal of the [[Saka]]s from the country. He wrote 'Wasn't it Vikramaditya who drove the Sakas out from the lovely city of Ujjain?'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wolpert|first=Stanley|title=India|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1993}}</ref>
The 4th century [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Kalidasa]] credits Chandragupta Vikramaditya with conquering about twenty-one kingdoms, both in and outside India. After finishing his campaign in East and West India, Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) proceeded northwards, subjugated the [[Parasika]]s, then the [[Huna people|Hunas]] and the [[Kambojas]] tribes located in the west and east [[Oxus]] valleys respectively. Thereafter, the king proceeded into the [[Himalaya]] mountains to reduce the mountain tribes of the [[Kinnara Kingdom|Kinnaras]], [[Kiratas]], as well as India proper.<ref name="Raghu Vamsa v 4.60–75" />{{npsn|date=August 2016}} In one of his works Kalidasa also credits him with the removal of the [[Saka]]s from the country. He wrote 'Wasn't it Vikramaditya who drove the Sakas out from the lovely city of Ujjain?'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wolpert|first=Stanley|title=India|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1993}}</ref>


The ''Brihatkathamanjari'' of the [[Kashmir]]i writer [[Kshemendra]] states, King Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the [[Barbarian]]s like the Sakas, [[Mleccha]]s, [[Kambojas]], [[Yavana]]s, [[Tushara Kingdom|Tusharas]], [[Persians|Parasikas]], [[Huna people|Hunas]], and others, by annihilating these sinful Mlecchas completely".<ref>ata shrivikramadityo helya nirjitakhilah Mlechchana Kamboja. Yavanan neechan Hunan Sabarbran Tushara. Parsikaanshcha tayakatacharan vishrankhalan hatya bhrubhangamatreyanah bhuvo bharamavarayate (Brahata Katha, 10/1/285-86, Kshmendra).</ref>{{npsn|date=August 2016}}<ref>Kathasritsagara 18.1.76–78</ref><ref>Cf:"In the story contained in Kathasarit-sagara, king Vikarmaditya is said to have destroyed all the barbarous tribes such as the Kambojas, Yavanas, Hunas, Tokharas and the, National Council of Teachers of English Committee on Recreational Reading – Sanskrit language.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=August 2016}}
The ''Brihatkathamanjari'' of the [[Kashmir]]i writer [[Kshemendra]] states, King Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the [[Barbarian]]s like the Sakas, [[Mleccha]]s, [[Kambojas]], [[Yavana]]s, [[Tushara Kingdom|Tusharas]], [[Persians|Parasikas]], [[Huna people|Hunas]], and others, by annihilating these sinful Mlecchas completely".<ref>ata shrivikramadityo helya nirjitakhilah Mlechchana Kamboja. Yavanan neechan Hunan Sabarbran Tushara. Parsikaanshcha tayakatacharan vishrankhalan hatya bhrubhangamatreyanah bhuvo bharamavarayate (Brahata Katha, 10/1/285-86, Kshmendra).</ref>{{npsn|date=August 2016}}<ref>Kathasritsagara 18.1.76–78</ref><ref>Cf:"In the story contained in Kathasarit-sagara, king Vikarmaditya is said to have destroyed all the barbarous tribes such as the Kambojas, Yavanas, Hunas, Tokharas and the, National Council of Teachers of English Committee on Recreational Reading – Sanskrit language.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=December 2023}}


====Faxian====
====Faxian====
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==Religion==
==Religion==
The buddhist "Cina Sanghārāma" was specially built for the use of Chinese monks near Bodhgaya by king Sri-Gupta, an ancestor of the Gupta Emperors.<ref "INDO12=>" Pg.66 The Cina Sanghārāma was specially built for the use of Chinese monks near Bodhgaya by king Sri-Gupta, an ancestor of the Gupta Emperors."{{Cite book|page=66|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.238415|title=India and China|last=Bagchi|first=Dr Prabodh Chandra|publisher=China Press Limited, Calcutta}}</ref>
[[File:Buddha in Sarnath Museum (Dhammajak Mutra).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dharmachakra Pravartana Buddha at Sarnath]] from the Gupta era, 5th century CE]]
[[File:Buddha in Sarnath Museum (Dhammajak Mutra).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dharmachakra Pravartana Buddha at Sarnath]] from the Gupta era, 5th century CE]]
The Guptas were traditionally a [[Hindu]] dynasty.<ref name="Singh">A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh [https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA521 p. 521]</ref> They were orthodox [[Hindus]], and allowed followers of [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] to practice their religions.<ref name="Mookerji">The Gupta Empire by Radhakumud Mookerji [https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA133 pp. 133–] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217042651/https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA133 |date=17 December 2019 }}</ref> [[Sanchi]] remained an important centre of Buddhism.<ref name="Mookerji" /> [[Kumaragupta I]] (455 CE) is said to have founded [[Nalanda]].<ref name="Mookerji" />  Modern genetic studies indicate that it was during the Gupta period that Indian caste groups ceased to intermarry (started practicing/enforcing [[endogamy]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/the-caste-system-has-left-its-mark-on-indians-genomes/|title=The caste system has left its mark on Indians' genomes|first=Annalee|last=Newitz|date=25 January 2016|website=Ars Technica|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608015347/https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/the-caste-system-has-left-its-mark-on-indians-genomes/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Guptas were traditionally a [[Hindu]] dynasty.<ref name="Singh">A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh [https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA521 p. 521]</ref> They were [[Hindus]], and allowed followers of [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] to practice their religions.<ref name="Mookerji">The Gupta Empire by Radhakumud Mookerji [https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA133 pp. 133–] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217042651/https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA133 |date=17 December 2019 }}</ref> [[Sanchi]] remained an important centre of Buddhism.<ref name="Mookerji" /> [[Kumaragupta I]] (455 CE) is said to have founded [[Nalanda]].<ref name="Mookerji" />  Modern genetic studies indicate that it was during the Gupta period that Indian caste groups ceased to intermarry (started practicing/enforcing [[endogamy]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/the-caste-system-has-left-its-mark-on-indians-genomes/|title=The caste system has left its mark on Indians' genomes|first=Annalee|last=Newitz|date=25 January 2016|website=Ars Technica|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608015347/https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/the-caste-system-has-left-its-mark-on-indians-genomes/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Some later rulers however seem to have especially promoted [[Buddhism]]. [[Narasimhagupta Baladitya]] ({{Circa|495}}–?), according to contemporary writer [[Paramartha]], was brought up under the influence of the [[Mahayanist]] philosopher, [[Vasubandhu]].<ref name="Singh" /> He built a [[sangharama]] at [[Nalanda]] and also a {{convert|300|feet|abbr=on}} high [[vihara]] with a Buddha statue within which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great Vihara built under the [[Bodhi tree]]". According to the ''[[Manjushrimulakalpa]]'' ({{Circa|800 CE}}), king Narasimhsagupta became a Buddhist monk, and left the world through meditation ([[Dhyāna in Buddhism|Dhyana]]).<ref name="Singh" /> The Chinese monk [[Xuanzang]] also noted that Narasimhagupta Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".<ref name="sankalia">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOVtAAAAMAAJ |title=The University of Nālandā |last=Sankalia, Hasmukhlal Dhirajlal |publisher=B.G. Paul & co. |year=1934 |isbn=9781014542144 |author-link=Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310231324/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOVtAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|45}}<ref name="sdutt">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxRHYFd0fB4C |title=Buddhist Monks And Monasteries of India: Their History And Contribution To Indian Culture |last=Sukumar Dutt |publisher=George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-208-0498-2 |orig-year=First published in 1962 |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310232744/https://books.google.com/books?id=lxRHYFd0fB4C |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|330}}
Some later rulers however seem to have especially promoted [[Buddhism]]. [[Narasimhagupta Baladitya]] ({{Circa|495}}–?), according to contemporary writer [[Paramartha]], was brought up under the influence of the [[Mahayanist]] philosopher, [[Vasubandhu]].<ref name="Singh" /> He built a [[sangharama]] at [[Nalanda]] and also a {{convert|300|feet|abbr=on}} high [[vihara]] with a Buddha statue within which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great Vihara built under the [[Bodhi tree]]". According to the ''[[Manjushrimulakalpa]]'' ({{Circa|800 CE}}), king Narasimhsagupta became a Buddhist monk, and left the world through meditation ([[Dhyāna in Buddhism|Dhyana]]).<ref name="Singh" /> The Chinese monk [[Xuanzang]] also noted that Narasimhagupta Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".<ref name="sankalia">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOVtAAAAMAAJ |title=The University of Nālandā |last=Sankalia, Hasmukhlal Dhirajlal |publisher=B.G. Paul & co. |year=1934 |isbn=9781014542144 |author-link=Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310231324/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOVtAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|45}}<ref name="sdutt">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxRHYFd0fB4C |title=Buddhist Monks And Monasteries of India: Their History And Contribution To Indian Culture |last=Sukumar Dutt |publisher=George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-208-0498-2 |orig-year=First published in 1962 |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310232744/https://books.google.com/books?id=lxRHYFd0fB4C |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|330}}
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=== Bibliography ===
=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |author=Ashvini Agrawal |title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA315 |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108040744/https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA315 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Ashvini Agrawal |title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA315 |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108040744/https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA315 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Dilip Kumar Ganguly |title=The Imperial Guptas and Their Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hud2_Ie3T94C&pg=PP1 |year=1987 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-222-2 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108201608/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hud2_Ie3T94C&pg=PP1 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Dilip Kumar Ganguly |title=The Imperial Guptas and Their Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hud2_Ie3T94C&pg=PP1 |year=1987 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-222-2 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108201608/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hud2_Ie3T94C&pg=PP1 |url-status=live }}
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* {{cite book |author=J.C. Harle |title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl |url-access=registration |year=1994 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-06217-5 }}
* {{cite book |author=J.C. Harle |title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl |url-access=registration |year=1994 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-06217-5 }}
* {{cite book |author=R.C. Majumdar |author-link=R. C. Majumdar |title=A Comprehensive History of India |volume=3, Part I: A.D. 300-985 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRBuAAAAMAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |oclc=34008529 |pages=17–52 }}
* {{cite book |author=R.C. Majumdar |author-link=R. C. Majumdar |title=A Comprehensive History of India |volume=3, Part I: A.D. 300-985 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRBuAAAAMAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |oclc=34008529 |pages=17–52 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Michell |first1=George |title=The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to its Meaning and Forms |url=https://archive.org/details/hindutempleintro0000mich |url-access=registration |year=1988 |orig-year=First published 1977 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-53230-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Pletcher |first1=Kenneth |title=The History of India |year=2011 |publisher= Britannica Educational Publishing |isbn=978-1-61530-201-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hdmcAAAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rowland |first1=Benjamin |title=The Art and Architecture of India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain |url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo0000rowl_r2z2/page/n5/mode/2up |url-access=registration |year=1967 |orig-year=First published 1953 |edition=3rd |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-056102-9}}
* {{cite book |author=Shankar Goyal |title=Problems of Ancient Indian History: New Perspectives and Perceptions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSVuAAAAMAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=Book Enclave |isbn=978-81-87036-66-1 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111224901/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSVuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Shankar Goyal |title=Problems of Ancient Indian History: New Perspectives and Perceptions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSVuAAAAMAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=Book Enclave |isbn=978-81-87036-66-1 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111224901/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSVuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Tej Ram Sharma |title=A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWVZWjNAcAgC&pg=PA50 |year=1989 |publisher=Concept |isbn=978-81-7022-251-4 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113155014/https://books.google.com/books?id=fWVZWjNAcAgC&pg=PA50 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Tej Ram Sharma |title=A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWVZWjNAcAgC&pg=PA50 |year=1989 |publisher=Concept |isbn=978-81-7022-251-4 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113155014/https://books.google.com/books?id=fWVZWjNAcAgC&pg=PA50 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |year=1990 |title=A History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ2UAAAACAAJ |publisher=State Mutual Book & Periodical Service |isbn=978-0-7855-1191-5 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110060325/https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ2UAAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |year=1990 |title=A History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ2UAAAACAAJ |publisher=State Mutual Book & Periodical Service |isbn=978-0-7855-1191-5 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110060325/https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ2UAAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Upinder Singh |author-link=Upinder Singh |title=Political Violence in Ancient India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dYM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 |year=2017 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-98128-7 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110123751/https://books.google.com/books?id=dYM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Upinder Singh |author-link=Upinder Singh |title=Political Violence in Ancient India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dYM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 |year=2017 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-98128-7 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110123751/https://books.google.com/books?id=dYM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 |url-status=live }}
* {{citation|last=Stein|first=B.|author-link=Burton Stein|editor-last=Arnold|editor-first=D.|year=2010 |title=A History of India|edition=2nd|publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]]|place=Oxford|isbn=978-1-4051-9509-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QY4zdTDwMAQC}}
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