Gupta Empire: A Glance into its History, Politics, Religion and Education

History and Extent

• Gupta Empire existed between 320 and 550 CE
• Founded by Sri Gupta, succeeded by Ghatotkacha, and flourished for more than a century
• The Gupta Empire stretched across northern, central and parts of southern India
• Little is known about the early days of this Gupta dynasty
• Travelogues of Fa Hien, Hiuen Tsang, and Yijing prove to be invaluable in this respect
   

Politics and Administration

• Governance of the vast empire showed great tact and foresight
• Large kingdom divided into smaller Pradesha (provinces) and appointed administrative heads
• Kings maintained discipline and transparency in the bureaucratic process
• Criminal law was mild, capital punishment was unheard of and judicial torture was not practised
• Fa Hien described the cities of Mathura and Pataliputra as picturesque, with the latter being a city of flowers
• People could move around freely
• Law and order reigned, and incidents of theft and burglary were rare

Socio-economic Conditions

• People led a simple life, and commodities were affordable
• All-round prosperity ensured that their requirements were met easily
• Gold and silver coins were issued in great numbers
• Trade and commerce flourished both within the country and outside
• Highly evolved steel craft led everyone to believe that Indian iron was not subject to corrosion
• Trade relations with the Middle East improved
• Ivory, tortoise shell, silk, and some medicinal plants were high on the list of imports
• Food, grain, spices, salt, gems, and gold bullion were primary commodities of inland trade

Religion

• Gupta kings were devout Vaishnava themselves
• They maintained a cordial relationship between the various communities
• Tolerant towards the believers of Buddhism and Jainism
• Buddhist monasteries received liberal donations
• Nalanda prospered under their patronage
• Jainism flourished in northern Bengal, Gorakhpur, Udayagiri, and Gujarat
• Several Jain establishments existed across the empire, and Jain councils were a regular occurrence

Literature, Sciences and Education

• Sanskrit once again attained the status of a lingua franca and managed to scale even greater heights than before
• Poet and playwright Kalidasa created epics like Abhijnanasakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Raghuvansha, and Kumarsambhaba
• Harishena, a renowned poet, panegyrist, and flutist, composed Allahabad Prasasti
• Sudraka wrote Mricchakatika, Vishakhadatta created Mudrarakshasa, and Vishnusharma penned Panchatantra
• Vararuchi, Baudhayana, Ishwar Krishna, and Bhartrihari contributed to both Sanskrit and Prakrit linguistics, philosophy, and science
• Varahamihira wrote Brihatsamhita and also contributed to the fields of astronomy and astrology
• Mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata wrote Surya Siddhanta, which covered several aspects of geometry, trigonometry, and cosmology
• Shanku devoted himself to creating texts about Geography
• Dhanvantri’s discoveries helped the Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda become more refined and efficient
• Doctors were skilled in surgical practices, and inoculation against contagious diseases was performed
• Puranas in their present form were composed during this period
• Several educational institutions were set up, and the existing ones received continuous support.

Art, Architecture & Culture in Gupta Era

• Fine examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Ajanta, Ellora, Sarnath, Mathura, Anuradhapura, and Sigiriya.
• Shilpa Shasrta principles followed in town planning.
• Metalwork skills evident in stone studded golden stairways, iron pillars, gold coins, jewellery, and metal sculptures.
• Thriving industries in carved ivories, wood and lac-work, brocades, and embroidered textiles.
• Encouragement of artists and litterateurs to meditate on imagery within and capture its essence in their creations.
• Emphasis on music, dance, and musical instruments like veena, flute, and mridangam.
• Climax of casting metal images and height of glory in fresco and cave paintings.

Decline of Gupta Empire

• Pushyamitras and Huns dealt significant blows to Gupta Empire.
• Feudatories like Maitrakas, Vardhanas, Maukharis, Gaudas, and Yasovarman asserted their independence, leading to the loss of political unity.
• Weak and incompetent successors unable to maintain hold over the empire.
• Dissent among royal princes further weakened the Guptas.
• Trade with Roman Empire declined due to Hun attacks on the Roman Empire.
• Granting land assignments to officers instead of salaries led to loss of state income.
• Much of the income spent in suppressing uprisings and repelling invasions.