History of Guptha Dynasty

History of Guptha Dynasty

Political, Social, Position of Women, Economic, Cultural, Literary, Architectural History of Gupthas

By the Mid 3rd Century A.D. in North India Kushans disappeared.
And there were no traces of Satavahan Kingdom existence in South India.
On the ruins of Kushans and Satavahanas Guptha Empire rose.


                           Political Importance of Gupthas
After the disintegration of Mauryan empire Central Asian Indo-Greeks, Sakas, and Kushans established their political power in north india. Sungas, Kanvas, Satavahanas did the same thing in South India and Deccan.


                        Literary Sources for Guptha Period
1. Legal Texts
             (A) Kamandakas Neetisara - about Gupthas Polity and Admn.
             (B) Narada Smriti                     }
             (c) Brahmasputa Siddhantha   } About Admn of Justice.


2. Works of Kalidasa :  * Abignana Sakunthalam.
                                    * Story of Sakunthala & Dushyantha. It is one among world's  100 best books.
              * Megadhutham
             * Raghuvamsham
             * Malavikagnimitram
             * Kumarasambhavam
             * Ritusamhara


Though the works of Kalidasa are mainly on love, nature and beauty they throw light on political, Economical, Social, Cultural and religious aspects of Gupthas's period.


                                            Political Dramas
Vishakha Datta's - Devi Chandraguptham
Vajjika's Kaumudi Mahotshavam
Sudraka's Mrichchakatikam (Love Story of Charudatta and Vasanthasena).


                               Sanskrit & other literary works
Somadeva's Katha Sarithsagara
Basa's Swapna Vasavadatta
Kavyameemansa Ayurveda Deepika and Setubanha.


                                                   Religious Works
Word Hindu Religion took its present form in this period.
Vayupurana, Matsya Purana, Vishnu Purana, skanda Purana, Bhagavata Purana.
Kaliyugaraaja vruththantha.


                                                Buddhist Books
During Guptha Period many foreigners particularly Chinese visited India. They  left very valuable accounts about the conditions of India.
Fahien
Huhiuen Tsang
Itsing
Yati Vrishabha, a buddhist monk wrote Tilsya Pannati.
Manjusri Mulakalpa was a Buddhist Work.



                                                               Jain Books
Jina Sena Suri wrote Harivamsha purana.


                                      Archaeological Sources for Guptha's History
42 inscriptions are available.
19 inscriptions were issued by Kings
23 inscriptions were issued by individuals

                               Political History of Gupthas

Extent of Guptha Empire coverd U.P., Bihar later M.P. and Bengal. This area was called 'Anu Ganga'. (Mid Gangetic Basin).


        Capital of Gupthas
Main Prayag (Allahabad)
Second Ujjain ( occassionally)
Material advantages behind the establishment of Guptha Empire.
1* Fertile Soil
2* Availability of Iron ores in Central India and South Bihar.
3* Presence of trade routes in their territories.

Guptha Kings

* Sri Guptha - Details
* Ghatothkacha - Details 
* Chandra Guptha - 1 - Details
* Samudra Guptha - Details 
* Chandra Guptha 2 Vikramadithya - Details 
* Kumara Guptha - Details 
* Skanda Guptha - Details

Guptha Administration

Monarchy was purely hereditary.  Guptha Kings nominated their successors.

Council of Ministers
In the discharge of his duties kings were assisted by a council of ministers.

Initially Guptha Kings appointed their ministers. Later their positions became hereditary. Each minister looked after their departments.

 Composition of King's council -

1. Yuvaraja.
2. Ministers
3. Princes of Royal Blood.
4. High level officials.

Sometimes council of ministers worked as regents of king.

Department of central administers
Central administration was conducted through several departments. Those departments were under the control of certain officials.

Judiciary -
1. Mahadandanayaka
2. Mahakshapatika

Civil Officers -
Rajapurusha.
Mahaprateehara.
Mahakumaraamatya.

Military-
Mahasenapati
Dandanayaka
sandhivigraha

Revenue and Public officers -
a) Uparika
b) Dashaparadhika
c) Angarakshaka
d) Ayuktavini Yuktaka

Beside the above mentioned high officers there were some small officers.
1. Dawadikara - Collection of Revenue.
2. Pustapala - Record keeper.
3. Gopa - Keeper of records of revenue and expenditure of villages. (Part of Central Govt.)
4. Agraharika - In-charge of Charities.
5. Gawlipaka - Head of forest department.
6. Karanika - Registrar.
Sometimes single officer took in charge of several offices. The post became hereditary, this naturally decreased the quality of administration and weakened the empire.

High level officers received their salaries in cash in early days of Gupthan empire, but later high and low level of officers received their salaries in the form of 'land grants'.

Provincial Administration- Empire was divided into provinces for administrative convenience.
Provinces -
Bhukti - Vishaya - Vithis
Bhukti -  Provinces called Bhukti's during Guptha time. Head of Bhukti was Uparika/Bhogika/Gopa.
At provincial level Governor was assisted by a group of officers.
1) Bhaladhikaranika
2) Dandapasadikaranika
3) Tadayuktaka
4) Chourodh Haranika

Governors protected Bhukti from internal revolts and external aggressions. Main duty of Governor is to maintain law and order and he can appoint his own officers according to the requirement.

Vishaya - District Admn -
Guptha's provinces were divided into Vishayas. These Vishayas were under the control of Vishayapathi.
Vishayapathi was assisted by a council of elders who were called Maharattas. Among them important officers were
1) Nagarashreshti
2) Satvaha
3)Praadhama Kayastha ( Scribe)
4) Pradhama Kulika (Smith)
5) Pusthapala

Districts were sub divided into Vithis.
In Gupthas' administration 'Vithi' was a group of villages. It was the level below district. ( Present day Taluk or Mandal ) .

Village administration was the lowest unit of administration. 'Gramani' was the officer incharge of village. In the discharge of duties he was assisted by a group of village elders.

City Administration -
Guptha's divided theri districts into urban areas or generally their cities were administered by 'Purapaala' or 'Nagara Rakshaka'.
Pura/Puram = Town
Purapala was assisted by a council which was called Parishad. Uparika Purapala is the chief controller of city administration.
Rurban areas = Outskirts of cities. Rural and Urban areas.

Judicial Administration - Judicial system of Gupthas is very well organised. King was the highest court of justice. Apart from this Gupthas' established court at centre and provincial level.
Mahadandanayaka and Mahakshapatalika were incharge of justice during Guptha's period. Apart from fines they imposed capital punishment and imprisonment. There was trial ( ordeal ) by water, fire and poison.

Military Administration - The Guptha monarch maintained well trained and well organised army. It was demaned by the political and imperial needs. Guptha's army consisted mostly cavalry, infantry and chariots. Their soldiers were paid in cash. Senapathi was the incharge of Military administration. Senapathi was assisted by Mahadandanayaka, Bhataswapathi and Ranabandahgraha.

Revenue Administration - The administration of revenue matters occupied important place in their administration. Land revenue is the chief source of income of the state. State collected 16% to 25% of the production. This revenue was mostly realised in the form of grains.
Mines, forests, road cesses, meadows, mobile trade and temple were the main source of income.
Maintenance of Army and salaries of some of the officals are important channels of expenditure.   Apart from regular taxes Guptha kings occassionally collected some special taxes from the people especially during the wars. 'Senabhuktham' / 'Senabhoktham' was the special tax collected during the war.

Estimation of Guptha's administration
According to Altekar we may be well proud of the Guptha's administration  system which served as the ideal system of contemporary and later rulers.

"The period of Chandra Guptha - II can be considered as the greatest period in Indian History. India was never governed in such good manner."_ V.A. Smith

According to Dr., R.N. Salvetore "the administration of Guptha's can not be claimed to be original. because they adopted it from the Mauryans' administrative structure and modified according to their requirements."

Feudalism - Feudalism was the socio, political and economic arrangement of the power. In this system under the control of overlord there will be feudatories with two duties.
1. Showing loyalty to the over lord.
2. Payment of tribute to the overlord annually.
Feudatory has to send certain amount of forces to support king in times of war.

 According to this arrangement a feudatory is free in the matters of internal administration, but as far as the external affairs are concerned he should be under the control of his overlord.

According to Carl Marks ancient period is called the age of slavery. Medieval period is the age of Feudalism. Modern period is called the age of capitalism.

In Indian Historiography R.S. Sharma started the debate on Indian Feudalism in his book 'Indian Feudalism'.
 According to R.S. Sharma during Gupthas' period Indian political system experienced the rise of feudalism and entire medieval polity was on feudal structure, but the argument of R.S. Sharma was countered by other historians like Harbans Mukhiya.

Ratan Lal Hangloo, Harbans Mukhia and others
Harbans Mukhiya expressed his views in the form of presidential address in Indian History Congress in the name of   "Was there feudalism in India?  "

In his argument Harbans Mukhia eloberately analysed the difference between  European Serf and Indian Peasant. Mukhia called Indian Peasant  'a free peasant'.

Land Grants
The  practice of land grants was started by Satavahana Rulers. Satavahanas did not loose the fiscal, administrative and judicial rights over the land which was given to others. After Satavahanas, Vakataka rulers implemented the practice of land grants in case of civil and military officers.

By the time of Gupthas the practice of land grants reached its high watermark.

Gupthas increased land grants in the form of salaries to their civil, military and judiciary officers. Due to the decline of trade with the Romans Gupthas were not in a position to pay the officers in cash. This decline created paucity of coins which made Gupthas hopeless and they paid salaries in the form of land grants.

Sub-infeudation
Sub-infuedation is the unique practice in medieval India. According to this a person who was given the land grant was not cultivating but he was getting it cultivated. In this process officers and others institutions   (temples) gave their lands to the real cultivators to realise their own share of land revenue.

Social Conditions
Brahmins - Enjoyed high position in society with the support of Guptha kings. Brahmins with their improved position in society restored the practice of their religion. Till now it is called Vedic Religion but now onwards Vedic Religion got new name as Hinduism. Hinduism is not a single religion, but it is a result of evolution and assimilation of many tribal practices.  Gupthas onwards Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva occupied central stage in Hindu pantheon.

During the same period Vedic Goddess Sri, Goddess of wealth and beauty was added to lakshmi, she was made Sri Lakshmi and she was considered as wife of Vishnu.

With the increasing influence of the Brahmins Guptha Kings granted many land grants to Brahmin individuals.

Kshatriyas -
Kshatriyas were given ordinary treatment under Gupthas. Some kshatriyas entered into Trade and Commerce.

Viashyas -
Vaishyas enjoyed power and privileges under the Gupthas. Though Gupthas belong to Vaishya community, brahmins enjoyed highest position in the society.

Sudras
Sudras of this period are strictly restricted to their traditional professions. Most important development of this period is the emergence of 'Chandalas' as important social group.
The high caste Hindus prevented Chandalas from entering into the village in the name of protection of purity and they are asked to beat drum before entering the village.

Position of Women
Gupthas period is a crucial phase in the history of law books (Dhamashastras). Manu Dharmashastra, Narada Smriti etc were finally composed during this period. In all these dharmashastras women were socially, economically, politically and culturally degraded. In this oppressed and suppressed condition generally women became depressed.

Child marriages were encouraged. Particularly a girl was preferred in marriage before her puberty.

Sate was practiced and first epigraphical evidencce to sati is available from 'Eran
Pillar inscription' of 510 A.D. Eran is located in Madhyapradesh. The inscription belongs to the period of Brahmaguptha.

In essence the general condition of women was confined to domestic life that to as a dependent and subordinate of man.

Religious Development and Emergence of Hinduism
Indian society between 1500 B.C. - 600 B.C. was dominated by priestly class and their practise of rituals and sacrifices in the field of religion. During the 6th C. B.C. there arose 62 heterodox sects against the domination of priestly class. Jainism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Charuvaka sect were prominent among these 62. Though initially Jainism and Buddhism are democratic in spirit and atheist in nature, later the followers of those religions neglected the original teachings of Mahavira and Buddha, and incorporated the things which are against to the their teaching and made those religions similar to vedic Brahmanism.

Origin of Bhagavatha Cult
In 1st Century A.D. in W.India in Madhura region a new cult emerged around Vasudeva Krishna son of Vasudeva and Devaki. According to historical tradition he belongs to Vrishni tribe. His devotees are called Bhagavaths. According to the belief of this sect one has to have devotion towards a personal God to get salvation. This cult was patronzed by the king of Sunga dynasty.

According to Bhagavata cult one has to worship a single and personal God without any material offerings and severe physical exercises but the only requirement to get salvation is showing devotion with total commitment. In other words the devotee has to surrender himself to the God.

In this Bhagavatism the role of priest was reduced. We should be pure at heart. In the place of rituals and sacrifices purity of heart was emphasised. In this background by the time of Gupthas as a result of assimilation of many tribal practises and beliefs Brahmanism was transormed into Hinduism. In this Hinduism all important earliar Gods were over shadowed and Prajapathi of later Vedic period with a new name Brahma, Rg Vedic tribal God Vishnu and Pashupathi (Shiva) who  Harappan Civilization occupied the pantheon of Brahminical religion which became popular as Hinduism. These 3 Gods are called Trimurthi with personal duties.

Brahma - Creator
Vishnu - Protecotor and preserver.
Shiva - Destructor (Terminator).  Some times Shiva acts as preserver.

Only Brahma temple is in Ajmeer.

Abode of Brahma is considered as Brahmalokh.
Vishnu's abode is Vaikunta.
Shiva's abode is Kailasa, but burrial ground is popular as the place of Shiva.

Gupthas' period consolidated the pracises of Hindu religion by finally codifying several law books like Manu Smriti, Narada Smriti etc. During this period 18 puranas were modified and most importantly 2 epics, The Ramayana and Mahabharata were finally compiled.

The concept of devotion (Bhakti) was first mentioned in Bhagavath geetha. In Geetha lord Krishna emphasised the performance of ones own duty according to his position in society that is why Krishna asked Arjuna to wage war, though it involved with violence it does not a sin as Arjuna is a Kshatriya.   Gupthas' period is the beginning of construction of Temples for Gods.

18 days - Mahabharath war.
18 parvas - in Mahabharata.

Shyam prasad Mukherjee - Founder of Janasangh.
Janasangh is now BJP.
Hegdewar is the founder of RSS.


Mehrauli iron Pillar and Qutb minar
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