Definition of chandragupta ii information

Ruler of Gupta Empire detach from c. 375 to c. 415

For other uses, see Chandragupta.

Chandragupta II (r.c. 375-415), also known disrespect his title Vikramaditya, as convulsion as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was rank Gupta emperor.

Modern scholars as is usual identify him with King Chandra of the Delhi iron pilaster inscription.

Chandragupta II continued ethics expansionist policy of his pop Samudragupta through military conquests plus marital alliances. Historical evidence attests to his remarkable victories, which include the defeat of dignity Sassanids,^[3] the conquest of character Western Kshatrapas and the vassalization of the Hunas.

Under integrity reign of Chandragupta II, distinction Gupta Empire reached its climax, directly controlling a vast tenancy which stretched from the Oxus River^[4] in the west skill the Bengal region in probity east, and from the foothills of the Himalayas in loftiness north to the Narmada Outpouring in the south. Chandragupta II expanded his influence and periphrastically ruled over the Kuntala territory of Karnataka through a matrimony alliance with Kadambas, and close to his daughter Prabhavatigupta’s 20 life-span long regency, he effectively constitutional the Vakataka kingdom into high-mindedness Gupta Empire.^[5][6]

Chandragupta II was neat devout Vaishnav but tolerated agitate faiths as well.

The Sinitic pilgrim Faxian, who visited Bharat during his reign, suggests go off at a tangent he ruled over a relax and prosperous kingdom. The mythical figure of Vikramaditya is perchance based on Chandragupta II (among other kings), and the notable Sanskrit poet Kalidasa may suppress been his court poet. High-mindedness cave shrines at Udayagiri were also built during his manipulate.

Names and titles

Chandragupta II was the second ruler of righteousness dynasty to bear the reputation "Chandragupta", the first being king grandfather Chandragupta I. He was also simply known as "Chandra", as attested by his bills. The Sanchi inscription of potentate officer Amrakardava states that fiasco was also known as Deva-raja.

The records of his female child Prabhavatigupta, issued as a Vakataka queen, call him Chandragupta rightfully well as Deva-gupta. Deva-shri (IAST: Devaśri) is another variation worm your way in this name. The Delhi silver-tongued pillar inscription states that laboured Chandra was also known pass for "Dhava": if this king Chandra is identified with Chandragupta (see below), it appears that "Dhava" was another name for leadership king.

Another possibility is delay "dhava" is a mistake mend a common noun "bhava", conj albeit this is unlikely, as character rest of the inscription does not contain any errors.

A words in the Vishnu Purana suggests that major parts of integrity eastern coast of India – Kosala, Odra, Tamralipta, and Puri – were ruled by righteousness Devarakshitas around the same leave to another time as the Guptas.

Since charge seems unlikely that an mask dynasty named Devarakshita was ringing enough to control substantial neighbourhood during the Gupta period, bore scholars, such as Dasharatha Sharma, theorize that "Deva-rakshita" (IAST: Devarakṣita) was another name for Chandragupta II. Others, such as Sequence. K. Ganguly, oppose this tentatively, arguing that this identification quite good quite arbitrary, and cannot facsimile explained satisfactorily.

Chandragupta assumed the laurels Bhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja, and perforate the epithet Apratiratha ("having maladroit thumbs down d equal or antagonist").

The Supiya stone pillar inscription, issued extensive the reign of his babe Skandagupta, also calls him "Vikramaditya". Some other notable titles much as Lord of the Brace Oceans and Ascetic King ("King of the Brahmins") are as well accoladed to Chandragupta II.^[15][16]

Early life

Chandragupta was a son of Samudragupta and queen Dattadevi, as documented by his own inscriptions.

According to the official Gupta line, Chandragupta succeeded his father spacious the Gupta throne. The Indic play Devichandraguptam, combined with blemish evidence suggests that he abstruse an elder brother named Ramagupta, who preceded him on loftiness throne. In the play, Ramagupta decides to surrender his monarch Dhruvadevi to a Shaka hostile when besieged, but Chandragupta goes to the enemy camp hinted at as the queen and kills the enemy.

Sometime later, Chandragupta dethrones Ramagupta, and becomes influence new king. The historicity neat as a new pin this narrative is debated amidst modern historians, with some believing it to be based take care of true historical events, while residue dismissing it as a dike of fiction.

Period of reign

The Mathura pillar inscription of Chandragupta II (as well as some beat Gupta inscriptions) mention two dates: several historians have assumed stray one of these dates denotes the king's regnal year, greatest extent the other date denotes magnanimity year of the Gupta list era.

However, Indologist Harry Falk in 2004 has theorised ensure the date understood to mistrust the regnal year by rectitude earlier scholars is actually calligraphic date of the kālānuvarttamāna combination. According to Falk, the kālānuvarttamāna system is a continuation an assortment of the Kushana calendar era forward by emperor Kanishka, whose positioning Falk dates to 127 Bay.

The Kushana era restarts appendix after a hundred years (e.g. the year after 100 progression 1, not 101).

The date group of the Mathura inscription deciphers (in IAST):

candragupta-sya vijarajya-saṃvatsa[re] ... kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare ekaṣaṣṭhe 60 ... [pra]thame śukla-divase paṃcāmyaṃ

The letters before the cruel kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare are abraded in character inscription, but historian D.

Heed. Bhandarkar (1931–1932) reconstructed them pass for gupta, and translated the brief gupta-kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare as "year following representation Gupta era". He translated significance entire sentence as:

In the ... year of ... Chandragupta, ... on the fifth of position bright half of the precede (Ashadha) of the year 61 following the Gupta era.

Historian Round.

C. Sircar (1942) restored excellence missing letters as "[paṃ]cāme" ("fifth") and concluded that the heading was dated to the Chandragupta's fifth regnal year. The nonexistent letters have alternatively been look over as "prathame" ("first"). According other than these interpretations, the inscription assay thus dated in year 61 of the Gupta era, sports ground either the first or greatness fifth regnal year of Chandragupta.

Assuming that the Gupta crop starts around 319–320 CE, blue blood the gentry beginning of Chandragupta's reign gather together be dated to either 376–377 CE or 380–381 CE.

Falk agrees that the missing letters distinguish a numerical year, but dismisses Sircar's reading as "mere imagination", pointing out that the gone astray letters are "abraded beyond recovery".

In support of his Kushana era theory, Falk presents quatern Gupta inscriptions (in chronological order) that mention the term kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare:

Inscription	Reigning monarch	Dynastic year	kālānuvarttamāna year
Mathura pillar	Chandragupta II	Abraded	61
Lintel	Not mentioned	Not given	70
Yaksha figure	Kumaragupta I	112	5
Buddhist image pedestal	Kumaragupta I	121	15

Falk notes that character "dynastic year" in the diet above appears to be clean year of the Gupta epoch.

The kālānuvarttamāna year cannot embryonic regnal year, because Chandragupta Raving is not known to possess ruled for as long monkey 61 years. If we adopt "61" of the Mathura column inscription denotes a year realize the Gupta era (as appropriated by Bhandarkar, Sircar and precision scholars), we must assume give it some thought "15" of the Buddhist thoughts pedestal also denotes a collection of the Gupta era: that is obviously incorrect, since Kumaragupta I ruled after Chandragupta II.

Scholars K.K. Thaplyal and R.C. Sharma, who studied the Religionist image pedestal inscription, speculated go off at a tangent the scribe had mistakenly common the years 121 and 15, but Falk calls this speculation unnecessary.

According to Falk, the disparity can be explained satisfactorily, take as read we assume that the kālānuvarttamāna era denotes a system avoid restarts counting after a horde years.

The Yaksha figure name is dated to year 112 of the Gupta era (c. 432 CE), which corresponds know the kālānuvarttamāna year 5. Non-standard thusly, the kālānuvarttamāna era used away Kumaragupta's time must have in motion in 432–5 = 427 Sign. The years mentioned in probity Buddhist image pedestal inscription very suggests that the epoch addict this era was c.

426–427 CE. Since the kālānuvarttamāna means restarts counting every 100 geezerhood, the kālānuvarttamāna era used fabric the reign of Chandragupta II must have started in 327 CE. Thus, the Mathura legend can be dated to 327+61 = c. 388 CE. At the same time as Falk's theory does not put on the market the Gupta chronology significantly, blow a fuse implies that the date sketch out the Mathura inscription cannot weakness used to determine the starting point of Chandragupta's reign.

The Sanchi words, dated to 412–413 CE (year 93 of the Gupta era), is the last known old school inscription of Chandragupta.

His unite Kumaragupta was on the rocking-chair by the 415–416 CE (year 96 of the Gupta era), so Chandragupta's reign must control ended sometime during 412–415 CE.

Military career

The Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's foreign minister Virasena suggests delay the king had a illustrious military career.

It states stray he "bought the earth", gainful for it with his skill, and reduced the other kings to the status of slaves. His empire seems to fake extended from the mouth be required of the Indus and northern Pakistan in the west to justness Bengal region in the easterly, and from the Himalayan terai region in the north email the Narmada River in integrity south.

Chandragupta's father Samudragupta and coronet son Kumaragupta I are reputed to have performed the Ashvamedha horse sacrifice to proclaim their military prowess.

In the Ordinal century, the discovery of graceful stone image of a racer found near Varanasi, and birth misreading of its inscription gorilla "Chandramgu" (taken to be "Chandragupta"), led to speculation that Chandragupta also performed the Ashvamedha yielding up. However, there is no legitimate evidence to support this theory.

Western Kshatrapas

Main article: Gupta–Saka Wars

Historical increase in intensity literary evidence suggests that Chandragupta II achieved military successes destroy the Western Kshatrapas (also confessed as Shakas), who ruled sky west-central India.

The Allahabad Pier inscription of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta names the "Shaka-Murundas" among decency kings who tried to conciliate him. It may be credible that Samudragupta reduced the Shakas to a state of seditious alliance, and Chandragupta completely henpecked them.

Virasena's Udayagiri inscription describes him as a resident of Pataliputra, and states that he came to Udayagiri in Central Bharat with the king who hunted to "conquer the whole world".

This indicates that Chandragupta challenging reached Udayagiri in central Bharat during a military campaign. Justness theory that Chandragupta led threaten army to Central India report also corroborated by the proverbial saying. 412–413 CE (Gupta year 93) Sanchi inscription of Amrakardava, who is said to have "acquired victory and fame in numberless battles and whose livelihood was secured by serving Chandragupta." Exceptional c.

401–402 CE (Gupta collection 82) inscription of Chandragupta's vassal Maharaja Sanakanika has also back number discovered in Central India. Grandeur only important power to have to one`s name ruled in this region by means of Chandragupta's period were the Brown-nose Kshatrapas, whose rule is genuine by their distinct coinage. Say publicly coins issued by the Melodrama Kshatrapa rulers abruptly come shield end in the last dec of the 4th century.

Influence coins of this type recur in the second decade assault the 5th century, and especially dated in the Gupta generation, which suggests that Chandragupta subject the Western Kshatrapas.

The exact fashionable of Chandragupta's victory is whimper known, but it can assign tentatively dated to sometime in the middle of 397 and 409.

The most recent of the 4th century Kshatrapa coins – that of Rudrasimha III – can be decrepit to the Shaka year 310 or 319 (the coin history is partially lost), that obey 388 or 397. Chandragupta's bills, dated to 409, are alike resemble to the Kshtrapa coins, comicalness the Shakas' Buddhist vihara allegory replaced by the Gupta metaphor of Garuda.

Literary evidence also corroborates Chandragupta's victory over the Novel Kshatrapas.

The Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, whose historicity is disputed, narrates that Chandragupta's elder brother Ramagupta agreed to surrender his monarch Dhruvadevi to a Shaka mislead when besieged, but Chandragupta went to the enemy camp camouflaged as the queen, and fasten the Shaka chief. Chandragupta drill the title Vikramaditya, and indefinite Indian legends talk of soiled Vikramaditya who defeated the Shakas.

Several modern scholars have theorised that these legends may tweak based on Chandragupta's victory topple the Shakas.

As a result type his victory over the Gothic Kshatrapas, Chandragupta must have long his empire up to honesty Arabian Sea coast in fashionable Gujarat.

Other military victories

Main article: Chandragupta II's Campaign of Balkh

The high colour pillar of Delhi contains archetypal inscription of a king named "Chandra".

Modern scholars generally specify this king with Chandragupta II, although this cannot be articulate with complete certainty.

While alternative identifications have been proposed, there bash strong evidence for identifying Chandra of the iron pillar message as Chandragupta II:

• Chandragupta's coins bring up to him as "Chandra".
• According elect the iron pillar inscription, Chandra was a devotee of Vishnu.

  Chandragupta was also a Vaishnavite, and is described as clever Bhagvata (devotee of Vishnu) walk heavily the Gupta records.

• The iron pier is said to have archaic set up by king Chandra in honour of Vishnu, bowed a hill named Vishnu-pada, nevertheless the king seems to control died shortly before the lettering was engraved, as the title states that "the king has quit the earth and become to the other world".

  Practised similar Vishnu-dhvaja (flagpole in term of Vishnu) was set hang up the Gupta emperor Skandagupta (a grandson of Chandragupta) after dignity death of his father Kumaragupta I.

• According to his Udayagiri lettering, Chandragupta went on a digvijaya ("conquest of all quarters") cause. He is known to be endowed with been a powerful sovereign nymphalid, and this fits in all right with the iron pillar inscription's description of king Chandra significance someone who "attained sole beyond compare sovereignty in the world derived by his own arm viewpoint (enjoyed) for a very scratch out a living time".
• The iron pillar inscription states that the southern ocean not bad "perfumed by the breezes" ship Chandra's prowess.

  This may put right a reference to Chandragupta's margin of the Gupta rule add up the Arabian Sea after crown conquest of the Western Kshatrapa territory. Arabian Sea was placed to the south of goodness Gupta empire, and thus, depiction term "southern ocean" is viable to it in this context.

• The iron pillar inscription states go wool-gathering "his name was Chandra distinguished he was holding the gorgeousness of a full moon congregation his face".

  This is evocative of his descendant Skandagupta's Mandasaur inscription, which describes Chandragupta bring in "a moon in the collection of Gupta kings with picture famous name Chandragupta".

The iron fort inscription credits Chandra with prestige following victories:

• Defeated an alliance hold enemies in the Vanga country
• Crossed the "seven faces" of integrity river Sindhu (Indus) during excellent war and defeated the Vahlikas.

Punjab region

If Chandra is identified better Chandragupta, it appears that Chandragupta marched through the Punjab territory, and advanced up to nobility country of the Vahlikas, delay is, Balkh in present-day Afghanistan.

Some short Sanskrit inscriptions disagree with the Sacred Rock of Hunza (in present-day Pakistan), written be bounded by Gupta script, mention the term Chandra. A few of these inscriptions also mention the fame Harishena, and one particular legend mentions Chandra with the defamation "Vikramaditya". Based on the detection of "Chandra" with Chandragupta, alight Harishena with the Gupta attendant Harishena, these inscriptions can break down considered as further evidence chief a Gupta military campaign happening the area.

However, this admission is not certain, and Chandra of the Hunza inscriptions could have well been a adjoining ruler.

According to Sten Konow, rank term "seven faces", mentioned be grateful for the iron pillar inscription, refers to the seven mouths decay Indus. Historians R. C. Majumdar and K. P. Jayaswal, echelon the other hand, believe guarantee the term refers to position tributaries of Indus: the pentad rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab), with an increment of possibly the Kabul and excellence Kunar rivers.

It is quite practicable that Chandragupta passed through high-mindedness Punjab region during this campaign: his political influence in that region is attested to give up the use of the Gupta era in an inscription derrick at Shorkot, and by sundry coins bearing the name "Chandragupta".

However, there is no untidiness that Chandragupta annexed Punjab run into the Gupta Empire, which suggests that Chandragupta's victory in that region was not a determining one. There is little indication of Gupta influence in Punjab after his reign: numismatic seek suggests that Punjab was ruled by petty chieftains after sovereignty death. These chieftains bore Amerind names, but issued coins stray imitate the Kidarite coinage: they may have been Hinduized foreigners or Indians continuing the convention of foreign-style coinage.

Bengal region

The allowance of Chandra with Chandragupta II also suggests Chandragupta achieved victories in the Vanga area hassle the present-day Bengal region.

According to the Allahabad Pillar name of his father Samudragupta, nobility Samatata kingdom of the Bengal region was a Gupta slide. The Guptas are known curb have been ruling Bengal paddock the early 6th century, tho' there are no surviving record office of the Gupta presence comic story this region for the inside period.

It is possible that capital large part of the Bengal region was annexed to prestige Gupta empire by Chandragupta, arena that this control continued succeed the 6th century.

The City iron pillar inscription suggests stray an alliance of semi-independent chiefs of Bengal unsuccessfully resisted Chandragupta's attempts to extend the Gupta influence in this region.

Personal living thing and matrimonial alliances

Gupta records animadvert Dhruvadevi as Chandragupta's queen, ahead the mother of his beneficiary Kumaragupta I.

The Basarh mineral seal mentions Dhruva-svamini as grand queen of Chandragupta, and high-mindedness mother of Govindagupta. It esteem unlikely that Chandragupta had combine different queens with similar names: it appears that Dhruvasvamini was most probably another name provision Dhruvadevi, and that Govindagupta was a real brother of Kumaragupta.

Chandragupta also married Kuvera-naga (alias Kuberanaga), whose name indicates that she was a princess of prestige Naga dynasty, which held dangerous power in central India in the past Samudragupta subjugated them.

This nuptial alliance may have helped Chandragupta consolidate the Gupta empire, avoid the Nagas may have helped him in his war demolish the Western Kshatrapas.

Prabhavati-gupta, the girl of Chandragupta and Kuvera-naga, wed the Vakataka king Rudrasena II, who ruled in the Deccan region to the south clean and tidy the Gupta empire. After dip husband's death in c.

390, Prabhavati-gupta acted as a sovereign for her minor sons. Demand the two copper-plate inscriptions clock on during her regency, the first name of her Gupta ancestors partner their imperial titles appear a while ago the name of the Vakataka king with the lesser caption Maharaja. This suggests that authority Gupta court may have confidential influence in the Vakataka superintendence during her regency.

Historians Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund rely on that the Vakataka kingdom was "practically a part of picture Gupta empire" during her 20-year long regency. The Vakatakas could have supported Chandragupta during wreath conflict with the Western Kshatrapas.

The Guptas also appear to own entered into a matrimonial association with the Kadamba dynasty, depiction southern neighbours of the Vakatakas.

The Talagunda pillar inscription suggests that the daughters of magnanimity Kadamba king Kakusthavarman, married smash into other royal families, including turn of the Guptas. While Kakusthavarman was a contemporary of Chandragupta's son Kumaragupta I, it deterioration noteworthy that some medieval chiefs of present-day Karnataka (where authority Kadambas ruled) claimed descent get round Chandragupta.

According to the Vikramaditya legends, emperor Vikramaditya (a symbol believed to be based break the rules Chandragupta) sent his court rhymer Kalidasa as an ambassador be acquainted with the lord of Kuntala. At long last the Kuntala king referred fulfil in this legend has antique identified by some scholars add together a Vakataka king, it hype more likely that he was a Kadamba king, because nobleness Vakataka king did not middle over Kuntala, and was not at all called the lord of Kuntala.

Administration

Several feudatories of Chandragupta are situate from historical records:

• Maharaja Sanakanika, a feudatory known from influence Udayagiri inscription that records construction of a Vaishnava temple.
• Maharaja Trikamala, a feudatory known yield a Gaya inscription engraved tjunction a Bodhisattva image
• Maharaja Shri Vishvamitra Svami, a feudatory known disseminate a seal found at Vidisha
• Maharaja Svamidasa, the ruler of Valkha, was also probably a Gupta feudatory if we assume meander his inscription is dated on the run the Gupta calendar era; according to another theory, his heading is dated in the Kalachuri calendar era.

The following ministers last officers of Chandragupta are block out from various historical records:

• Vira-sena, foreign minister, known from nobility Udayagiri inscription recording his interpretation of a Shiva temple
• Amrakardava, clever military officer, known from honourableness Sanchi inscription recording his contributions to the local Buddhist monastery
• Shikhara-svami, a minister; according to archivist K.

  P. Jayaswal's theory, noteworthy was the author of probity political treatise Kamandakiya Niti

Navaratnas

Jyotirvidabharana (22.10), a treatise attributed to Kalidasa, states that nine famous scholars known as the Navaratnas ("nine gems") attended the court very last the legendary Vikramaditya.

Besides Kalidasa himself, these included Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Ghatakarapara, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, and Vetala Bhatta.^[55] However, surrounding is no historical evidence snip show that these nine scholars were contemporary figures or proteges of the same king.^[56][57]Jyotirvidabharana deference considered a literary forgery pick up the tab a date later than Kalidasa by multiple scholars.^[57][55] There crack no mention of such "Navaratnas" in earlier literature, and Sequence.

C. Sircar calls this established practice "absolutely worthless for historical purposes".

Nevertheless, multiple scholars believe that particular of these Navaratnas – Kalidasa – may have indeed flourished during the reign of Chandragupta II. These scholars include William Jones, A. B. Keith, standing Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi among others.^[59][60] It is possible that Kalidasa was a court poet make merry Chandragupta.

Religion

Many gold and silver money of Chandragupta, as well honourableness inscriptions issued by him suggest his successors, describe him hoot a parama-bhagvata, that is, clean up devotee of the god Vishnu.

One of his gold notes acceptance, discovered at Bayana, calls him chakra-vikramah, literally, "[one who is] powerful [due to his tenure of the] discus", and shows him receiving a discus munch through Vishnu.

An Udayagiri inscription records goodness construction of a Vaishnava cavity temple by Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika, in year 82 human the Gupta era (c.

401–402).

Chandragupta was also tolerant of cover up faiths. The Udayagiri inscription pills Chandragupta's foreign minister Virasena chronicles the construction of a mosque dedicated to the god Shambhu (Shiva). An inscription found impinge on Sanchi near Udayagiri records fund to the local Buddhist friary by his military officer Amrakardava, in year 93 of ethics Gupta era (c.

412–413).

Faxian's visit

Chinese pilgrim Faxian visited India close the reign of Chandragupta leading spent around six years rerouteing the Gupta kingdom. He was mostly interested in Buddhist churchgoing affairs and did not problem to record the name shambles the reigning king. His ponder presents an idealised picture enjoy yourself the Gupta administration, and fret everything he states can verbal abuse taken at face value.

Despite that, his description of the society as a peaceful and monied one seems to be as is usual true, attested by the truth that he did not insignificant any brigandage unlike the closest Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang.

Faxian describes Madhya-desha ("Middle kingdom"), the region enter upon the south-east of Mathura, on account of a populous region with skilled climate and happy people.

Flair mentions that the citizens were not required to "register their households or attend to woman on the clapham omnibus magistrates and their rules". Faxian mentions that wicked repeated rebels had their right hand cave off by the king's regulation, but otherwise, there was inept corporal punishment for crimes: authority criminals were only fined, softly or heavily, according to righteousness severity of the crime.

According to Faxian, the king's bodyguards and attendants all received salaries.

Faxian mentions that other than influence untouchableChandalas, the people did beg for consume meat, intoxicating drinks, onions or garlic. The Chandalas temporary apart from other people opinion struck a piece of copse to announce their presence like that which they entered a city slip a marketplace: this would consent other people to avoid technique with them.

Only the Chandalas engaged in the fisheries ahead hunting and sold meat.

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Remark the general markets, there were no butchers' shops or bevvy dealers, and the people plainspoken not keep pigs or gallinacean. According to historian R. Apothegm. Majumdar, Faxian's observations about goodness people's food habits seem be acquainted with have been based on reward contact with the Buddhist devout community and may not keep going applicable to the general public.

Faxian mentions that the people sentimental cowries for buying and merchandising goods.

Faxian mentions the Pataliputra belt as the most prosperous thing of the Middle kingdom, chronicle its people as benevolent challenging righteous.

He describes an yearbook Buddhist celebration, which involved great procession of 20 grand carts of Buddhas, the Brahmanas's overture to the Buddhas to record the city, and music procedure. He mentions that in rank cities, the Vaishya chiefs confidential established centres for dispensing patience and medical help to goodness destitute. These centres attracted depiction poor, the orphans, the widowers, the childless, the handicapped, enthralled the sick, who were examined by doctors and given go for a run and medicine until they got better.

Inscriptions

The following inscriptions of Chandragupta have been discovered:

• Mathura citadel inscription, dated to the twelvemonth 61 of the Gupta vintage.

  The date has been understood as c. 380–381 by early scholars, but Harry Falk (2004) dates it to 388 (see Period of reign section above).

• Mathura pillar inscription, undated
• Udayagiri cave caption, dated to the year 82 of the Gupta era
• Udayagiri grotto inscription, undated
• Gadhwa stone inscription, traditionalist to the year 88 doomed the Gupta era
• Sanchi stone caption, dated to the year 93 of the Gupta era
• Mehrauli chain pillar inscription, undated

Coinage

Chandragupta continued publication most of the gold change types introduced by his dad Samudragupta, such as the Cane type (rare for Chandragupta II), the Archer type, and character Tiger-Slayer type.

However, Chandragupta II also introduced several new types, such as the Horseman class and the Lion-slayer type, both of which were used induce his son Kumaragupta I.

Chandragupta's diverse gold coins depict his brave spirit or peacetime pursuits.

Lion-slayer type

These coins depict Chandragupta slaying put in order lion and bear the myth simha-vikrama.

Similar coins issued incite his father Samudragupta depict birth king slaying a tiger contemporary bear the legend vyaghra-parakramaha. Scholar R. C. Majumdar theorises drift Chandragupta's conquest of present-day State (where the Asiatic lion deference found) may have presented him with an opportunity to stay on lions, resulting in the replacement of tiger with lion fabrication the imperial coins.

Couch-and-flower type

These notes acceptance depict Chandragupta seated on top-hole couch and holding a get on in his right hand.

Position legend "rupa-kriti" occurs below prestige couch. These coins are literal to Samudragupta's coins which draw the king playing a tuneful instrument.

Rider type

These coins depict leadership king riding a fully-caparisoned horse.

In addition, Chandragupta II was honesty first Gupta king to examination silver coins.

These coins were intended to replace the silver plate coinage of the Western Kshatrapas after Chandragupta II defeated them and were modelled on rank Kshatrapa coinage. The main contravention was to replace the dynastic symbol of the Kshatrapas (the three-arched hill) by the dynastic symbol of the Guptas (the mythic eagle Garuda). The converse of these coins depicts fine bust of the king, versus corrupted Greek legend "OOIHU".^[71][72] Justness reverse features the Brahmi calligraphy legend "Chandragupta Vikramaditya, King jump at Kings, and a devotee suggest Vishnu", around Garuda, the exemplar eagle and dynastic symbol garbage the Guptas.^[73]

Personality

The Udayagiri inscription assiduousness Virasena describes Chandragupta as dinky "king of kings" as petit mal as an asceticrajadhirajarshi, and declares that his activities were "beyond comprehension".

Identification with the legendary Vikramaditya

Main article: Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya is a storied emperor of ancient India, who is characterised as the criterion king, known for his largess or largesse, courage, and patronage to scholars.

A number of historians find creditable that at least some accept the Vikramaditya legends are household on Chandragupta II. These historians include D. R. Bhandarkar, Altogether. V. Mirashi and D. Slogan. Sircar among others.^[74][57]

Based on adequate coins and the Supia belfry inscription, it is believed desert Chandragupta II adopted the baptize "Vikramaditya".

The Cambay and Sangli plates of the Rashtrakuta farewell Govinda IV use the name "Sahasanka" for Chandragupta II. Dignity name "Sahasanka" has also archaic applied to the legendary Vikramaditya.^[76]

The legendary Vikramaditya is said comprehensively have defeated the Śaka invaders, and was therefore, known orangutan Śakari ("enemy of the Śakas).

Chandragupta II conquered Malwa care for defeating the Western Kshatrapas (a branch of Śakas); he further expelled the Kushanas from Mathura. His victory over these alien tribes was probably transposed difference upon a fictional character, resultant in the Vikramaditya legends.^[77][78]

According telling off most legends, Vikramaditya had consummate capital at Ujjain, although many legends mention him as influence king of Pataliputra.

The Guptas had their capital at Pataliputra. According to D. C. Sircar, Chandragupta II may have hangdog the Shaka invaders of Ujjain, and placed his son Govindagupta as a viceroy there. By the same token a result, Ujjain might conspiracy become a second capital check the Gupta empire, and to sum up, legends about him (as Vikramaditya) might have developed.^[79] Guttas a few Guttavalal, a minor dynasty homemade in present-day Karnataka, claimed race from the imperial Guptas.

Rank Caudadanapura inscription of the Guttas alludes to the legendary Vikramaditya ruling from Ujjayni, and indefinite Gutta royals were named "Vikramaditya". According to Vasundhara Filliozat, their reference to the legendary Vikramaditya is simply because they flocculent him with Chandragupta II.^[81] On the contrary, D.

C. Sircar sees that as further proof that magnanimity legendary Vikramaditya was based categorize Chandragupta II.

Vikram Samvat

Vikrama Samvat, forceful Indian calendar era beginning tag 57 BCE, is associated farce the legendary Vikramaditya. However, that association did not exist heretofore 9th century.

The earlier store call this era by different names, including Kṛṭa, the harvest of the Malava tribe, figurative simply, Samvat.^[55] Scholars such by reason of D. C. Sircar and R. Bhandarkar believe that description name of the era contrasting to "Vikram Samvat" after nobleness reign of Chandragupta II, who had adopted the title Vikramaditya.

References