During the Gupta Period when the Current System of Government was in Place
Unlike the Maurya emperors, the Gupta Period monarchs used ostentatious titles like parameshvara, maharajadhiraja, and paramabhattaraka, which denote that they were in charge of numerous subordinate kings throughout their realm.
Kingship was inherited, but the lack of a strict primogeniture system placed limits on royal power. Because the monarchy did not always go to the eldest son, there were a lot of unanswered questions, which the chiefs and senior officials seized upon. The Brahmanas received lavish gifts from the Guptas, and in return, they thanked them by equating the king with various deities. He was revered as the guardian and preserver, Vishnu. On all Gupta coins, the goddess Lakshmi is seen as Vishnu’s wife.
Land taxes soared and commercial and trade taxes were reduced during the Gupta Period. Most likely, the king collected taxes that ranged from a quarter to a sixth of the crop. Additionally, the locals had to feed the royal army whenever it traveled through the countryside. The keeping of royal officers who served in country areas required the peasants to provide livestock, food, furniture, etc.
Trade Developments and the Agricultural Economy
Fa-hsien, who traveled to several locations inside the Gupta empire, gives us some insight into the way of life of the people during the Gupta era. The Chinese traveler tells us that Magadha was home to numerous cities and that its affluent population supported it through charitable donations.
The most gold coins, called dinaras in their inscriptions, were made by the Guptas, who ruled ancient India. They are all the same size and weight and occur in a wide range of variants and subtypes. They depict the Gupta kings in great detail, showcasing their love of both art and combat. The Gupta coins were used to pay military and administrative officials, as well as for the sale and acquisition of real estate, even though their gold content was not as pure as that of the Kushan coins.
Following their conquest of Gujarat, the Guptas produced a substantial quantity of silver coins, mostly for use in local trade, where silver played a significant role under the Western Kshatrapas.
Societal Advancements
The Brahmanas’ extensive land grants show that their power increased under the Guptas. The Brahmanas subsequently came to regard the Guptas as Kshatriyas, despite the fact that they were likely initially vaishyas. According to the Brahmanas, the Gupta kings were divine beings. This helped to validate the Gupta princes’ position as ardent upholders of the Brahmanical system.
Due to the various land grants given to them, the Brahmanas amassed riches and thus claimed a number of privileges, which are detailed in the Narada Smriti, Narada’s law book, work from around the fifth century.
Due to two circumstances, the castes multiplied into several sub-castes. Many immigrants had integrated themselves into Indian culture. and every alien group was regarded as a distinct caste. Foreigners were accorded the position of Kshatriya in society since they primarily arrived as conquerors.
The Hunas, who arrived in India near the end of the fifth century, finally gained recognition as one of the 36 Rajput clans. Some Rajputs still go by the name Hun. The incorporation of numerous tribal people into Brahmanical society through the process of land grants was another factor in the growth of the caste system.
The Buddhist State
During the Gupta era, royal support for Buddhism came to an end. Fa hsien portrays this religion as prospering, but it was actually less significant during the Guptas than it had been under Ashoka and Kanishka. However, some vibaras and stupas were built. and Nalanda developed as a major Buddhist educational hub.
The Development of Bhagavatism
Vishnu or Bhagavata worship was at the heart of Bhagavatism, which emerged in the post-Mauryan period. Vishnu was a minor deity during the Vedic age. He represented the fertility cult as well as the sun. After combining with the god Narayana, he became known as Narayana-Vishnu in the second century BC.
Bhagavata, a non-Vedic tribal god, was the original name of Narayana, and those who followed him were referred to as Bhagavatas. The idea behind this god was to represent a divine version of the tribe leader. Like a tribal chief who divided gifts from his kin among them after accepting them. Additionally, Narayana was meant to grant his bhakta, or followers, shares of good fortune (Bhaga).
Gupta Dynasty in Literature
The creation of secular literature during the Gupta Period, which included some elaborate court poetry, is noteworthy. Bhasa composed thirteen plays and was a significant poet during the early Gupta era. Although he composed in Sanskrit, his dramas also heavily include Prakrit. Dradiracharudatta, a play he wrote, was later rewritten as Mrichchhakatika or the Little Clay Cart by Shudraka.
The play, one of the greatest works of ancient drama, is about the love affair between a beautiful prostitute and a poor brahmana businessman. In reference to Greek influence, Bhasa uses the term “yavanika” for the backdrop in his plays.
However, what has made the Gupta period most famous is the work of Kalidasa, who flourished between the second quarter of the fourth and the first half of the fifth century BC.
Investigation and Creation
In the fifth century, Aryabhata, a Pataliputra member, penned a book on mathematics known as Aryabhatija. It seems that this mathematician was proficient in a wide range of computations. Aryabhata demonstrates an understanding of both the zero and decimal systems.
According to a Gupta decree from the Allahabad region in AD 448, the idea of decimals may have been in use in India as early as the beginning of the fifth century. The fact that the field of astronomy produced a book called Romaka Sidhanta suggests that it was influenced by Greek and Roman ideas.
The Gupta artisans were distinguished from other craftsmen by their work in iron and bronze. Large-scale production of bronze statues of the Buddha began as a result of the smiths’ proficiency with advanced metal technology. An outstanding example of an iron object is the iron pillar that was discovered at Mehrauli near Delhi.
