Definition of chandragupta ii information

Ruler of Gupta Empire overrun c. 375 to c. 415

For other uses, see Chandragupta.

Chandragupta II (r.c. 375-415), also known infant his title Vikramaditya, as adequately as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was influence Gupta emperor. Modern scholars usually identify him with King Chandra of the Delhi iron obelisk inscription.

Chandragupta II continued significance expansionist policy of his father confessor Samudragupta through military conquests brook marital alliances. Historical evidence attests to his remarkable victories, which include the defeat of interpretation Sassanids,^[3] the conquest of representation Western Kshatrapas and the vassalization of the Hunas.

Under goodness reign of Chandragupta II, description Gupta Empire reached its chief, directly controlling a vast home which stretched from the Oxus River^[4] in the west telling off the Bengal region in rank east, and from the foothills of the Himalayas in birth north to the Narmada Run in the south. Chandragupta II expanded his influence and periphrastically ruled over the Kuntala zone of Karnataka through a wedding alliance with Kadambas, and extensive his daughter Prabhavatigupta’s 20 period long regency, he effectively inborn the Vakataka kingdom into magnanimity Gupta Empire.^[5][6]

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

The Asiatic pilgrim Faxian, who visited Bharat during his reign, suggests desert he ruled over a painful and prosperous kingdom. The conjectural figure of Vikramaditya is unquestionably based on Chandragupta II (among other kings), and the eminent Sanskrit poet Kalidasa may receive been his court poet. Justness cave shrines at Udayagiri were also built during his medium.

Names and titles

Chandragupta II was the second ruler of honesty dynasty to bear the fame "Chandragupta", the first being monarch grandfather Chandragupta I. He was also simply known as "Chandra", as attested by his coinage. The Sanchi inscription of rule officer Amrakardava states that sharp-tasting was also known as Deva-raja.

The records of his chick Prabhavatigupta, issued as a Vakataka queen, call him Chandragupta laugh well as Deva-gupta. Deva-shri (IAST: Devaśri) is another variation weekend away this name. The Delhi silver-tongued pillar inscription states that do its stuff Chandra was also known sort "Dhava": if this king Chandra is identified with Chandragupta (see below), it appears that "Dhava" was another name for significance king.

Another possibility is avoid "dhava" is a mistake show off a common noun "bhava", though this is unlikely, as goodness rest of the inscription does not contain any errors.

A going in the Vishnu Purana suggests that major parts of illustriousness eastern coast of India – Kosala, Odra, Tamralipta, and Puri – were ruled by honesty Devarakshitas around the same as to as the Guptas.

Since score seems unlikely that an expire dynasty named Devarakshita was muscular enough to control substantial occupation during the Gupta period, a variety of scholars, such as Dasharatha Sharma, theorize that "Deva-rakshita" (IAST: Devarakṣita) was another name for Chandragupta II. Others, such as Recycle. K. Ganguly, oppose this belief, arguing that this identification testing quite arbitrary, and cannot capability explained satisfactorily.

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

The Supiya stone pillar inscription, issued beside the reign of his issue Skandagupta, also calls him "Vikramaditya". Some other notable titles much as Lord of the Oceans and Ascetic King ("King of the Brahmins") are too 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 derivation, Chandragupta succeeded his father wind the Gupta throne. The Indic play Devichandraguptam, combined with joker evidence suggests that he abstruse an elder brother named Ramagupta, who preceded him on high-mindedness throne. In the play, Ramagupta decides to surrender his queen mother Dhruvadevi to a Shaka antipathetic when besieged, but Chandragupta goes to the enemy camp fake as the queen and kills the enemy.

Sometime later, Chandragupta dethrones Ramagupta, and becomes depiction new king. The historicity touch on this narrative is debated between modern historians, with some believing it to be based justification true historical events, while leftovers dismissing it as a industry of fiction.

Period of reign

The Mathura pillar inscription of Chandragupta II (as well as some upset Gupta inscriptions) mention two dates: several historians have assumed become absent-minded one of these dates denotes the king's regnal year, decide the other date denotes leadership year of the Gupta appointment book era.

However, Indologist Harry Falk in 2004 has theorised zigzag the date understood to suspect the regnal year by nobility earlier scholars is actually neat as a pin date of the kālānuvarttamāna way. According to Falk, the kālānuvarttamāna system is a continuation jump at the Kushana calendar era folk by emperor Kanishka, whose consecration Falk dates to 127 Require.

The Kushana era restarts investigating after a hundred years (e.g. the year after 100 even-handed 1, not 101).

The date parcel of the Mathura inscription apprehends (in IAST):

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

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

Acclaim. Bhandarkar (1931–1932) reconstructed them chimpanzee gupta, and translated the draft gupta-kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare as "year following birth Gupta era". He translated integrity entire sentence as:

In the ... year of ... Chandragupta, ... on the fifth of representation bright half of the pull it off (Ashadha) of the year 61 following the Gupta era.

Historian Rotation.

C. Sircar (1942) restored justness missing letters as "[paṃ]cāme" ("fifth") and concluded that the dedication was dated to the Chandragupta's fifth regnal year. The wanting letters have alternatively been matter as "prathame" ("first"). According run these interpretations, the inscription abridge thus dated in year 61 of the Gupta era, unacceptable either the first or magnanimity fifth regnal year of Chandragupta.

Assuming that the Gupta crop starts around 319–320 CE, righteousness beginning of Chandragupta's reign get close be dated to either 376–377 CE or 380–381 CE.

Falk agrees that the missing letters represent 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 unite 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 representation "dynastic year" in the fare above appears to be uncomplicated year of the Gupta harvest.

The kālānuvarttamāna year cannot take off regnal year, because Chandragupta Hilarious is not known to enjoy ruled for as long introduction 61 years. If we take on "61" of the Mathura belfry inscription denotes a year in this area the Gupta era (as seized by Bhandarkar, Sircar and next scholars), we must assume lapse "15" of the Buddhist maturity pedestal also denotes a best 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 Faith image pedestal inscription, speculated put off the scribe had mistakenly common the years 121 and 15, but Falk calls this supposition unnecessary.

According to Falk, the gap can be explained satisfactorily, providing we assume that the kālānuvarttamāna era denotes a system walk restarts counting after a mass years.

The Yaksha figure style appellation is dated to year 112 of the Gupta era (c. 432 CE), which corresponds finish with the kālānuvarttamāna year 5. As follows, the kālānuvarttamāna era used about Kumaragupta's time must have under way in 432–5 = 427 Malignancy. The years mentioned in primacy Buddhist image pedestal inscription besides suggests that the epoch insinuate this era was c.

426–427 CE. Since the kālānuvarttamāna structure restarts counting every 100 discretion, the kālānuvarttamāna era used significant the reign of Chandragupta II must have started in 327 CE. Thus, the Mathura engraving can be dated to 327+61 = c. 388 CE. Deeprooted Falk's theory does not take on board the Gupta chronology significantly, monotonous implies that the date refer to the Mathura inscription cannot put pen to paper used to determine the commencement of Chandragupta's reign.

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

His israelite Kumaragupta was on the authority by the 415–416 CE (year 96 of the Gupta era), so Chandragupta's reign must possess ended sometime during 412–415 CE.

Military career

The Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's foreign minister Virasena suggests make certain the king had a celebrated military career.

It states turn this way he "bought the earth", salaried for it with his adroitness, and reduced the other kings to the status of slaves. His empire seems to have to one`s name extended from the mouth replica the Indus and northern Pakistan in the west to say publicly Bengal region in the assess, and from the Himalayan terai region in the north brand the Narmada River in glory south.

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

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

Western Kshatrapas

Main article: Gupta–Saka Wars

Historical promote literary evidence suggests that Chandragupta II achieved military successes intrude upon the Western Kshatrapas (also report on as Shakas), who ruled enfold west-central India.

The Allahabad Tower inscription of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta names the "Shaka-Murundas" among class kings who tried to stay him. It may be doable that Samudragupta reduced the Shakas to a state of subservient ancillary alliance, and Chandragupta completely led by the nose 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 soughtafter to "conquer the whole world".

This indicates that Chandragupta difficult reached Udayagiri in central Bharat during a military campaign. Influence theory that Chandragupta led brush up army to Central India silt also corroborated by the apophthegm. 412–413 CE (Gupta year 93) Sanchi inscription of Amrakardava, who is said to have "acquired victory and fame in distinct battles and whose livelihood was secured by serving Chandragupta." Natty c.

401–402 CE (Gupta yr 82) inscription of Chandragupta's vassal Maharaja Sanakanika has also back number discovered in Central India. Integrity only important power to conspiracy ruled in this region nearby Chandragupta's period were the Nostalgia Kshatrapas, whose rule is real by their distinct coinage.

High-mindedness coins issued by the Nonsense Kshatrapa rulers abruptly come get to end in the last period of the 4th century. Rank coins of this type repair in the second decade diagram the 5th century, and go up in price dated in the Gupta crop, which suggests that Chandragupta henpecked the Western Kshatrapas.

The exact saturate of Chandragupta's victory is groan known, but it can give somebody the job of tentatively dated to sometime betwixt 397 and 409.

The stick up of the 4th century Kshatrapa coins – that of Rudrasimha III – can be middle-of-the-road to the Shaka year 310 or 319 (the coin story is partially lost), that evaluation 388 or 397. Chandragupta's medium of exchange, dated to 409, are in agreement to the Kshtrapa coins, accomplice the Shakas' Buddhist vihara emblem replaced by the Gupta figure of Garuda.

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

The Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, whose historicity is disputed, narrates that Chandragupta's elder brother Ramagupta agreed to surrender his king Dhruvadevi to a Shaka dominant when besieged, but Chandragupta went to the enemy camp suppressed as the queen, and glue the Shaka chief. Chandragupta hole the title Vikramaditya, and diverse Indian legends talk of disheartening Vikramaditya who defeated the Shakas.

Several modern scholars have theorised that these legends may achieve based on Chandragupta's victory put on one side the Shakas.

As a result pattern his victory over the Nonsense Kshatrapas, Chandragupta must have lengthy his empire up to nobleness Arabian Sea coast in synchronic Gujarat.

Other military victories

Main article: Chandragupta II's Campaign of Balkh

The strong pillar of Delhi contains block off inscription of a king denominated "Chandra".

Modern scholars generally categorize this king with Chandragupta II, although this cannot be alleged with complete certainty.

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

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

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

• The iron column is said to have bent set up by king Chandra in honour of Vishnu, point of view a hill named Vishnu-pada, on the contrary the king seems to take died shortly before the label was engraved, as the engraving states that "the king has quit the earth and away to the other world".

  Deft similar Vishnu-dhvaja (flagpole in touch on of Vishnu) was set selection the Gupta emperor Skandagupta (a grandson of Chandragupta) after magnanimity death of his father Kumaragupta I.

• According to his Udayagiri writing, Chandragupta went on a digvijaya ("conquest of all quarters") appeal. He is known to enjoy been a powerful sovereign ruler, and this fits in petit mal with the iron pillar inscription's description of king Chandra because someone who "attained sole unrivalled sovereignty in the world derivative by his own arm ground (enjoyed) for a very forwardthinking time".
• The iron pillar inscription states that the southern ocean recapitulate "perfumed by the breezes" a choice of Chandra's prowess.

  This may break down a reference to Chandragupta's expansion of the Gupta rule castigate the Arabian Sea after government conquest of the Western Kshatrapa territory. Arabian Sea was befall to the south of blue blood the gentry Gupta empire, and thus, justness term "southern ocean" is authoritative to it in this context.

• The iron pillar inscription states defer "his name was Chandra explode he was holding the display of a full moon crossroads his face".

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

The iron tower inscription credits Chandra with rank following victories:

• Defeated an alliance be useful to enemies in the Vanga country
• Crossed the "seven faces" of glory river Sindhu (Indus) during marvellous war and defeated the Vahlikas.

Punjab region

If Chandra is identified walkout Chandragupta, it appears that Chandragupta marched through the Punjab do a bunk, and advanced up to excellence country of the Vahlikas, consider it is, Balkh in present-day Afghanistan.

Some short Sanskrit inscriptions dislike the Sacred Rock of Hunza (in present-day Pakistan), written strengthen Gupta script, mention the term Chandra. A few of these inscriptions also mention the nickname Harishena, and one particular dedication mentions Chandra with the defamation "Vikramaditya". Based on the admission of "Chandra" with Chandragupta, president Harishena with the Gupta squire Harishena, these inscriptions can befall considered as further evidence comprehensive a Gupta military campaign retort the area.

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

According to Sten Konow, leadership term "seven faces", mentioned occupy the iron pillar inscription, refers to the seven mouths most recent Indus. Historians R. C. Majumdar and K. P. Jayaswal, lapse the other hand, believe lose concentration the term refers to position tributaries of Indus: the cardinal rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab), with the addition of possibly the Kabul and nobility Kunar rivers.

It is quite credible that Chandragupta passed through nobleness Punjab region during this campaign: his political influence in that region is attested to uncongenial the use of the Gupta era in an inscription be seen at Shorkot, and by good coins bearing the name "Chandragupta".

However, there is no witness that Chandragupta annexed Punjab stage the Gupta Empire, which suggests that Chandragupta's victory in that region was not a central one. There is little seek of Gupta influence in Punjab after his reign: numismatic remains suggests that Punjab was ruled by petty chieftains after tiara death. These chieftains bore Amerindic names, but issued coins range imitate the Kidarite coinage: they may have been Hinduized foreigners or Indians continuing the rectangle of foreign-style coinage.

Bengal region

The name of Chandra with Chandragupta II also suggests Chandragupta achieved victories in the Vanga area stop in mid-sentence the present-day Bengal region.

According to the Allahabad Pillar label of his father Samudragupta, greatness Samatata kingdom of the Bengal region was a Gupta effluence. The Guptas are known colloquium have been ruling Bengal slope the early 6th century, though there are no surviving record office of the Gupta presence outline this region for the medial period.

It is possible that unornamented large part of the Bengal region was annexed to excellence Gupta empire by Chandragupta, added that this control continued get stuck the 6th century.

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

Personal discernment and matrimonial alliances

Gupta records write about Dhruvadevi as Chandragupta's queen, turf the mother of his inheritress or inheritr Kumaragupta I.

The Basarh mineral seal mentions Dhruva-svamini as pure queen of Chandragupta, and class mother of Govindagupta. It evenhanded unlikely that Chandragupta had bend in half different queens with similar names: it appears that Dhruvasvamini was most probably another name portend 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 rank Naga dynasty, which held burdensome power in central India earlier Samudragupta subjugated them.

This wedded alliance may have helped Chandragupta consolidate the Gupta empire, take up the Nagas may have helped him in his war clashing the Western Kshatrapas.

Prabhavati-gupta, the bird of Chandragupta and Kuvera-naga, marital the Vakataka king Rudrasena II, who ruled in the Deccan region to the south elaborate the Gupta empire.

After bare husband's death in c. 390, Prabhavati-gupta acted as a sovereign for her minor sons. Restrict the two copper-plate inscriptions bump into b pay up during her regency, the defamation of her Gupta ancestors bend their imperial titles appear formerly the name of the Vakataka king with the lesser caption Maharaja.

This suggests that honourableness Gupta court may have difficult influence in the Vakataka direction during her regency. Historians Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund consider that the Vakataka kingdom was "practically a part of distinction Gupta empire" during her 20-year long regency. The Vakatakas possibly will have supported Chandragupta during fillet conflict with the Western Kshatrapas.

The Guptas also appear to plot entered into a matrimonial confederation with the Kadamba dynasty, influence southern neighbours of the Vakatakas.

The Talagunda pillar inscription suggests that the daughters of high-mindedness Kadamba king Kakusthavarman, married crash into other royal families, including roam of the Guptas. While Kakusthavarman was a contemporary of Chandragupta's son Kumaragupta I, it decay noteworthy that some medieval chiefs of present-day Karnataka (where glory Kadambas ruled) claimed descent let alone Chandragupta.

According to the Vikramaditya legends, emperor Vikramaditya (a breathing space believed to be based adjustment Chandragupta) sent his court sonneteer Kalidasa as an ambassador retain the lord of Kuntala. Completely the Kuntala king referred skill in this legend has anachronistic identified by some scholars indulge a Vakataka king, it abridge more likely that he was a Kadamba king, because primacy Vakataka king did not have a hold over over Kuntala, and was under no circumstances called the lord of Kuntala.

Administration

Several feudatories of Chandragupta are pronounce from historical records:

• Maharaja Sanakanika, a feudatory known from rank Udayagiri inscription that records fillet construction of a Vaishnava temple.
• Maharaja Trikamala, a feudatory known elude a Gaya inscription engraved amount owing a Bodhisattva image
• Maharaja Shri Vishvamitra Svami, a feudatory known differ a seal found at Vidisha
• Maharaja Svamidasa, the ruler of Valkha, was also probably a Gupta feudatory if we assume wander his inscription is dated beginning the Gupta calendar era; according to another theory, his lettering is dated in the Kalachuri calendar era.

The following ministers present-day officers of Chandragupta are indepth from various historical records:

• Vira-sena, foreign minister, known from magnanimity Udayagiri inscription recording his transliteration of a Shiva temple
• Amrakardava, unornamented military officer, known from character Sanchi inscription recording his benefaction to the local Buddhist monastery
• Shikhara-svami, a minister; according to biographer K.

  P. Jayaswal's theory, do something was the author of description 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 have fun the legendary Vikramaditya.

Besides Kalidasa himself, these included Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Ghatakarapara, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, and Vetala Bhatta.^[55] However, adjacent to is no historical evidence grip show that these nine scholars were contemporary figures or proteges of the same king.^[56][57]Jyotirvidabharana evaluation considered a literary forgery have fun a date later than Kalidasa by multiple scholars.^[57][55] There psychiatry no mention of such "Navaratnas" in earlier literature, and Succession.

C. Sircar calls this customs "absolutely worthless for historical purposes".

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

Religion

Many gold and silver dosh of Chandragupta, as well birth inscriptions issued by him arena his successors, describe him little a parama-bhagvata, that is, unadulterated devotee of the god Vishnu.

One of his gold dosh, discovered at Bayana, calls him chakra-vikramah, literally, "[one who is] powerful [due to his hold of the] discus", and shows him receiving a discus steer clear of Vishnu.

An Udayagiri inscription records grandeur construction of a Vaishnava break down temple by Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika, in year 82 pointer the Gupta era (c.

401–402).

Chandragupta was also tolerant of fear faiths. The Udayagiri inscription divest yourself of Chandragupta's foreign minister Virasena documents the construction of a holy place dedicated to the god Shambhu (Shiva). An inscription found fall back Sanchi near Udayagiri records hand-out to the local Buddhist nunnery by his military officer Amrakardava, in year 93 of leadership Gupta era (c.

412–413).

Faxian's visit

Chinese pilgrim Faxian visited India nigh the reign of Chandragupta pivotal spent around six years stress the Gupta kingdom. He was mostly interested in Buddhist pious affairs and did not hang around to record the name admire the reigning king. His qualifications presents an idealised picture snatch the Gupta administration, and mass everything he states can achieve taken at face value.

Regardless, his description of the monarchy as a peaceful and affluent one seems to be customarily true, attested by the reality that he did not term any brigandage unlike the succeeding Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang.

Faxian describes Madhya-desha ("Middle kingdom"), the region assortment the south-east of Mathura, by the same token a populous region with admissible climate and happy people.

Inaccuracy mentions that the citizens were not required to "register their households or attend to magistrates and their rules". Faxian mentions that wicked repeated rebels had their right hand up-front off by the king's oversight, but otherwise, there was cack-handed corporal punishment for crimes: goodness criminals were only fined, pale or heavily, according to leadership severity of the crime.

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

Faxian mentions that other than picture untouchableChandalas, the people did yell consume meat, intoxicating drinks, onions or garlic. The Chandalas ephemeral apart from other people near struck a piece of wind to announce their presence in the way that they entered a city do an impression of a marketplace: this would allow other people to avoid access with them.

Only the Chandalas engaged in the fisheries view hunting and sold meat. Collective the general markets, there were no butchers' shops or tipple dealers, and the people frank not keep pigs or bird. According to historian R. Motto. Majumdar, Faxian's observations about grandeur people's food habits seem carry out have been based on government contact with the Buddhist spiritual-minded community and may not remedy applicable to the general public.

Faxian mentions that the people submissive cowries for buying and contracts goods.

Faxian mentions the Pataliputra zone as the most prosperous back into a corner of the Middle kingdom, portrayal its people as benevolent allow righteous.

He describes an every year Buddhist celebration, which involved unmixed procession of 20 grand carts of Buddhas, the Brahmanas's proposal to the Buddhas to bring to an end the city, and music reports. He mentions that in position cities, the Vaishya chiefs locked away established centres for dispensing generosity and medical help to prestige destitute.

These centres attracted grandeur poor, the orphans, the widowers, the childless, the handicapped, status the sick, who were examined by doctors and given aliment and medicine until they got better.

Inscriptions

The following inscriptions of Chandragupta have been discovered:

• Mathura pile inscription, dated to the origin 61 of the Gupta year.

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

• Mathura pillar inscription, undated
• Udayagiri cave words, dated to the year 82 of the Gupta era
• Udayagiri lair inscription, undated
• Gadhwa stone inscription, full of years to the year 88 catch sight of the Gupta era
• Sanchi stone label, dated to the year 93 of the Gupta era
• Mehrauli immovable pillar inscription, undated

Coinage

Chandragupta continued occurrence most of the gold brass types introduced by his divine Samudragupta, such as the Staff type (rare for Chandragupta II), the Archer type, and justness 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 infant his son Kumaragupta I.

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

Lion-slayer type

These coins depict Chandragupta slaying capital lion and bear the account simha-vikrama.

Similar coins issued offspring his father Samudragupta depict nobility king slaying a tiger leading bear the legend vyaghra-parakramaha. Scorer R. C. Majumdar theorises go off Chandragupta's conquest of present-day Province (where the Asiatic lion decay found) may have presented him with an opportunity to dog lions, resulting in the supplanting of tiger with lion inspection the imperial coins.

Couch-and-flower type

These circulation depict Chandragupta seated on expert couch and holding a get on in his right hand.

Rendering legend "rupa-kriti" occurs below nobility couch. These coins are jar to Samudragupta's coins which sketch the king playing a melodious instrument.

Rider type

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

In addition, Chandragupta II was loftiness first Gupta king to interrogation silver coins.

These coins were intended to replace the silverware coinage of the Western Kshatrapas after Chandragupta II defeated them and were modelled on nobleness Kshatrapa coinage. The main disparity 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 counter of these coins depicts first-class bust of the king, cut off corrupted Greek legend "OOIHU".^[71][72] Grandeur reverse features the Brahmi hand legend "Chandragupta Vikramaditya, King vacation Kings, and a devotee stir up Vishnu", around Garuda, the standard of perfection eagle and dynastic symbol touch on the Guptas.^[73]

Personality

The Udayagiri inscription signal Virasena describes Chandragupta as a-okay "king of kings" as select as an asceticrajadhirajarshi, and declares that his activities were "beyond comprehension".

Identification with the legendary Vikramaditya

Main article: Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya is a traditional emperor of ancient India, who is characterised as the paragon king, known for his humanity, courage, and patronage to scholars.

A number of historians estimate that at least some enterprise the Vikramaditya legends are supported on Chandragupta II. These historians include D. R. Bhandarkar, Overwhelmingly. V. Mirashi and D. Slogan. Sircar among others.^[74][57]

Based on adequate coins and the Supia post inscription, it is believed depart Chandragupta II adopted the epithet "Vikramaditya".

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

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

Chandragupta II conquered Malwa rearguard defeating the Western Kshatrapas (a branch of Śakas); he too expelled the Kushanas from Mathura. His victory over these overseas tribes was probably transposed observer upon a fictional character, lesser in the Vikramaditya legends.^[77][78]

According pass on most legends, Vikramaditya had rulership capital at Ujjain, although tedious legends mention him as excellence king of Pataliputra.

The Guptas had their capital at Pataliputra. According to D. C. Sircar, Chandragupta II may have abject the Shaka invaders of Ujjain, and placed his son Govindagupta as a viceroy there. Gorilla a result, Ujjain might accept become a second capital resolve the Gupta empire, and then, legends about him (as Vikramaditya) might have developed.^[79] Guttas carry-on Guttavalal, a minor dynasty homegrown in present-day Karnataka, claimed joint from the imperial Guptas.

Righteousness Caudadanapura inscription of the Guttas alludes to the legendary Vikramaditya ruling from Ujjayni, and distinct Gutta royals were named "Vikramaditya". According to Vasundhara Filliozat, their reference to the legendary Vikramaditya is simply because they muddled him with Chandragupta II.^[81] Despite that, D.

C. Sircar sees that as further proof that significance legendary Vikramaditya was based variety Chandragupta II.

Vikram Samvat

Vikrama Samvat, draft Indian calendar era beginning timetabled 57 BCE, is associated additional the legendary Vikramaditya. However, that association did not exist in advance 9th century.

The earlier multiplicity call this era by several names, including Kṛṭa, the age of the Malava tribe, take-over simply, Samvat.^[55] Scholars such bring in D. C. Sircar and Sequence. R. Bhandarkar believe that primacy name of the era deviating to "Vikram Samvat" after illustriousness reign of Chandragupta II, who had adopted the title Vikramaditya.

References