Life Under Guptas | Administration, Literary & Religious Developments for UPSC!

The Guptas is an important dynasties in the history of ancient India. Came into existence post the disintegration of Mauryan Empire, these dynasties brought about the much needed political unity and stability in the respective regions. Life under Guptas provides a detailed description of the quality of life of the people, the kind of administration followed in the empire and information about the contacts with the foreign dynasties.

The topic of Life Under Guptas is important from the perspective of UPSC IAS Examination and it falls under the General studies paper 1 (Preliminary) and General studies paper 1 (Mains) under the Ancient History section. For further information and an explanation of the topic visit UPSC CSE Coaching here!

In this article we shall discuss Life under the Guptas. We shall have an insight into the development in the arena of art and religion, the kind of trading activities carried on apart from the system of administration followed among others for UPSC Exam.

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Guptas : Historical Background

• With the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, there arose many indigenous and foreign kingdoms in the history of India which ruled the region for over five centuries. Among them were the Kushanas, which were dominating the northern region of the subcontinent while the Satavahanas maintained their dominance in the Deccan region. These Empires brought about stability, political unity and economic prosperity in their respective regions.
  • However, by the middle of the third century, these empires, too, disintegrated
• This gave rise to the foundation of Gupta Empire over the Northern parts of the subcontinent on the ruins of Kushan Empire. It covered parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
  • The Gupta empire had been successful in ensuring the political unity of the country for more than a century.

Fig: Gupta Empire

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Facts about Guptas for UPSC

Some interesting and important facts about Guptas for UPSC Exam are mentioned in the table below.

Particulars	Details
Origin	3rd century BC
Founder	Chandra Gupta I
Region	parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Important Rulers	Chandra Gupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II

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Life Under Guptas

The age of the Guptas are defined by fabulous literature, and stupendous scholars.

Art

• The Gupta period has been hailed as the period of ‘Efflorescence’ or the ‘Classical age’ or the ‘Golden age’.
• In the Gupta period, we witness the idols of Lord Vishnu, Shiva and other Hindu Gods.
• While the Guptas were supporters of Brahmanism, they were tolerant towards other religions. This can be testified from the 25 metre bronze image of Buddha recovered from Sultanganj, Bhagalpur.
• Also, the Ajanta Paintings, which majorly belongs to the Gupta period, depict the cultural richness of the period.
• However, though the Gupta period can be regarded as rich in aspects of art, it was deficient in architectural aspects. All we could recover are a few temples made of brick from Uttar Pradesh and a stone temple.
  • Some important brick temples recovered are Bhitargaon in Kanpur, Bhitari in Ghazipur and Deogarh in Jhansi.
• The art of casting metal images reached its climax during this period.

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Literature

• Sanskrit literature reached its peak during the Gupta period.
• From the Brahmi script evolved the Nagari script.
• Various works were composed in the form of epic, lyrics, drama, prose and poetry.
• Both Chandragupta and Samugragupta patronised art and literature. Chandragupta is known to house nine luminaries in his court collectively known as Navaratnas.
• The period is remarkable for secular as well as religious literature.
• Major secular literary works in the Gupta Period are:
  • Abhijnanasakunthalam by Kalidasa is considered as one among the ‘hundred best books of the world’. It depicts the love story of King Dushyant and Shakuntala.
    • Other prominent literary works of Kalidasa are Malavikagnimitra and Vikramorvasiya, Raghuvamsa and Kumarasambhava, Ritusamhara and Megadhuta.
  • Amarakosam was composed by Amarasimha while Vatsayana wrote Kamasutra.
  • The Mrichchakatika of Sudraka was the product of this age.
  • Varahamihira wrote Brihat Samhita that dealt with scientific subjects like astronomy and botany.
    • Other works of Varahamihira are Yogasastra, Panchasiddhantika
  • The famous treatise on medicine Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita were also composed in this period.
  • Vishnu Sharma composed Panchatantra.
  • Dandin was the composer of Kavya Darshana and Dasakumaracharita.
  • Bhasa composed 13 plays including Madhyama Vyayoga, Duta Ghatotkacha, Dutavakya, Balacharita, and Charudatta
  • The major feature of the secular plays composed during the period were that all the plays were comedy and there was absence of tragedies. Further, we find that there was a difference between the languages used by the lower and the upper classes.
• Apart from secular literature of the Gupta Period, the period also saw religious compositions.
  • The two great epics, i.e, Ramayana and Mahabharata were composed by the end of fourth century AD.
  • The Puranas in their present form were too composed in the Gupta period.
• Further, the period saw the development of Sanskrit grammar based on Panini and Patanjali.

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Administration

• The administration of the Gupta period was decentralised in nature.
• The king was the central figure in administration.
  • The kings adopted pompous titles such as maharajadhiraja, parama bhattaraka, parameshvara etc and tried to exalt their status by comparing themselves with God.
  • The post of king was hereditary but the practice of primogeniture was not followed (eldest son occupying the throne)
  • The king was in charge of ensuring the security of the countrymen from any foreign invasion.
  • He was also expected to lead the army in case of any conflict.
  • The king was assisted by princes, ministers and advisors.
• The Empire was divided into Provinces and were referred to as the desha, rashtra or bhukti and their head was called as uparika.
• The Provinces were further subdivided into districts called as Vishayas which were placed under the Vishyapati.
• The Vishyas were further divided into Villages which were placed under the Village headman called as gramadhyaksha/ gramika.
  • He had a major role in the affairs of the village.

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Bureaucracy

• There is no elaborate system of bureaucracy.
• The most important officers were the Kumaramatyas.
  • Appointed by the king, they are paid in cash or some were remunerated by land grants.
• Though posts were not only hereditary, but often several offices were combined in the hands of the same person. This led to weakening of the control of the king.
  • For eg: Harisena was a mahadandanayaka (chief judicial officer) as well as a mahasandhivigraha (minister for war and peace).

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Religion

• The Gupta rulers, though were tolerant to other religions, they took steps for the revival of Bhagavatism, which was centred around worship of Lord Vishnu and its incarnations.
  • Later when Lord Vishnu was identified with Krishna Vasudeva, Bhagavatism came to be identified with Vaishnavism.
  • Puranas, composed during the period, were to popularise the virtues of Lord Vishnu and its incarnations.
• Idol worship became a common feature in the temples constructed in the period.
• Smarta religious practices (based on smritis) also developed during this period.
• However, from the travel accounts of Fa Hien and Hieun Tsang, it can be said that Buddhism too was flourishing.
  • Nalanda University developed in this period.
• Further, there was growth of local cults, beliefs and practices and development of Tantric practices.
• The development of Tantrism can be attributed to the assimilation of tribal culture in the Brahmanical religion.

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Judicial Systems

• The judicial system of the Guptas was far more developed than the earlier times.
• There was a clear demarcation between the civil and criminal laws.
  • Disputes related to theft and adultery were under the criminal laws while those related to property came under the civil laws.
• Laws about inheritance were also properly enumerated.
• Further, laws were based on varnas much like the earlier times.
• The King was helped by the Brahmin priests in dispensing justice.

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Economy

• The period from c. 4th century to 8th century was a period of agricultural expansion.
• Due to the practice of brahmadeya (land grants to the brahmins) efforts were made to bring virgin land under cultivation. This further gave a boost to agricultural activities in the period.
• The king levied a variety of taxes.
  • On agricultural produce, it was levied between one-fourth to one-sixth of the produce.
  • Apart from the taxes, they were also forced to provide forced labour to the royal army and officials.
  • Two new agricultural taxes mentioned in Gupta inscriptions are uparikara (tax imposed on temporary tenants) and udranga ( though its exact nature is not clear, but it is supposed to be water tax or a sort of police tax).
• In matters of trading activities, there were trading relations maintained with the Roman Empire, however there was a decline in long distance trade compared to earlier periods. Though trading activities continued with South East Asian countries, it did not help revive the economy substantially.
  • The knowledge of the silk from greater contact with Chinese also had a negative impact on the trading relation with the Roman Empire since India had been a major exporter of silk to the Roman Empire.
• This had an adverse impact on the inflow of gold and silver into the country.
  • Though the Guptas issued the largest number of gold coins called Dinaras, the coins were not as pure as those of Kushans.
    • Also few silver coins (Rupayakas) and bronze coins were issued.

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Society

• The society, in the Gupta Period witnessed major changes.
• The practice of Brahmadeya suggests that supremacy of the brahmins increased.
  • Further, since the Brahmins presented the Gupta kings as those possessing attributes of God, the Kings became ardent supporters of the Brahmins. This also helped the Brahmins in the accumulation of wealth and privileges which were not initially accorded to them.
• Also, the number of castes proliferated in this period. The assimilation of tribes in the brahmanical fold can also be cited as one of the reasons for the same.
  • The tribes who got assimilated into the brahmanical fold were given the status of shudras, though tribal heads were recognised as Kshatriyas.
• In matters of caste structure, the status of the shudras improved. They were allowed to listen to the epics and puranas. Also some domestic rituals which were earlier prohibited, could be practised by them.
• The status of women continued to decline.
  • They were not provided with the right to inherit property.
  • The Purdah system disappeared.
  • There was a prevalence of sati. The first evidence of sati is found in an inscription at Eran in Madhya Pradesh.

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Science and Technology

The achievements of Gupta Period in the domain of Science and Technology is unparalleled. The idea of which can be had from the texts of the period that dealt with science and technology.

• Mention can be made of Aryabhatiyam composed by Aryabhatta in the fifth century BC.
  • Aryabhatta was the first to invent zero and invent that earth rotates on its own axis.
  • He was also the first to give scientific explanations for the occurrence of eclipses.
• Another notable work in the field is Romaka Siddhanta which dealt with astronomy.
• Further, in the arena of metal works, the Gupta period is known for the bronze image of Buddha (discovered at Sultanganj).
• Also, the Iron Pillar at Mehrauli which has not gathered any rust till date speaks of the scientific marvels of the period.

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Conclusion

The Gupta period can rightly be hailed as the Golden period of Indian history. The religious tolerance practised, the impetus provided to trade and industry and the decentralisation of power can rightly be associated only with a rich empire, rich in terms of the practices followed.

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