{"id":106984,"date":"2024-05-09T16:34:33","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T11:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=udaan&#038;p=106984"},"modified":"2024-09-20T15:33:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:03:57","slug":"gupta-empire-art-architecture-literature-science","status":"publish","type":"udaan","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/gupta-empire-art-architecture-literature-science","title":{"rendered":"Gupta Empire Golden Age of Ancient India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/the-history-of-gupta-period-300-ce-600-ce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gupta Empire<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in ancient India, a remarkable <\/span><b>flourishing of art<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> architecture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> literature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>sciences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> occurred, marking it as the <\/span><b>Golden Age of the subcontinent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. With a profound influence of religion, particularly <\/span><b>Buddhism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Gupta art and architecture displayed sculptures, vibrant paintings, and monumental temple structures. This period also witnessed significant literary contributions, scientific advancements, and the establishment of renowned centers of learning like Nalanda University.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Gupta Empire: A Flourishing Art, Literature, and Science<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Buddhist Art\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sculptures<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Bronze image of <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/gautama-buddha\/\"><b>Buddha<\/b> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in <\/span><b>Sultanganj<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> near Bhagalpur.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Images of Buddha from <\/span><b>Mathura<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Sarnath<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Paintings<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ajanta paintings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are <\/span><b>life-like<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>natural<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They are marked by their brilliance of colours.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They depict various <\/span><b>life events in the life of Buddha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The paintings are also seen at<\/span><b> Bagh caves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Dhar, Madhya Pradesh).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paintings at <\/span><b>Sigiriya in Sri Lanka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were highly influenced by the <\/span><b>Ajanta style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stupas<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stupas were found in <\/span><b>Samat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Uttar Pradesh),<\/span><b> Ratnagiri<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Orissa) and <\/span><b>Mirpur Khas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Sind).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Temple Architecture<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evolution of Architectural Styles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both<\/span><b> Nagara <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Dravidian styles <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of a<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rt evolved, but most architecture had been lost due to foreign invasions like that of the Huns.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was <\/span><b>no influence of the Gandhara style<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in architecture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the temples, <\/span><b>images of Vishnu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> Shiva<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and some other<\/span><b> Hindu Gods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were found.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The leading God is large and represented in the centre, with subordinate gods smaller and around him.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brick Temples: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only a few <\/span><b>brick temples<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of this era remained.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Example:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> T<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he temples of <\/span><b>Bhitargaon in Kanpur, Bhaitari in Ghazipur, Nachnakutara in Panna <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Deogarh in Jhansi.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gupta Sculptures: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sculptures in the temple at <\/span><b>Garhwas <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">near Allahabad remain important specimens of the Gupta art.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nalanda University: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The earliest brick structure of Nalanda University belongs to this period.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Kumargupta: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0laid the<\/span><b> foundation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of<\/span><b> Nalanda university.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an acclaimed <\/span><b>Mahavihara <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and a large Buddhist monastery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a <\/span><b>UNESCO World Heritage site <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and was a centre of learning from the 5th to 12 century AD.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the <\/span><b>Gupta Empire<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the fifth and sixth centuries and later under <\/span><b>Harsha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the emperor of Kannauj.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At its peak, Nalanda attracted scholars and students from <\/span><b>Tibet, China, Korea <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Central Asia.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archaeological findings also confirm the contact with the <\/span><b>Shailendra<\/b> <b>dynasty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Indones<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ia, and one of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the kings built a monastery in the complex.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Nalanda was ransacked<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and destroyed by an army of the <\/span><b>Mamluk dynasty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Delhi Sultanate under <\/span><b>Bakhtiyar<\/b> <b>Khalji<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 1200 AD.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Stone and Metal Sculptures<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stone Sculpture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of erect Buddha from Sarnath.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stone sculpture of the great <\/span><b>Boar <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Varaha) at the entrance of a cave at <\/span><b>Udayagiri<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Copper Image of Buddha:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Nalanda and the Sultanganj Buddha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Terracotta and Pottery<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Clay Figurines:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were used both for religious and secular purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Red Ware:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The most distinctive class of pottery of this period is the \u201c<\/span><b>red ware<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Remains of Gupta <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/pottery-of-indus-valley-civilisation\/\"><b>Pottery<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were found at <\/span><b>Ahchichhatra, Rajgarh, Hastinapur <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Bashar.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Prayaga Prashasthi (Allahabad Pillar Inscription)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is engraved on the <\/span><b>Asokan pillar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and composed by <\/span><b>Harisena<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><b>classical Sanskrit using the Nagari script.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It describes the personality of Samudragupta, the circumstances of his accession, his military campaigns in North India and Deccan, his relationships with other contemporary rulers and his accomplishments as a poet and scholar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this inscription, <\/span><b>Samudragupta <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is compared to <\/span><b>Purusha (Supreme Being).<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Literature<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Secular and Religious Works: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This era is know<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n for the production of various <\/span><b>secular<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as well as <\/span><b>religious literature.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sanskrit:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became the <\/span><b>official language,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and all their epigraphic records were written in it.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The period saw the last phase of <\/span><b>Smriti literature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nagari Script:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> evolved from the Brahmi script.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evolution of Prakrit Languages: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Gupta age witnessed the evolution of many <\/span><b>Prakrit <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forms such as <\/span><b>Suraseni <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">used in Mathura and its vicinity,<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ardh Magadhi is spoken<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Awadh and Bundelkhand and<\/span><b> Magadhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in modern Bihar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prakrit had patronage outside the court circle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Characteristics of plays during the Gupta period:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were all <\/span><b>comedies.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The characters of the higher and lower classes do not speak the same language.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Women <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Sudras speak Prakrit, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">while others speak <\/span><b>Sanskrit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Works of Bhasa: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wrote 13 <\/span><b>plays<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Pratijna Augandharayana, 2. Svapnavasavadatta, 3. Charudatta, 4. Pancaratra, 5. Madhyama Vyayoga, 6.Pratima-nataka, 7. Duta Vakyam, 8. Duta Ghatotkacha, 9. Karnabharam, 10. Urubhanga, 11. Avimaraka, 12. Balacarita, and 13. Abhiseka<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Composition of Puranas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in their present form were composed during this period.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are 18 Puranas, the most important among them are the <\/span><b>Bhagavatha, Vishnu, Vayu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Matsya Puranas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mahabharatha and Ramayana:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were written in the present form during this period.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Buddhist Works: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The earlier<\/span><b> Buddhist works<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were in Pali, and the later ones in Sanskrit.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prominent Buddhist writers of the Gupta period were <\/span><b>Arya Deva, Arya Asanga, Vasubandhu and Dignaga. [UPSC 2022]<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first regular Buddhist work on <\/span><b>logic <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was written by <\/span><b>Vasubandhu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Jain Literature:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> first appeared in Prakrit and later shifted to Sanskrit.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jain writer <\/span><b>Vimala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> wrote the Jaina version of <\/span><b>Ramayana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Siddasena Divakara<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> laid the foundation of logic among the Jainas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Insights from Fa Hien&#8217;s Travels: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accounts of the Chinese traveller <\/span><b>Fa Hien<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide valuable information on the <\/span><b>religious, social and economic conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Gupta empire.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Notable Works and Authors During Gupta Rule<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>AUTHOR<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>WORK<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>AUTHOR<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>WORK<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Sudraka<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mrichchhakatika<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Little Clay Cart)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Palakapya<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hastayurveda or the veterinary science<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Bharavi<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kiratarjuniya &#8211; story of conflict between Arjuna and Shiva.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Vagbhata<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Astanga Samgraha (Summary of the eight branches of medicine).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Dandin<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kavyadarsa and Dasakumaracharitha<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Brahmagupta<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brahmasphutasiddhanta and Khandakhadyaka<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Subhandu<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vasavadatta<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Amarasimha<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amarakosha (a thesaurus in Sanskrit) <\/span><b>[UPSC 2020]<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Vishnu Sharma<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panchatantra<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Chandrogomia<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandravyakaranam<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Sanskrit Grammar)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Patanjali\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td colspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mahabhashya (Sanskrit Grammar)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patanjali wrote <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/hi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">commentary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on some selected sutras of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panini<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8216;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%80\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ashtadhyayi<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which he named <\/span><b>Vyakaran Mahabhashya.<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"4\"><b>Kalidasa [UPSC 2020]<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His Sanskrit drama <\/span><b>Abhijnanasakuntalam <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was considered to be one of the best hundred literary works in the world. It was also one of the earliest Indian works to be translated into European languages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Plays:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Malavikagnimitram and Vikramorvashiya<\/span><b>.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malavikagnimitram is the love story of King Agnimitra and the court dancer Malavika.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Epics:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Raghuvamsa and Kumarasambhava\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lyrics:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ritusamhara and Meghaduta.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Vishakadatta<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Devichandraguptam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Mudrarakshasa <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provide details about the rise of the Guptas. <\/span><b>[UPSC 2023]<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Devichandraguptam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the <\/span><b>story of Gupta King Ramagupta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who decides to surrender his queen Dhruvadevi to a Shaka invader but his younger brother Chandragupta enters the enemy camp disguised as queen and kills the enemy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the climax of the play, <\/span><b>Chandragupta dethrones Ramagupta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>marries Dhruvadevi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Mudrarakshasa<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narrates the ascent of the king <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chandragupta_Maurya\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandragupta Maurya<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Other Sources of Gupta History<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Narada, Vishnu, Brihaspati <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Katyayana smritis.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kamadandaka\u2019s <\/span><b>Nitisara, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a work on polity addressed to the king (400 AD).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Smritis <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are religious texts covering a wide range of subjects such as ethics, politics, culture and art. <\/span><b>Dharmasastras <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Puranas <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">form the core of this body of literature.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>Sciences During Gupta<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u00a0Birth of Zero and the Decimal System: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The invention of the <\/span><b>theory of zero<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the evolution of the<\/span><b> decimal system <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were to be credited to the thinkers of this age.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aryabhatta<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Aryabhatiyam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Deals with arithmetic, geometry and algebra.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Surya Siddhanta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Examined the true cause of the <\/span><b>solar eclipses.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was also the first to declare that the earth was spherical in shape and that it rotated on its own axis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Varahamihira<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Panchasiddhantika<\/b><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on five astronomical systems. I<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">t is a summary of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Surya_Siddhanta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surya Siddhanta<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Romaka_Siddhanta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Romaka Siddhanta<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paulisa_Siddhanta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paulisa Siddhanta<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Vasishtha Siddhanta, Pait\u0101maha Siddhanta.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Brihadsamhita: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An encyclopedia on astronomy, physical geography, botany and natural history.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Brihat Jataka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Astrology<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>medical trio<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of ancient India were <\/span><b>Vagbhata, Charaka and Susruta.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Charaka and Susruta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lived before the Gupta age.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Navanitakam: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was a medical work during the Gupta age, which is a manual of recipes, formulation and prescriptions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hastyayurveda: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or the<\/span><b> veterinary science<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> authored by <\/span><b>Palakapya, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attests to the advances made in medical science during the Gupta period.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 99.0814%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 165.446%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 48.984%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 116.462%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 48.984%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 116.462%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 48.984%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 116.462%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Gupta Empire was a special time when <\/span><b>art, books, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>science<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were at their best. Through its profound contributions in various fields, including Buddhist art, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/temple-architecture\/\"><b>temple architecture<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>literature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and scientific discoveries, the Gupta era left an <\/span><b>indelible mark on Indian history<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and continues to inspire admiration for its rich cultural heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/the-history-of-gupta-period-300-ce-600-ce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GUPTA EMPIRE \u2013 FACTS ABOUT GUPTA PERIOD &#038; GUPTA DYNASTY<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/pottery-of-indus-valley-civilisation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pottery of Indus Valley Civilisation: Characteristics &#038; Uses<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/temple-architecture\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temple Architecture: Symbolism, Evolution, and Styles<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/gautama-buddha\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life and Teachings of Gautama Buddha: From Birth to Enlightenment<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","udaan-chapter":[5448],"udaan-subject":[5401],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan\/106984"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/udaan"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"udaan-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-chapter?post=106984"},{"taxonomy":"udaan-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-subject?post=106984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}