The Gupta Dynasty & Pushyavuti / Vardhan Dynasty

Gupta Dynasty (319 AD-540 AD)

Gupta Dynasty was established at the end of 3rd Century near Koushambi.
This dynasty was founded by Shrigupta. But the actual founder of Gupta Dynasty was Chandragupta-1.
He got the throne in 320 AD.
He got married to Lichhabi Princess Kumar Devi.
He took title of ‘Maharajadhiraj’.
Gupta Samvat (Gupta Era) started in 319 AD-320 AD.
It was started by Chandragupta-1.
In 335AD Samudragupta, son of Chandragupta came to throne.
He is the greatest ruler of Gupta dynasty.
He defeated 9 ruler of eastern region and 12 ruler of Western region. That’s why he is called Napoleon of India.
Harisena was the poet of the court of Samudragupta. He wrote Allahabad Prasasti.
Gupta Dynasty was the worshiper of Vishnu.
Samudragupta took the title of Ashwamedhkarta.
Samudragupta was the lover of music.
Samudragupta took the title of Vikramanka and Kaviraj.
Chandragupta-2, son of Samudragupta came to throne in 380 AD.
The Chinese pilgrim Fahien visited India in Chandragupta-2 period.
Chandragupta-2 adopted the title Sakari and Vikramaditya.
After getting victory of Saka he issued silver coin.

Nine Gems or Navratna

Nine gems that is Navaratna was the glamour of the court of Chandragupta-2: they are -

Kalidas,
Amarhsinh,
Dhanavantari,
Varahamihir,
Vararuchi,
Ghatakarna,
Kshapranak,
Velabhatt and
Shankh

After Chandragupta-2 Kumargupta-1 (or Govindagupta) came to throne.
Nalanda Viswavidyalaya(University) was established by Skandagupta.
Skandagupta protected India from Huns. That’s why he is called the Protector of India.
The last ruler of Gupta Dynasty was Vanugupta.
In Gupta dynasty land tax was 1/4th or 1/6th part of total production.
In this period gold coins were called Diner and silver coins were called Rupayaka.
The first example of Sati appears in Gupta period in 510 AD in Eran inscription in Madhya Pradesh (Bhanugupta’s Eran Inscription-510 AD).
In Gupta period Panchatantra (Sanskrit) was written by Vishnusharma.
Aryabhatta wrote Aryabhattiyam and Suryasiddhantika.
Idol worship became a common feature of Hinduism from Gupta period onwards.
Gupta period is called the Golden Period of Indian History.

Pushyavuti/Vardhan Dynasty

Vardhan Dynasty was founded by Pushyavuti. But the actual founder of Vardhan Dynasty was Pravarkar Vardhan.
His capital was Thaneswer.
He adopted the title of Paramvattarak and Maharajadhiraj.
His wife was Jasomoti.
He had two sons, Rajyavardhan and Harshavardhan and a daughter named Rajyashri.
Rajyashri got married with Grahavarma, the Maukhari king of Kannauj.
Grahavarma was killed by Devgupta, ruler of Malwa and Rajyashree was imprisoned by him.
Rajyavardhan killed Devgupta but then he was killed by Shashanka, king of Goudh.
Shashanka was follower of Shiva. He cut down the Bodhi tree.
After death of Pravakarvardhan Harshavardhan came to the throne in 606 AD, from this time the Harsha Era starts. Then he was only 16 yrs.
He is also called Shiladitya.
He also adopted the title ‘Parambhattarak Naresh’.
Harsha defeated Shashanka and captured Kannauj. Then he made it his 2nd capital.
Pulokeshin-2 defeated Harsha on the bank of Narmada.
The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang came to India in his period. He spent about 8yrs in the dominions of Harsha.
In Prayag, Harshavardhana used to celebrate religious festivals at the end of every 5yrs at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati. It is said that this was the beginning of Kumbha fair.
Hiuen-tsang also attained the 6th festivel.
Firstly Harsha was the follower of Shiva but then he adopted Mahayan Buddhism.
Banbhatta was the poet of the Harsha’s court.
He wrote Harshacharit and Kadamvari.
Priyadarshika, Ratnavali and Nagananda three Sanskrit dramas were written by Harshavardhana. But it is assumed that those were written by Dhavak.