Pride of Governance - Gupta Empira

Gupta Empire

320 to 550 CE

The Gupta Empire was founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. It was a very peaceful and prosperous regime and scientific and artistic pursuits flourished during this time. Infact, this period is called the Golden Age of India, marked by extensive inventions and discoveries in science, technology, engineering, art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy which culminated into the Hindu culture. Political administration also gained new heights and so did trade ties which made the region an important cultural centre for nearby kingdoms like Burma, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Most notable rulers: Chandra Gupta I, Samudra Gupta, and Chandra Gupta II

Eminent Scholars during this period: Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Vishnu Sharma and Vatsyayana.

Decline: The Empire declined due to substantial loss of territory and imperial authority caused by their own erstwhile feudatories and the invasion by the Huna peoples from Central Asia.

Srigupta: c. 240–280 CE

Ghatotkacha: He was the son of Srigupta and ruled from c. 280–319 CE

Maharajidhiraja Chandragupta I:  Ghaotkacha’s son Chadragupta reined from c. 319–335 CE). He was married to Kumaradevi, a Lichchhavi princess—the main power in Magadha. With a dowry of the kingdom of Magadha (capital Pataliputra) and an alliance with the Lichchhavis, Chandragupta conquered much of Magadha, Prayaga and Saketa. His realm stretched from the Ganges River to Prayaga (modern-day Allahabad) by 321 CE. He was also known as Maharajadhiraja.

Samudragupta: Samudragupta succeeded his father Chandragupta in 335 CE, and ruled for about 45 years. He died in 380, by then, he had incorporated over twenty kingdoms into his realm and his rule extended from the Himalayas to the river Narmada and from the Brahmaputra to the Yamuna. He gave himself the titles King of Kings and World Monarch.

Besides, being a talented military leader, he was a great patron of art and literature and was a poet and musician himself. The important scholars present in his court were Harishena, Vasubandhu and Asanga. He firmly believed in Hinduism and is known to have worshipped Lord Vishnu. But, he was equally considerate of other religions and permitted Sri Lanka's Buddhist king Sirimeghvanna to build  Mahabodhi Sangharama, a monastery at Bodh Gaya. Samudragupta provided a gold railing around the Bodhi Tree.

Ramagupta: He was the elder son of Samudragupta but was ousted by his younger brother Chandragupta II.

Chandragupta II "Vikramaditya”: He ruled from 380-413 CE. He established a second capital at Ujjain and was the high point of the empire.

 Hindu art, literature, culture and science, flourished during the rule of Chandra Gupta II.  Important works of Hindu art during this period include panels at the Dashavatara Temple in Deogarh. His court was graced by the Navaratna (Nine Jewels), a group of nine who excelled in the literary arts, which included legendary Kalidasa.

Kumaragupta I: He assumed the title of  Mahendraditya. He ruled until 455.

Skandagupta & Sidhartha Gupta: Skandagupta, son and successor of Kumaragupta I is generally considered to be the last of the great Gupta rulers. He assumed the titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya.

Decline of the empire: Skandagupta was followed by weak rulers. The empire disintegrated under the attacks of Toramana and his successor Mihirakula.

Administration under the Gupta Empire: There was a hierarchy of administrative divisions. The empire was called by various names such as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, Prithvi and Avani. It was divided into 26 provinces, which were styled as Bhukti, Pradesha and Bhoga. Provinces were further divided into Vishayas and controlled by Vishayapatis. A Vishayapati administered the Vishaya with the help of the Adhikarana (council of representatives), which comprised four representatives: Nagarasreshesthi, Sarthavaha, Prathamakulika and Prathama Kayastha. A part of the Vishaya was called Vithi

Timeline

320 : Chandragupta I founded the Gupta Empire and expands his regime

330-376 : Samudragupta expands the empire from the Indus River to the Bay of Bengal, and up into the northern mountains.

376-415 : Chandragupta II makes the empire secure, and encourages trade.

415-450 : Kalidas composes most of his poetry in the reign of Kumargupta (415-455).

450 : Empire begin to collapse under pressure from invading Huns.

554 : The Gupta dynasty ends with the death of the last emperor Shashakgupta.

Pride of Place - Bodhgaya

Visit Bodhgaya...attain nirvana

Located in the Gaya district of Bihar, Bodhgaya   is one of the most sacred places and a Buddhist pilgrimage centre of high significance. It is famous for Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree. It is believed that Lord Buddha meditated under this tree. It is here that the Prince Gautama gained enlightenment and came to be known as Buddha.

People come here to explore Buddhism, its culture and tradition. Various monasteries and temples have been constructed here by international Buddhist communities.

One place...different names

Before Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, this city was known as Uruvela due to the presence of sand. After Lord Buddha's enlightenment, it came to be known as Bodhimanda, Vajrasana, Sambodhi and Mahabodhi.

Places of significance...

Bodhgaya is famous pilgrimage destination. Visitors visit the Mahabodhi Temple, Animesh Lochan Chaitya, Chankramana, etc.

Bodh Gaya: Situated on the bank of river Neranjana, Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment (Bodhimandala, which means a state of having infinite knowledge, and being able to accomplish the Noble and Universal truths.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar (where lord Buddha attained nirvana), Lumbini (where Lord Buddha was born)and Sarnath (where Lord Buddha first taught).    

Mahabodhi Temple:  Mahabodhi Temple attained the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. The complex, located about 110 kilometres from Patna, contains the Mahabodhi Temple with the diamond throne (called the Vajrasana) and the holy Bodhi tree.

Kind Ashoka is believed to be the founder of Mahabodhi Temple, who visited Bodh Gaya 250 years after the Enlightenment of the Buddha. The original temple consisted of an elongated spire crowned by a miniature stupa and a chhatravali on a platform. A double flight of steps led up to the platform and the upper sanctum. The mouldings on the spire contained Buddha images. This temple was however lost with time, but was later restored by Sir Alexander Cunningham in the late 19th century.

Other Buddhist temples:  In the Mahabodhi Temple complex, several Buddhist temples and monasteries have been built by the people of various countries like Bhutan, China, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. Hence, these buildings reflect the architectural style of their respective countries. 

Pride of People - Maharishi Valmiki

Maharishi Valmiki is one of the most celebrated poets in Sanskrit literature, who gave us epic Ramayaṇa. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, meaning First Poet, for inventing sloka (i.e. first verse or epic metre), which set the base and defined the form of Sanskrit poetry.

What’s in a name: Valmiki means one born out of ant hills.

How Valmiki was born: According to Uttara Kanda, Valmiki was a highway robber named Ratnakar, who used to rob people after killing them. One particular day, he tried to rob Narada, who asked him if his family would share his sin of robbery. The robber replied positively, but Narada told him to confirm this with his family, who disagreed to share his sin. Ratnakar was dejected and asked Narada for forgiveness. In turn, Narada taught him the mantra of salvation – Rama – but in the phonetic anagram ‘Mara’ as he was not fit to receive the mantra of salvation due to his wrong deeds. Valmiki chanted the mantra for several years. Ant-hills grew around his body, until a divine voice declared his penance successful and bestowed him the name of Valmiki – one born out of ant-hills.

Valmiki’s Ramayana: The Ramayaṇa, originally written by Valmiki (dated from 500 BC to 100 BC,), consists of 23,000 slokas and 7 Kandas including the Uttara Kanda. It is written in 480,002 words and narrates the story of Lord Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon-king of Lanka, Ravana.

It is also quoted that Sri Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him. He also gave shelter to Sita when Rama abandoned her and her sons Kusa and Lava were born in his shelter. Valmiki taught Ramayaṇa to Kusa and Lava, who later sang the divine story in Ayodhya during the Asvamedha yajna congregation. 

Pride of Knowledge - Nalanda

Nalanda – Historical facts

Nalanda was one of the most acclaimed Buddhist monasteries in ancient Magadha (now Bihar). Located about 95 kilometres southeast of Patna, it was a well-known religious centre of learning from the 5 CE to 1197 CE. The school attracted scholars and students from not just India, but neighbouring countries like Tibet, China, Korea and Central Asia. The centre of learning flourished under the rule of Gupta Empire and later Pala Empire. It is believed that Nalanda was established during Gupta Dynasty. While, a number of monasteries grew up during Pala period, Nalanda was one of the famous ones.

Initially, a small village on a major trade route, Nalanda was situated near Rajagriha (now Rajgir), which was then the capital of Magadha.

Buddhist connection: Lord Buddha is believed to have delivered sermons in a nearby forest Pravarik while one of his chief disciples Shariputra was born and attained nirvana here.

Jain connection: Nalanda also has strong ties with Jain religion. The Jain thirthankara Mahavira spent 14 rainy seasons at Nalanda.

About the school: A residential school, Nalanda is claimed to have accommodated over 10,000 students and 2000 teachers. A nine-storied building was its library where huge number of books were produced and stored. It is believed that the library burned for three months after the invaders set fire to it in 1197 CE – c. 1203 CE during the Muslim invasion in which Bakhtiyar Khilji sacked it and set it to flames.

Architecture: An architectural work of art, Nalanda was built with red bricks. It had a lofty wall, eight separate compounds, ten temples and a multitude of meditation halls and classrooms. It also had lakes and parks.  Its ruins occupy an area of 14 hectares (488 by 244 metres.

Scholars and eminent people associated with Nalanda included:

•           Aryabhata

•           Aryadeva, student of Nagarjuna

•           Atisa

•           Chandrakirti

•           Dharmakirti, logician

•           Dharmapala

•           Dinnaga, founder of Buddhist Logic

•           Jinamitra

•           Nagarjuna, formaliser of the concept of Shunyata

•           Padmasambhava, master of Tantric Buddhism

•           Shantarakshita, founder of the first monastic order in Tibet

•           Shilabhadra, the teacher of Xuanzang

•           Xuanzang, Chinese Buddhist traveller

•           Yijing, Chinese Buddhist traveller

Destruction of Nalanda: It is believed that  in c. 1197 CE, Nalanda was ransacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turk, who wanted to uproot Buddhism.

Nalanda revived: September 1, 2014, saw the commencement of the first academic year of a modern Nalanda University with 15 students, in Rajgir. It has been established in a bid to revive the ancient seat of learning. The university has acquired 455 acres of land for its campus and has been allotted ₹2727 crores by the Indian government. It is also being funded by the governments of China, Singapore

Pride of Governance - The Maurya Empire

The Maurya Empire

(322–185 BCE)

Capital city: Pataliputra (modern Patna).

Founded by:  Chandragupta Maurya, who had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty.

Expanse: The Maurya Empire was one of the world's largest empires in its time, and the largest ever in the Indian subcontinent. In its glorious days, the empire stretched to the north along the natural boundaries of the Himalayas, to the east into Assam, to the west into Balochistan (south west Pakistan and south east Iran) and the Hindu Kush mountains (Afghanistan).

Population: 50-60 million

Important factors under Maurya Empire:

Under Chandragupta Maurya and his successors - internal and external trade, agriculture and economic activities - thrived and expanded across India, owing to a single and efficient system of finance, administration, and security.  There was social harmony, religious transformation, and expansion of the sciences and of knowledge. Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism increased social and religious renewal and reform across his society, while Ashoka's embraced Buddhism (after the Kalinga War) and is said to have been the foundation of the reign of social and political peace and non-violence across all of India. Ashoka also spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, West Asia and Mediterranean Europe.

Important  records: The Arthashastra and the Edicts of Ashoka are the primary sources of written records of Mauryan times. The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath has been made the national emblem of India.

Chandragupta Maurya: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire with help of Chanakya, a Brahmin teacher at Taxila. He defeated the Nanda Empire and started a new era.

Bindusara: Bindusara was the son of the Chandragupta Maurya and his queen Durdhara. During his reign, the empire expanded southwards, as far as what is known as Karnataka. He inherited the empire when he was just 22 years old.. He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost the entire Indian peninsula.

Ashoka the Great: Ashoka was the son of Bindusara. Popularly known as Ashoka the Great, he was one of India’s greatest emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from circa 269 BCE to 232 BCE. His realm stretched from the Hindu Kush mountains in the west to Bengal in the East and covered the entire Indian subcontinent except parts of present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His capital was Pataliputra (in Magadha, present-day Bihar), with provincial capitals at Taxila and Ujjain.

In 260 BCE, Ashoka conquered Kalinga (present day odisha), which none of his ancestors had done. But, that was the changing point in his life. Seeing the mass deaths (100,000-150,000) of the Kalinga War, he went into a phase of remorse and gradually converted to Buddhism, beginning 263 BCE. He dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and was instrumental in establishing many Buddhist monasteries.

Decline: Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker kings. Brihadrata was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty.

Administration under Mauryan Empire:

The Empire was divided into four provinces, the provincial capitals being Tosali (in the east), Ujjain (in the west), Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). The head of the provincial administration was the Kumara (royal prince), who governed the provinces as king's representative. The kumara was assisted by Mahamatyas and council of ministers (Mantriparishad).

Timeline of Mauryan Empire

322 BC : Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire by dethroning the Nanda Dynasty.

317–316 BC : Chandragupta Maurya conquers the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent.

305–303 BC : Chandragupta Maurya gains territory from the Seleucid Empire.

301–269 BC : Reign of Bindusara, Chandragupta's son, who conquers parts of Deccan, southern India.

269–232 BC : The Maurya Empire reaches its pinnacle under the leadership of Ashoka, son of Bindusara.

261 BC : Ashoka conquers the kingdom of Kalinga and later moves towards Buddhism

250 BC : Ashoka builds Buddhist stupas and erects pillars bearing inscriptions.

184 BC :The empire collapses when Brihadnatha, the last emperor, is killed by Pushyamitra Sunga, a Mauryan general and the founder of the Sunga Empire.

Chanakya's CV

Chanakya

c. 370-283 BCE

Place of birth: Pataliputra

Other popular names: Kauṭilya, Vishnugupta

Place of study: Takshila

Occupation: Teacher, philosopher and royal advisor

Best known for: Foundation of the Maurya Empire

Notable works: Indian political treatise Arthashastra; and a collection of aphorisms Chanakya Neeti

He was originally a professor of economics and political science at the ancient Takshashila University. He played an important role in the establishment of the Magadha Empire and the rise of power of the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta Maurya. Chanakya was the chief advisor to both Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.

Chakravartin Ashoka!!!

Ashoka Maurya, popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was one of India’s greatest emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from circa 269 BCE to 232 BCE. His realm stretched from from the Hindu Kush mountains in the west to Bengal in the East and covered the entire Indian subcontinent except parts of present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His capital was Pataliputra (in Magadha, present-day Bihar), with provincial capitals at Taxila and Ujjain.

What’s in a name? Ashoka is referred to as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka." His name "Aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit.

Birth: Ashoka was grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya dynasty. He was born to Bindusara and his wife Subhadrangī. Though he had many siblings – half brothers from other wives of Bindusara, he displayed amazing fighting qualities from an early age and was so given military training. He was fearless and is believed to have killed a lion with just a wooden rod.

Maurya Empire under Ashoka: After Bindusara's death in 273 BCE, there was a war over succession between his sons. Bindusara wanted his son Sushim to succeed him but Ashoka was more popular with his father's ministers, who found Sushim arrogant and disrespectful. Ashoka took over the reins of the Mauryan Empire. He expanded his empire for the next eight years, from the present-day boundaries Assam in the East to Iran in the West; from the Pamir Knot in the north to the peninsula of southern India except for present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala which were ruled by the three ancient Tamil kingdoms.

War of Kalinga: In 260 BCE, Ashoka conquered Kalinga (present day odisha), which none of his ancestors had done. But, that was the changing point in his life. Seeing the mass deaths (100,000-150,000) of the Kalinga War, he went into a phase of remorse and gradually converted to Buddhism, beginning 263 BCE. He dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and was instrumental in establishing many Buddhist monasteries.

 Ashoka’s model of relationship between Buddhism and state: Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of leadership embodied by Ashoka replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated. Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimise his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha. This development ultimately lead to a close association in many Southeast Asian countries between the monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that can still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of Thailand and the traditional role of the Thai king as both a religious and secular leader.

Edicts of Ashoka: The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout modern-day Pakistan and India, and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of one of the most powerful kings of Indian history, offering more information about Ashoka's proselytism, moral precepts, religious precepts, and his notions of social and animal welfare.

Ashoka’s inscriptions: Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka (fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradamanna I and Skandagupta.

Death: After ruling for almost four decades, Ashoka died and it is believed that during his cremation, his body burned for seven days and nights. After his death, the Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years until his empire stretched over almost all of the Indian subcontinent Ashoka Pillar: The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most notable of the relics left by Ashoka. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century BCE. It has a four-lion capital (four lions standing back to back) which was adopted as the emblem of the modern Indian republic. The lion symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. Other important monuments: Ashoka developed viharas (intellectual hubs) such as Nalanda and Taxila, and helped to construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple.

Ashoka as an able administrator: Ashoka's military power was strong, but after his conversion to Buddhism, he maintained friendly relations with three major Tamil kingdoms in the South namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, the post Alexandrian empire, Tamraparni, and Suvarnabhumi. His edicts state that he made provisions for medical treatment of humans and animals in his own kingdom as well as in these neighbouring states. He also had wells dug and trees planted along the roads for the benefit of the common people. Ashoka banned the slaughter and eating of the common cattle, and also imposed restrictions on fishing and fish-eating. He also abolished the royal hunting of animals and restricted the slaying of animals for food in the royal residence.

Ashoka Chakra: The Ashoka Chakra, "the wheel of Righteousness" (Dharma in Sanskrit or Dhamma in Pali)" has 24 spokes which represent the 12 Laws of Dependent Origination and the 12 Laws of Dependent Termination. The Ashoka Chakra has been widely inscribed on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka Pillar. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the National flag of the Republic of India (adopted on 22 July 1947), where it is rendered in a Navy-blue colour on a white background, by replacing the symbol of Charkha (Spinning wheel) of the pre-independence versions of the flag. The Ashoka Chakra can also been seen on the base of Lion Capital of Ashoka which has been adopted as the National Emblem of India.