Gupta Period Literature
The Gupta period is called the golden period of ancient times on the basis of its literature. The literature is written in Sanskrit language and is of very high quality.
The work of writing the Vedas started before the Gupta period and the Vedas were written till the 11th–12th century.
The Puranas were finally written in the Gupta Period and the work of writing the Puranas was done by Ugrasava, son of Lomaharsha.
Narada and Brihaspati Smriti are written on the subject of law and Katyayan Smriti is written on economic subjects.
Ramayana and Mahabharata were finally completed in the Gupta period.
Vishnu Sharma’s Panchatantra was the last book written in the Gupta Period and is the most translated book in foreign languages ​​after the Bible.
Magha, Shriharsha, and Bharavi are collectively known as the authors of the three great epics, and their books, namely Shishupalavadha, Naishadhi Charitam, and Kiratajuniyam are included in the Vrihattrayi books.
The Gupta period dramas have a happy ending but Mrichchhakatikam (The Mud Cart) written by Shudraka is a tragic composition. It mentions the story of a Sarthvaha (merchant) named Charudatta and his lover Vasantasena. Apart from that, it also mentions corruption in the judicial system and administration of the Gupta period.
In Mrichchhakattikam, women of all four age groups speak the Prakrit language and the rest of the characters speak the Sanskrit language. This is the first book written by a common Indian.
The works are heroine-oriented, but Visakhadatta’s Mudrarakshas is to be kept without a heroine.
Kalidas was the most prominent writer of the Gupta period. Kalidas was a resident of Ujjain and a worshipper of Shiva.
Two epics
- Raghuvamsam: It contains biographies of the kings of the Ishwaku dynasty.
- Uparsambhava: It contains the incident of the birth of Shiva’s son Kartikeya.
Two volumes of poetry –
- Meghdoot: It was composed by Kalidas in the court of Pravarsen, the ruler of Vakataka Vanga. In this, a Yaksha is describing his separation from the cloud.
- Ritusanhar: This is the first book written by Kalikas. It describes the 6 seasons ranging from summer to spring.
Three plays –
- Malavika Agnimishram: It tells the story of Agnimitra, the ruler of the Shunga dynasty and a princess named Malavika.
- Vikramivaziyam: It tells the story of a king named Pururava and an apsara named Urvashi.
- Abhijnanashakuntalam: This is the story of a ruler named Dushyant and the adopted daughter of sage Kanva, Shakuntala. This is considered to be the best work of Kalidas.
Chandragupta-2 sent Kalidasa to the court of Kutla ruler Kakuttavarman where Kalidasa wrote a book called Kuntaleshwardautayam but this too has not been found till date. Its mention is found in Semendra’s book Brihatkathamanjari and Auchityavichar Charcha.
Bharavi has written the book Kiratajunniyam. Its story is taken from Mahabharata when Arjun was learning archery, he became proud. To break his pride, Shiva took the form of Kirat (tribal) and in the competition between the two, Shiva won and Arjun’s pride was broken.
Visakhadatta has mentioned the policies of Chanakya in Sudrarakshas and how Chanakya made Chandragupta Morcha the ruler of Magadha. Visakhadatta has written the story of Samasupta-2 and Dhruvgupta Devi in ​​his book Devichandraguptam.
- Vatsabhatti – Rawatbhatt (Book)
- Amarasimha – Amarakosha (Linganushasan) – Amarakosha is considered to be the encyclopedia of Sanskrit grammar.
- Vagbhata – Ashtagahridaya (Book)
- Shalihotra – Asceticism
- Polakopya – Hastaryu Veda / Pilupshastra
- Vatsyayana – Kama Sutra
- Kshemendra – Vrihadkathamanjari
- Right – Dashkumar Charit – Kavyadarsh ​​and Avantisundari
- Somdev – Kathasaritsagar
Varahamihir was the main astronomer of the Gupta period. He has written books like Brihad Jatak, Laghu Jatak, and Panch Siddhantika. Brihad Samhita has been copied from Mahakosh of the Gupta period. Varahamihir was the first to say that the moon revolves around the earth. Varahamihir was the first to explain the square root and cube root.
Aryabhatta, a resident of Kusumdhwajpur (Pataliputra), was a famous mathematician and astronomer. He wrote a book called Aryabhattiyam which has 4 parts – Gol, Ganit, Kalkriya, and Dagitika. Aryabhatta was the person who gave the measurement of the circumference of the earth, the formula for the area of ​​a triangle, the value of π, the explanation of solar eclipse and lunar eclipse, and told that the earth revolves around the sun.
Brahmagupta, a resident of Bhinmal (Jalore), wrote books named Khandkhadak and Brahmasputasiddhanta. It is written in Brahmasputasiddhanta that the earth attracts all objects towards itself due to a special force.
Dhanvantari was a famous physician of the Gupta period. He wrote books called Nighantu and Navaneetkam.
- Shanku – Bhuvanabhudhyam
- Kshapanaka – begging
- Ghatakarpar – Ghatakarparkaavyam
- Barruvi – Sharanadhar Samhita
- Vetalbhatt – Vetalpanchavishanti
Gupta period architecture
Temple
In Indian history, the first idols of gods and goddesses were made in the Harappan civilization. In the Maurya period, idols of Yakshas and Yakshinis were made and sold. In the Kushan period, life-size idols of Mahatma Buddha began to be made.
During the Gupta period, idols of gods and goddesses were made and installed in temples.
Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) started being built in temples and the Pradakshina path started being built around the sanctum sanctorum. A semi-circular roof started being built above the sanctum sanctorum which is called Mandap. Shikhara (spire) started being built in temples. Ganga River started being made in the form of Makkar and Yamuna River in the form of Kurma (tortoise) statues. Temples started being built in the Panchayatan style. Most of the temples of the Gupta period are built of stones because they are located in the Malwa region.
Major Temples
- Vishnu Temple of Sanchi – It is the first Gupta-period temple.
- Tigwa (mp) – Vishnu Temple – Has a statue of Narasimha incarnation of Vishnu.
- Eran (MP)- Vishnu temple has the idol of Nrivarha.
- Nachna Kuthar (MP) – Parvati Temple – It is built in such a way that it is built on a well-made plinth. It depicts Shiva and Parvati with musical instruments.
The relief depiction of the story of Ramayana was first done on the walls of this temple. - Gumra (MP) – Shiva Temple – It depicts Shiva wearing a jeweled crown.
- Devgarh (UP) – Dashavatrat Temple – The ancient name of Devgarh was Lalitpur. This was the first temple in which a shikhara was built. It is the first temple built in the Panchayatan style.
Vishnu is shown reclining on the bed of Sheshnag and Lakshmi, giving birth to a son, is shown at his feet. - Bhitar Gaon (Kanpur – UP) – Vishnu Mandir – This is the first temple built with bricks. This temple has been built on a platform. The first Mehravaya or Toran gate was built in Isiandir.
This temple has idols of Durga, Ganesha, and Vishnu. - Sirpur – Laxman Temple – (Chhattisgarh) – This is also a temple made of bricks.
Cave Temple
In Udayagiri (MP), Chandragupta-2’s treaty vigrahak Virsen had constructed cave temples. Among these temples, the temples of Mahishasura, Mardini, and Nrivarha are prominent.
The statue of Nrivaraha is holding the earth in his palm.
Udayagiri is called the Queen of caves.