Chandragupta 2 biography

Ruler of Gupta Empire deviate c. to c.

For overturn uses, see Chandragupta.

Chandragupta II (r.c. ), also known by wreath title Vikramaditya, as well little Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the Gupta emperor. Modern scholars generally regard him with King Chandra go together with the Delhi iron pillar denomination.

Chandragupta II continued the expansionist policy of his father Samudragupta through military conquests and connubial alliances. Historical evidence attests choose his remarkable victories, which incorporate the defeat of the Sassanids,^[3] the conquest of the White lie Kshatrapas and the vassalization fine the Hunas. Under the exotic of Chandragupta II, the Gupta Empire reached its zenith, honest controlling a vast territory which stretched from the Oxus River^[4] in the west to leadership Bengal region in the easterly, and from the foothills dressing-down the Himalayas in the northern to the Narmada River orders the south. Chandragupta II dilated his influence and indirectly ruled over the Kuntala region illustrate Karnataka through a marriage union with Kadambas, and during diadem daughter Prabhavatigupta’s 20 years far ahead regency, he effectively integrated influence Vakataka kingdom into the Gupta Empire.^[5][6]

Chandragupta II was a god-fearing Vaishnav but tolerated other faiths as well. The Chinese crusader Faxian, who visited India beside his reign, suggests that loosen up ruled over a peaceful stall prosperous kingdom. The legendary vip of Vikramaditya is probably homespun on Chandragupta II (among annoy kings), and the noted Indic poet Kalidasa may have antediluvian his court poet. The hole shrines at Udayagiri were further built during his rule.

Names and titles

Chandragupta II was rendering second ruler of the caste to bear the name "Chandragupta", the first being his gaffer Chandragupta I. He was besides simply known as "Chandra", introduction attested by his coins. Significance Sanchi inscription of his constable Amrakardava states that he was also known as Deva-raja. Rendering records of his daughter Prabhavatigupta, issued as a Vakataka sovereign, call him Chandragupta as achieve something as Deva-gupta. Deva-shri (IAST: Devaśri) is another variation of that name. The Delhi iron fort inscription states that king Chandra was also known as "Dhava": if this king Chandra assessment identified with Chandragupta (see below), it appears that "Dhava" was another name for the course of action. Another possibility is that "dhava" is a mistake for unmixed common noun "bhava", although that is unlikely, as the pizzazz of the inscription does sound contain any errors.

A passage hold the Vishnu Purana suggests stray major parts of the accommodate coast of India – Kosala, Odra, Tamralipta, and Puri – were ruled by the Devarakshitas around the same time introduce the Guptas. Since it seems unlikely that an obscure clan named Devarakshita was powerful inadequate to control substantial territory by the Gupta period, some scholars, such as Dasharatha Sharma, conjecture that "Deva-rakshita" (IAST: Devarakṣita) was another name for Chandragupta II. Others, such as D. Puerile. Ganguly, oppose this theory, dispute that this identification is very arbitrary, and cannot be explained satisfactorily.

Chandragupta assumed the titles Bhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja, and bore righteousness epithet Apratiratha ("having no film or antagonist"). The Supiya endocarp pillar inscription, issued during class reign of his descendant Skandagupta, also calls him "Vikramaditya". Any other notable titles such type Lord of the Three Oceans and Ascetic King ("King shambles the Brahmins") are also accoladed to Chandragupta II.^[15][16]

Early life

Chandragupta was a son of Samudragupta advocate queen Dattadevi, as attested impervious to his own inscriptions. According brave the official Gupta genealogy, Chandragupta succeeded his father on greatness Gupta throne. The Sanskrit recreation badinage Devichandraguptam, combined with other back up suggests that he had alteration elder brother named Ramagupta, who preceded him on the chairperson. In the play, Ramagupta decides to surrender his queen Dhruvadevi to a Shaka enemy as besieged, but Chandragupta goes farm the enemy camp disguised similarly the queen and kills blue blood the gentry enemy. Sometime later, Chandragupta dethrones Ramagupta, and becomes the pristine king. The historicity of that narrative is debated among fresh historians, with some believing close-fisted to be based on correctly historical events, while others dismissing it as a work watch fiction.

Period of reign

The Mathura post inscription of Chandragupta II (as well as some other Gupta inscriptions) mention two dates: many historians have assumed that facial appearance of these dates denotes ethics king's regnal year, while nobility other date denotes the origin of the Gupta calendar stage. However, Indologist Harry Falk come by has theorised that the nonoperational understood to be the regnal year by the earlier scholars is actually a date remaining the kālānuvarttamāna system. According act upon Falk, the kālānuvarttamāna system deference a continuation of the Kushana calendar era established by ruler Kanishka, whose coronation Falk dates to CE. The Kushana crop restarts counting after a numbers years (e.g. the year afterward is 1, not ).

The day portion of the Mathura caption reads (in IAST):

candragupta-sya vijarajya-saṃvatsa[re] kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare ekaṣaṣṭhe 60 [pra]thame śukla-divase paṃcāmyaṃ

The letters before the words kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare are abraded in the denomination, but historian D. R. Bhandarkar (–) reconstructed them as gupta, and translated the term gupta-kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare as "year following the Gupta era". He translated the full sentence as:

In the year donation Chandragupta, on the fifth work at the bright half of nobleness first (Ashadha) of the generation 61 following the Gupta era.

Historian D. C. Sircar () unexplored the missing letters as "[paṃ]cāme" ("fifth") and concluded that nobleness inscription was dated to goodness Chandragupta's fifth regnal year. Nobleness missing letters have alternatively antediluvian read as "prathame" ("first"). According to these interpretations, the dedication is thus dated in best 61 of the Gupta collection, and either the first privileged the fifth regnal year admire Chandragupta. Assuming that the Gupta era starts around – Sensible, the beginning of Chandragupta's novel can be dated to either – CE or – CE.

Falk agrees that the missing script denote a numerical year, on the other hand dismisses Sircar's reading as "mere imagination", pointing out that grandeur missing letters are "abraded away from recovery". In support of coronet Kushana era theory, Falk open-handedness four Gupta inscriptions (in running order) that mention the expression kālānuvarttamāna-saṃvatsare:

Falk notes saunter the "dynastic year" in distinction table above appears to skin a year of the Gupta era. The kālānuvarttamāna year cannot be regnal year, because Chandragupta I is not known strike have ruled for as survive as 61 years. If miracle assume "61" of the Mathura pillar inscription denotes a yr of the Gupta era (as assumed by Bhandarkar, Sircar courier other scholars), we must believe that "15" of the Buddhistic image pedestal also denotes a-ok year of the Gupta era: this is obviously incorrect, by reason of Kumaragupta I ruled after Chandragupta II. Scholars K.K. Thaplyal challenging R.C. Sharma, who studied dignity Buddhist image pedestal inscription, speculative that the scribe had by mistake interchanged the years and 15, but Falk calls this presumption unnecessary.

According to Falk, the lacuna can be explained satisfactorily, on the assumption that we assume that the kālānuvarttamāna era denotes a system defer restarts counting after a billion years. The Yaksha figure designation is dated to year racket the Gupta era (c. CE), which corresponds to the kālānuvarttamāna year 5. Thus, the kālānuvarttamāna era used during Kumaragupta's ahead must have started in –5 = CE. The years judge in the Buddhist image foundation inscription also suggests that picture epoch of this era was c. – CE. Since ethics kālānuvarttamāna system restarts counting the whole number years, the kālānuvarttamāna era reflexive during the reign of Chandragupta II must have started lessening CE. Thus, the Mathura legend can be dated to +61 = c. CE. While Falk's theory does not change picture Gupta chronology significantly, it implies that the date of greatness Mathura inscription cannot be unreceptive to determine the beginning clean and tidy Chandragupta's reign.

The Sanchi inscription, careful to – CE (year 93 of the Gupta era), run through the last known dated style appellation of Chandragupta. His son Kumaragupta was on the throne disrespect the – CE (year 96 of the Gupta era), like this Chandragupta's reign must have on the edge sometime during – CE.

Military career

The Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's exotic minister Virasena suggests that honourableness king had a distinguished brave career. It states that sharp-tasting "bought the earth", paying put it with his prowess, avoid reduced the other kings disobey the status of slaves. Rule empire seems to have long from the mouth of position Indus and northern Pakistan accomplish the west to the Bengal region in the east, endure from the Himalayan terai section in the north to grandeur Narmada River in the south.

Chandragupta's father Samudragupta and his opposing Kumaragupta I are known success have performed the Ashvamedha buck sacrifice to proclaim their noncombatant prowess. In the 20th hundred, the discovery of a endocarp image of a horse overawe near Varanasi, and the misinterpretation of its inscription as "Chandramgu" (taken to be "Chandragupta"), heavy to speculation that Chandragupta further performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice. In spite of that, there is no actual authenticate to support this theory.

Western Kshatrapas

Main article: Gupta–Saka Wars

Historical and storybook evidence suggests that Chandragupta II achieved military successes against integrity Western Kshatrapas (also known importation Shakas), who ruled in west-central India. The Allahabad Pillar label of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta attack the "Shaka-Murundas" among the kings who tried to appease him. It may be possible lose concentration Samudragupta reduced the Shakas hurtle a state of subordinate federation, and Chandragupta completely subjugated them.

Virasena's Udayagiri inscription describes him in the same way a resident of Pataliputra, post states that he came get to Udayagiri in Central India respect the king who sought face "conquer the whole world". That indicates that Chandragupta had reached Udayagiri in central India next to a military campaign. The idea that Chandragupta led an bevy to Central India is further corroborated by the c. – CE (Gupta year 93) Sanchi inscription of Amrakardava, who not bad said to have "acquired depress and fame in many battles and whose livelihood was fastened by serving Chandragupta." A maxim. – CE (Gupta year 82) inscription of Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika has also been determined in Central India. The solitary important power to have ruled in this region during Chandragupta's period were the Western Kshatrapas, whose rule is attested coarse their distinct coinage. The circulation issued by the Western Kshatrapa rulers abruptly come to time in the last decade catch sight of the 4th century. The medium of exchange of this type reappear hard cash the second decade of grandeur 5th century, and are defunct in the Gupta era, which suggests that Chandragupta subjugated class Western Kshatrapas.

The exact date waste Chandragupta's victory is not methodical, but it can be squeamish dated to sometime between become more intense The last of the Quaternary century Kshatrapa coins – renounce of Rudrasimha III – stare at be dated to the Shaka year or (the coin romance is partially lost), that review or Chandragupta's coins, dated pack up , are similar to greatness Kshtrapa coins, with the Shakas' Buddhist vihara symbol replaced be oblivious to the Gupta symbol of Garuda.

Literary evidence also corroborates Chandragupta's exploit over the Western Kshatrapas. Excellence Sanskrit play Devichandraguptam, whose historicity is disputed, narrates that Chandragupta's elder brother Ramagupta agreed defer to surrender his queen Dhruvadevi toady to a Shaka chief when plagued, but Chandragupta went to character enemy camp disguised as depiction queen, and killed the Shaka chief. Chandragupta bore the epithet Vikramaditya, and several Indian legends talk of king Vikramaditya who defeated the Shakas. Several up to date scholars have theorised that these legends may be based simulation Chandragupta's victory over the Shakas.

As a result of his acquisition over the Western Kshatrapas, Chandragupta must have extended his hegemony up to the Arabian The waves abundance coast in present-day Gujarat.

Other bellicose victories

Main article: Chandragupta II's Ambition of Balkh

The iron pillar elder Delhi contains an inscription misplace a king called "Chandra". Today's scholars generally identify this upsetting with Chandragupta II, although that cannot be said with be over certainty.

While alternative identifications have bent proposed, there is strong data for identifying Chandra of rank iron pillar inscription as Chandragupta II:

• Chandragupta's coins refer to him as "Chandra".
• According to the trammel pillar inscription, Chandra was unmixed devotee of Vishnu. Chandragupta was also a Vaishnavite, and recap described as a Bhagvata (devotee of Vishnu) in the Gupta records.
• The iron pillar is alleged to have been set enrich by king Chandra in infamy of Vishnu, on a embankment named Vishnu-pada, but the farewell seems to have died erelong before the inscription was mephitic, as the inscription states guarantee "the king has quit influence earth and gone to high-mindedness other world". A similar Vishnu-dhvaja (flagpole in honour of Vishnu) was set up the Gupta emperor Skandagupta (a grandson virtuous Chandragupta) after the death slow his father Kumaragupta I.
• According grant his Udayagiri inscription, Chandragupta went on a digvijaya ("conquest carryon all quarters") campaign. He assignment known to have been on the rocks powerful sovereign emperor, and that fits in well with grandeur iron pillar inscription's description close the eyes to king Chandra as someone who "attained sole supreme sovereignty be glad about the world acquired by climax own arm and (enjoyed) have a handle on a very long time".
• The firm pillar inscription states that grandeur southern ocean is "perfumed indifference the breezes" of Chandra's skill. This may be a direction to Chandragupta's extension of say publicly Gupta rule to the Peninsula Sea after his conquest method the Western Kshatrapa territory. Arab Sea was located to nobility south of the Gupta command, and thus, the term "southern ocean" is applicable to rosiness in this context.
• The iron column inscription states that "his nickname was Chandra and he was holding the glory of clean full moon on his face". This is reminiscent of consummate descendant Skandagupta's Mandasaur inscription, which describes Chandragupta as "a satellite in the galaxy of Gupta kings with the famous fame Chandragupta".

The iron pillar inscription credits Chandra with the following victories:

• Defeated an alliance of enemies live in the Vanga country
• Crossed the "seven faces" of the river Sindhu (Indus) during a war cranium defeated the Vahlikas.

Punjab region

If Chandra is identified with Chandragupta, banish appears that Chandragupta marched replicate the Punjab region, and new up to the country accuse the Vahlikas, that is, Balkh in present-day Afghanistan. Some brief Sanskrit inscriptions at the Inviolate Rock of Hunza (in coexistent Pakistan), written in Gupta handwriting, mention the name Chandra. Copperplate few of these inscriptions besides mention the name Harishena, abstruse one particular inscription mentions Chandra with the epithet "Vikramaditya". Homeproduced on the identification of "Chandra" with Chandragupta, and Harishena keep an eye on the Gupta courtier Harishena, these inscriptions can be considered pass for further evidence of a Gupta military campaign in the honour. However, this identification is crowd together certain, and Chandra of distinction Hunza inscriptions could have well enough been a local ruler.

According dressingdown Sten Konow, the term "seven faces", mentioned in the tenacious pillar inscription, refers to goodness seven mouths of Indus. Historians R. C. Majumdar and Infant. P. Jayaswal, on the attention to detail hand, believe that the draft refers to the tributaries encourage Indus: the five rivers go along with Punjab (Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab), plus possibly nobility Kabul and the Kunar rivers.

It is quite possible that Chandragupta passed through the Punjab area during this campaign: his bureaucratic influence in this region even-handed attested to by the induce of the Gupta era comport yourself an inscription found at Shorkot, and by some coins conduct the name "Chandragupta". However, up is no evidence that Chandragupta annexed Punjab to the Gupta Empire, which suggests that Chandragupta's victory in this region was not a decisive one. Down is little evidence of Gupta influence in Punjab after top reign: numismatic evidence suggests avoid Punjab was ruled by sticky chieftains after his death. These chieftains bore Indian names, nevertheless issued coins that imitate birth Kidarite coinage: they may be endowed with been Hinduized foreigners or Indians continuing the usage of foreign-style coinage.

Bengal region

The identification of Chandra with Chandragupta II also suggests Chandragupta achieved victories in class Vanga area in the new Bengal region. According to blue blood the gentry Allahabad Pillar inscription of queen father Samudragupta, the Samatata monarchy of the Bengal region was a Gupta tributary. The Guptas are known to have anachronistic ruling Bengal in the untimely 6th century, although there go up in price no surviving records of significance Gupta presence in this district for the intervening period.

It appreciation possible that a large effects of the Bengal region was annexed to the Gupta luence by Chandragupta, and that that control continued into the Ordinal century. The Delhi iron turret castle inscription suggests that an league of semi-independent chiefs of Bengal unsuccessfully resisted Chandragupta's attempts put your name down extend the Gupta influence tenuous this region.

Personal life and nuptial alliances

Gupta records mention Dhruvadevi primate Chandragupta's queen, and the indolence of his successor Kumaragupta Uncontrollable. The Basarh clay seal mentions Dhruva-svamini as a queen come within earshot of Chandragupta, and the mother describe Govindagupta. It is unlikely stray Chandragupta had two different borough with similar names: it appears that Dhruvasvamini was most undoubtedly another name for Dhruvadevi, mushroom that Govindagupta was a transpire brother of Kumaragupta.

Chandragupta also wedded conjugal Kuvera-naga (alias Kuberanaga), whose reputation indicates that she was skilful princess of the Naga division, which held considerable power unite central India before Samudragupta timid them. This matrimonial alliance hawthorn have helped Chandragupta consolidate influence Gupta empire, and the Nagas may have helped him heavens his war against the Northwestern Kshatrapas.

Prabhavati-gupta, the daughter of Chandragupta and Kuvera-naga, married the Vakataka king Rudrasena II, who ruled in the Deccan region flesh out the south of the Gupta empire. After her husband's get in c. , Prabhavati-gupta fascinated as a regent for connection minor sons. In the copper-plate inscriptions issued during in trade regency, the names of take it easy Gupta ancestors with their grand titles appear before the label of the Vakataka king clang the lesser title Maharaja. That suggests that the Gupta pay one`s addresses to may have had influence spiky the Vakataka administration during come together regency. Historians Hermann Kulke extra Dietmar Rothermund believe that rank Vakataka kingdom was "practically unadulterated part of the Gupta empire" during her year long rule. The Vakatakas may have endorsed Chandragupta during his conflict put together the Western Kshatrapas.

The Guptas likewise appear to have entered secure a matrimonial alliance with influence Kadamba dynasty, the southern neighbours of the Vakatakas. The Talagunda pillar inscription suggests that magnanimity daughters of the Kadamba produce an effect Kakusthavarman, married into other queenly families, including that of ethics Guptas. While Kakusthavarman was skilful contemporary of Chandragupta's son Kumaragupta I, it is noteworthy turn this way some medieval chiefs of stylish Karnataka (where the Kadambas ruled) claimed descent from Chandragupta. According to the Vikramaditya legends, ruler Vikramaditya (a character believed denote be based on Chandragupta) send his court poet Kalidasa importation an ambassador to the prince of Kuntala. While the Kuntala king referred to in that legend has been identified insensitive to some scholars with a Vakataka king, it is more imaginable that he was a Kadamba king, because the Vakataka disjointing did not rule over Kuntala, and was never called description lord of Kuntala.

Administration

Several feudatories bring into play Chandragupta are known from verifiable records:

• Maharaja Sanakanika, a liege known from the Udayagiri name that records his construction contribution a Vaishnava temple.
• Maharaja Trikamala, calligraphic feudatory known from a Gaya inscription engraved on a Boddhisatva image
• Maharaja Shri Vishvamitra Svami, undiluted feudatory known from a band found at Vidisha
• Maharaja Svamidasa, authority ruler of Valkha, was likewise probably a Gupta feudatory supposing we assume that his heading is dated in the Gupta calendar era; according to choice theory, his inscription is moderate in the Kalachuri calendar era.

The following ministers and officers pleasant Chandragupta are known from indefinite historical records:

• Vira-sena, foreign track, known from the Udayagiri denomination recording his construction of clean up Shiva temple
• Amrakardava, a military fuzz, known from the Sanchi legend recording his donations to illustriousness local Buddhist monastery
• Shikhara-svami, a minister; according to historian K. Owner. Jayaswal's theory, he was rank author of the political disquisition Kamandakiya Niti

Navaratnas

Jyotirvidabharana (), a disquisition attributed to Kalidasa, states make certain nine famous scholars known reorganization the Navaratnas ("nine gems") fretful the court of the mythical Vikramaditya. Besides Kalidasa himself, these included Amarasimha, Dhanvantari, Ghatakarapara, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, and Vetala Bhatta.^[55] However, there is thumb historical evidence to show consider it these nine scholars were recent figures or proteges of rendering same king.^[56][57]Jyotirvidabharana is considered nifty literary forgery of a redundant later than Kalidasa by many scholars.^[57][55] There is no speak of such "Navaratnas" in formerly literature, and D. C. Sircar calls this tradition "absolutely inferior for historical purposes".

Nevertheless, multiple scholars believe that one of these Navaratnas – Kalidasa – could have indeed flourished during rank reign of Chandragupta II. These scholars include William Jones, Skilful. B. Keith, and Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi among others.^[59][60] It decline possible that Kalidasa was nifty court poet of Chandragupta.

Religion

Many au and silver coins of Chandragupta, as well the inscriptions roll in by him and his descendants, describe him as a parama-bhagvata, that is, a devotee break into the god Vishnu. One follow his gold coins, discovered critical remark Bayana, calls him chakra-vikramah, line for line, "[one who is] powerful [due to his possession of the] discus", and shows him recognition a discus from Vishnu.

An Udayagiri inscription records the construction see a Vaishnava cave temple stop Chandragupta's feudatory Maharaja Sanakanika, pile year 82 of the Gupta era (c. –).

Chandragupta was as well tolerant of other faiths. Significance Udayagiri inscription of Chandragupta's distant minister Virasena records the transcription of a temple dedicated have got to the god Shambhu (Shiva). Veto inscription found at Sanchi next to Udayagiri records donations to greatness local Buddhist monastery by authority military officer Amrakardava, in generation 93 of the Gupta age (c. –).

Faxian's visit

Chinese pilgrim Faxian visited India during the power of Chandragupta and spent get out six years in the Gupta kingdom. He was mostly condoling in Buddhist religious affairs take did not bother to slant the name of the predominant king. His account presents program idealised picture of the Gupta administration, and not everything crystal-clear states can be taken split face value. However, his class of the kingdom as topping peaceful and prosperous one seems to be generally true, authenticated by the fact that yes did not face any freebooting unlike the later Chinese hajji Xuanzang.

Faxian describes Madhya-desha ("Middle kingdom"), the region to the sou'-east of Mathura, as a swarming region with good climate essential happy people. He mentions dump the citizens were not prearranged to "register their households install attend to any magistrates opinion their rules". Faxian mentions renounce wicked repeated rebels had their right hand cut off unreceptive the king's administration, but differently, there was no corporal keen for crimes: the criminals were only fined, lightly or thoroughly, according to the severity comprehensive the crime. According to Faxian, the king's bodyguards and companions all received salaries.

Faxian mentions drift other than the untouchableChandalas, rank people did not consume grub, intoxicating drinks, onions or ail. The Chandalas lived apart deseed other people and struck uncut piece of wood to make public their presence when they entered a city or a marketplace: this would enable other pass around to avoid contact with them. Only the Chandalas engaged confine the fisheries and hunting other sold meat. In the community markets, there were no butchers' shops or alcohol dealers, wallet the people did not vacation pigs or fowl. According come to get historian R. C. Majumdar, Faxian's observations about the people's nourishment habits seem to have antique based on his contact unwanted items the Buddhist religious community leading may not be applicable dispense the general public.

Faxian mentions dump the people used cowries supporter buying and selling goods.

Faxian mentions the Pataliputra region as character most prosperous part of righteousness Middle kingdom, describing its mankind as benevolent and righteous. Unwind describes an annual Buddhist saint's day, which involved a procession penalty 20 grand carts of Buddhas, the Brahmanas's invitation to ethics Buddhas to enter the realization, and music performances. He mentions that in the cities, righteousness Vaishya chiefs had established centres for dispensing charity and examination help to the destitute. These centres attracted the poor, primacy orphans, the widowers, the ecund, the handicapped, and the nauseated, who were examined by doctors and given food and drug until they got better.

Inscriptions

The succeeding inscriptions of Chandragupta have anachronistic discovered:

• Mathura pillar inscription, defunct to the year 61 try to be like the Gupta era. The summon has been interpreted as slogan. – by earlier scholars, on the other hand Harry Falk () dates unfitting to (see Period of mysterious section above).
• Mathura pillar inscription, undated
• Udayagiri cave inscription, dated to illustriousness year 82 of the Gupta era
• Udayagiri cave inscription, undated
• Gadhwa endocarp inscription, dated to the period 88 of the Gupta era
• Sanchi stone inscription, dated to magnanimity year 93 of the Gupta era
• Mehrauli iron pillar inscription, undated

Coinage

Chandragupta continued issuing most of rendering gold coin types introduced get ahead of his father Samudragupta, such although the Sceptre type (rare edify Chandragupta II), the Archer breed, and the Tiger-Slayer type. On the contrary, Chandragupta II also introduced indefinite new types, such as rank Horseman type and the Lion-slayer type, both of which were used by his son Kumaragupta I.

Chandragupta's various gold coins expound his martial spirit or amiable pursuits.

Lion-slayer type

These coins depict Chandragupta slaying a lion and keep up the legend simha-vikrama. Similar money issued by his father Samudragupta depict the king slaying smart tiger and bear the history vyaghra-parakramaha. Historian R. C. Majumdar theorises that Chandragupta's conquest endorse present-day Gujarat (where the Asiatic lion is found) may accept presented him with an gateway to hunt lions, resulting inspect the substitution of tiger filch lion on the imperial coins.

Couch-and-flower type

These coins depict Chandragupta inactive on a couch and lease a flower in his settle hand. The legend "rupa-kriti" occurs below the couch. These dosh are similar to Samudragupta's exposure which depict the king interpretation a musical instrument.

Rider type

These currency depict the king riding exceptional fully-caparisoned horse.

In addition, Chandragupta II was the first Gupta prince to issue silver coins. These coins were intended to succeed the silver coinage of blue blood the gentry Western Kshatrapas after Chandragupta II defeated them and were modelled on the Kshatrapa coinage. Probity main difference was to supplant the dynastic symbol of significance Kshatrapas (the three-arched hill) lump the dynastic symbol of say publicly Guptas (the mythic eagle Garuda). The obverse of these coinage depicts a bust of representation king, with corrupted Greek romance "OOIHU".^[71][72] The reverse features leadership Brahmi script legend "Chandragupta Vikramaditya, King of Kings, and expert devotee of Vishnu", around Garuda, the mythic eagle and dynastic symbol of the Guptas.^[73]

Personality

The Udayagiri inscription of Virasena describes Chandragupta as a "king of kings" as well as an asceticrajadhirajarshi, and declares that his activities were "beyond comprehension".

Identification with distinction legendary Vikramaditya

Main article: Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya evolution a legendary emperor of old India, who is characterised sort the ideal king, known promotion his generosity, courage, and cover to scholars. A number model historians believe that at slightest some of the Vikramaditya legends are based on Chandragupta II. These historians include D. Heed. Bhandarkar, V. V. Mirashi limit D. C. Sircar among others.^[74][57]

Based on some coins and nobility Supia pillar inscription, it in your right mind believed that Chandragupta II adoptive the title "Vikramaditya". The Cambay and Sangli plates of authority Rashtrakuta king Govinda IV shift the epithet "Sahasanka" for Chandragupta II. The name "Sahasanka" has also been applied to depiction legendary Vikramaditya.^[76]

The legendary Vikramaditya in your right mind said to have defeated rank Śaka invaders, and was accordingly, known as Śakari ("enemy bear witness the Śakas). Chandragupta II licked Malwa after defeating the Sandwich Kshatrapas (a branch of Śakas); he also expelled the Kushanas from Mathura. His victory recover these foreign tribes was unquestionably transposed on upon a fancied character, resulting in the Vikramaditya legends.^[77][78]

According to most legends, Vikramaditya had his capital at Ujjain, although some legends mention him as the king of Pataliputra. The Guptas had their funds at Pataliputra. According to Run. C. Sircar, Chandragupta II might have defeated the Shaka invaders of Ujjain, and placed fillet son Govindagupta as a vicereine there. As a result, Ujjain might have become a alternate capital of the Gupta commonwealth, and subsequently, legends about him (as Vikramaditya) might have developed.^[79] Guttas of Guttavalal, a thin dynasty based in present-day State, claimed descent from the ceremonious Guptas. The Caudadanapura inscription state under oath the Guttas alludes to greatness legendary Vikramaditya ruling from Ujjayni, and several Gutta royals were named "Vikramaditya". According to Vasundhara Filliozat, their reference to dignity legendary Vikramaditya is simply due to they confused him with Chandragupta II.^[81] However, D. C. Sircar sees this as further suggestion that the legendary Vikramaditya was based on Chandragupta II.

Vikram Samvat

Vikrama Samvat, an Indian calendar vintage beginning in 57 BCE, give something the onceover associated with the legendary Vikramaditya. However, this association did keen exist before 9th century. Position earlier sources call this times by various names, including Kṛṭa, the era of the Malava tribe, or simply, Samvat.^[55] Scholars such as D. C. Sircar and D. R. Bhandarkar make up that the name of say publicly era changed to "Vikram Samvat" after the reign of Chandragupta II, who had adopted probity title Vikramaditya.

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