Just when I had finished penning down my articles on Samudragupta, I happened to come across a legend about him. It can be called ‘folklore’ but not actual history. However, in my opinion, folklores play an important role in protecting and preserving historical treasures; in fact, folklores are the branches that emerge out of the […]
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An ideal king, ideal governance, ideal government officials, ideal military system, ideal religious teachers, ideal path of devotion (Bhaktimārga), ideal education system, ideal teachers, ideal trade and ideal citizens, taken together means ‘Ramrajya’. After Ayodhya, the history of Bhārat has witnessed a recurrence of Ramrajya only during the era of Samudragupta, along with Dattadevi and […]
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One of the beautiful cultural streams that gained momentum and strength during Samudragupta’s reign was the Bhaktimārga (path of devotion) that was pioneered by Sage Nārada. Samudragupta himself was extremely pious, a true Shraddhavan and would immerse himself in devotional music. Although he himself was a worshipper of Vishnu, he built temples dedicated to Shiva with […]
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‘Vasantotsava’ had attained the place as a national festival throughout Samudragupta’s empire. People of all sects and languages used to come together and celebrate Vasantotsava. The Vasantotsava festivities used to commence on the day of Māgha Shuddha Panchami, and continue till Phālguna Pournima. It was so because although the months of Chaitra and Vaishākh are […]
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Another significant task that Emperor Samudragupta accomplished during his reign was building highways connecting two major cities at many places throughout the length and breadth of his empire. There is a mention of a total of twenty-four highways constructed during his reign. The highways were wide enough for three elephants to comfortably walk side by […]
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Emperor Samudragupta himself was a great connoisseur and a lover of arts. He was also an expert musician and an accomplished veena player. Playing the veena was his favourite pastime. Samudragupta provided wholehearted support in developing the arts of music, instrumental music and dance. He enriched these arts by establishing ‘Vatsyayāna Mandiram’ at various places. […]
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The Gupta family of the Gupta dynasty, in which Emperor Samudragupta was born, was a follower of the Vedic religion and a devotee of Vishnu. Samudragupta himself was an ardent devotee of Mahāvishnu. He regularly recited Gāyatri Mantra, Vishnu Sahasranāma and Purushasukta as per the vow he had taken for his entire lifetime. Samudragupta and […]
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Emperor Samudragupta was a brave warrior, a master strategist, as well as a superior and adept ruler as well. He returned all kingdoms under the regions he conquered to their respective vassal kings with honour, albeit on one condition that they accept his sovereignty. Samudragupta had deputed an envoy each to the courts of every […]
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Samudragupta was born on the day of Ramnavami in 320 AD. He was the youngest son of Chandragupta (I) and Kumaradevi. According to the social system of that time, the Gupta family belonged to the Vaishya varna. They were known for their business acumen and had fine business sense. Likewise, Samudragupta’s mother, Kumaradevi, was a […]
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The era of Emperor Samudragupta is known as the Golden Age of the known history of Bhārat. Travelogues and inscriptions, written by many foreign travelers from that era, give an idea of the splendor, prosperity and strength of Bhārat during this period. According to some researchers, Samudragupta’s empire covered almost two-thirds of present-day Bhārat, while […]
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