Indian Antiquary Vol 31

SR No.: 032523
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 556
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 263

JUNE, 1902.)
EARLY OR IMPERIAL GUPTA DYNASTY.
259
mentions the fact that the Ceylonese sent the conqueror pregents or tribute. It is unlikely that the king of Ceylon should have been sufficiently in dread of the monarch of Northern India to send him gifts, as related both by the Chinese historian and the Allahabad inscription, until after Samudra Gupta's temporary subjugation of Southern India. King Meghavarna of Ceylon having died in A. D. 882, the mission of Mabânâ man to the Indian court, which involved two voyages, may be approximately dated in A. D. 330. The military operations incident to a victorious march of quite thirteen hundred miles and the subjugation of a multitude of kingdoms, as related in the Allahâbâd inscription, may fairly be assumed to have occupied at least three years, Consequently, the accession of Samudra Gupta cannot be placed later than the year A. D. 327 = G. E. 8, and the possible limits of the reign of his predecessor Chandra Gupta are thus further restricted to the brief space of seven or eight years at the most. This inference is quite in accord with the numismatic evidence, inasmuch as the coinage of Chandra Gupta L. occurs in gold only of a single type, and is so rare that the specimens yet discovered do not exceed a score in number,
The accession of Samudra Gupta, who is represented in the genealogical inscriptions as the immediate successor of Chandra Gupta I., and who is stated in the Allâhâbâd inscription to have been appointed heir to the crown during his father's lifetime, may safely be dated in G. E. 8 or 7, equivalent to A. D. 325 or 826.
But the question is complicated by the existence of a small number of gold coins of a single type, about equal in rarity to those of Chandra Gupta I., and bearing the name of Kachs or Kacha. The difficulty is to find a place for Kacha in the very few years available. The coins of that prince are undoubtedly closely related in weight, fabric, and type both to those of Chandra Gupta I., and to the early issues of Samudra Gupta. One hoard, that of Tanda in Oudh, consisted of twenty-five coins, only two of which belonged to the reign of Chandra Gupta I., the remainder being divided between Kacha and the Aśvamedha and Battle-axe types of Samudra Gupta. Both the types last named seem to be intended to commemorate the emperor's victories and conquests. Their reverses, as well as the reverse of Samudra Gupta's Tiger type, are closely related to the reverse of the Kacha coins. The obverse legend of the last-named coins describes the king as the exterminator of all râjas, who is victorious, having subdued the earth by excellent deeds.' The epithet exterminator of all râjas' (sarvarájóchchettá assumed by Kachs is given in five inscriptions to Samudra Gupta and to no other king. The description of Kacha as the victorious conqueror of the earth is also applicable to Samudra Gupta,10 These facts strongly support the suggestion made both by Dr. Fleet and myself that Kacha and Samudra Gupta are identical, and, notwithstanding the difficulty there is in believing
For an account in detail of the conquests effeated by Samudra Gupta, and for the identifloation of Palakka, see my papers entitled Samudra Gupta (J. R. 4. 8. for 1897, p. 19), and The Conquesta of Samudra Gupta' (ibid. p. 859). My revised date for the accession of Samudn Gupta is strongly supported by the forged GayA oopperplate (No. 60 of Fleet) which parports to have been engraved in his reign in the year 9. The entry of this dato shows that the forger believed Samudra Gupta to have been reigning in that year.
Lines 7 and 8, which are thus translated by Dr. Fleet :-"Who, being looked at (with eney) by the faces, melancholy (through the rejection of themselor), of others of equal birth, while the attendants of the court breathed forth deep sighs (of happines) was bidden by (his) father, - who, exolaiming 'Verily he is worthy,' embraced (him) with the hairs of (his) body standing orest (through pleasure) (and the indicative of (hia) sentiments, and moanned (him) with an eye turning round and round in affection, (and) laden with tears (of joy), and perceptivo of Chia noble) nature, -to govern of a surety) W of Chienoble nature, sto govern of anretyl the whole world." A generation later the seleotion of Chandra Gupta II, by his father, Samudra Gupta, is expressed by the words tatparigrihta.
nterladen 10 For the Kacha coins, see Coinage,' p. 74: 'Observations,' p. 95. The spellings Kloha and Kacha both ooour on the coins. For the Asvamedba, Tiger, and Battle-axe types of Samudra Gupta, see 'Coinage,' pp. 64, 65, 72;
Observations, pp. 96, 97, 102. On the Tiger type, the king's title is simply 'ga'; on the Alvamedha and Battleaxe types it is rajadhiraja. The Lyrist type, presumably later in date, exhibits the higher title mahardjadhirdja, The five insoriptions which apply the epithet Sarvardjochchhitta to Samudra Gupta are, (1) Mathura (Fleat, No. 4, p. 27, note), (2) Bilrad (Flert, No. 10), (8) Bihar (Flest, No. 10), (4) Bhitart pillar (No. 13 of Fleet), and (b) the spurious Gay grant of Samudra Gupta, with a genuine seal (Flest, No. 80). In my Coinage' I advoosted the identity of Kacha with Samudra Gupta ; but in 'Observations' I accepted Mr. Bapeon's view that Kaohs was a brother and predecessor. I now revert to my original opinion.