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JUNE, 1902.)
EARLY OR IMPERIAL GUPTA DYNASTY.
257
REVISED CHRONOLOGY OF THE EARLY OR IMPERIAL GUPTA DYNASTY.
BY VINCENT A, SMITH, M.R.A.S., I.C.S. (RETD.). PROFESSOR SYLVAIN LÉvr's valuable and interesting studies of the Chinese historians who record notices of events in India throw much light upon the obscure history of India in the centuries both preceding and following the Christian era.
In a separate article I have discussed his discovery of the synchronism of king Meghavarna of Ceylon (A. D. 304 - 992) with the Indian emperor Samudra Gupta, whose reign has hitherto been supposed to have begun in A. D. 350, so far as that synchronism affects the interpretation of the Mahânîman inscriptions at Bôdh-Gaya. In this paper I propose to discuss the revision of the Gupta chronology which is rendered indispensable by Mr. Sylvain Levi's discovery, and certain other facts brought to light within the last few years.
Assuming, as is now generally allowed, that the Gupta era dates from the coronation (abhisheks) of Chandra Gupta I., the first emperor of the Gupta dynasty, that event must have taken place in the tirst year of the Gupta Era (G. E.), which corresponds to the period extending from the 26th February, A. D. 320, to the 15th March, A. D. 321. For most purposes it is sufficiently accurate to say that the accession of Chandra Gupta I. occurred in A. D. 320, and to add 319 to dates G. E. to reduce them to dates A. D.3
Provions to M. Lévi's discovery of the synchronism of king Meghavarna of Ceylon with the emperor Samudra Gupta, the earliest known Gupta date subsequent to the accession of Chandra Gupta I. in G. E. 1, = A. D. 320, was that recorded by the Udayagiri inscription of Ohandra Gupta II., dated G. E. 82, = A. D. 401. The chronology of the dynasty for the period of 81 complete years between these two dates was purely conjectural. M. Levi's discovery enables us to fix with approximate accuracy the date of the accession of the emperor Samudra Gupta, the son of Chandra Gupta I., and, with the help of some other facts, to settle witbin Darrow limits the greater part of the chronology of the dynasty.
1 Professor Sylvain Lévt's weighty essay ontitled 'Les Missions do Wang Hinen-Te'o dans l'Inde' appeared in the Journal Asiatique for Mars Avril et Mai Juin, 1900, and was reprinted the same year at the Imprimerio Nationale, Paris, PP. 112. On another occasion I hope to make use of the materials collected by him for the Kushan history. At present I confine myself to the mbject of Grapta obronology. My artiole entitled 'The Insoriptions of Mahin man at Bodh Gayl' appeared in this Journal, anto, Vol XXXI., p. 199.
Ared in this Journal, ante, Vol XXXI., p. 199. I am myself responsible for the erroneous hypothesis that the reign of Samudra Gupta began in A D. 850. ('Observations on the Gupta Coinage,' in J. R. 4. 8. for Jan. 1898, p. 82. This work will bo oitod as 'Observations.")
• The discovery of the true beginning of the Gapta era, and the olaboration of all necessary Oaloulations on the subject, were affected by Dr. Fleet, whose matured viows will be found in Ind. Ant. Vol. XX. (1891), pp. 376-389. Dr. Floot's great work entitled Insoriptions of the Early Gupta Kings and their Bomors' was published in 1888. In its original form the Gupta ere was an adaptation of the Bake your beginning with the month Chaitra, or Maroh-April. According to this arrangement the year commenced with the first day of the waxing moon (oud) of Chaitra, and the year 1 G. E. corresponds to Baka 343, and A. D. 320-1. Consequently Gupta years are ordinarily reduced to your A, D, by the addition of 319, M, for example, 82 6. E, A. D. 401. Of course, for atriotly Acourate results much more olaborato equations are sometimes required. The records of the kings with which this paper is concerned room to be all dated on this system. The kings of Valabht, who roceeded the Guptas in Surkhtra (Kathiawas) about the end of the fifth oontury, while continuing to roolon by the Gupta ori, made the year begin soven months earlier. Gupta dates are expressed in ourront yoan.
Fleet, No. 3. Udayagiri is near BhelaA (Bhaa) in Soindia'. Dominions in Central India, N. lat. 83 82, E, long. 770 80. The exnot date is the 11th, day of the waxing moon of the month AshAdhe, equivalent to June-July, A. D. 401.
My sonjetural dates were - Gupta, A, D, 200; Ghatotkacha, A. D. 805 ; Chandra Gupta I., A.D. 319 (an mor instead of 820); Kloha, A. D. 340; Bamudra Gupta, A. D. 850; and Chandra Gupta II., A. D. 880.
