Indian Antiquary Vol 47

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 174

164
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
were brothers, succeeding one another and being themselves succeeded by Narasimhagupta." 12 According to the new scheme of chronology put forward above the interval between the latest date of Skandagupta and the earliest date of Kumâragupta II. is reduced to only 6 years, and not only does it invalidate Dr. Hoernle's arguments, but it seems also to be fatal to his conclusions. For if we hold Puragupta to be the successor of Skandagupta the two reigns of Puragupta and Narasimhagupta would have to be crowded in the short space of less than 6 years, a theory not deserving of serious consideration without strong evidence in its support.
(2) Dr. Fleet was of opinion that "there was a formal division of the Early Gupta territories in the generation of Skandagupta and Puragupta or some dissension between them." 13 This implies that both Skandagupta and Puragupta were contemporary kings over different portions of the Gupta Empire.
[JUNE, 1918
The Bhitarî Stone Pillar Inscription of Skandagupta records his achievement as crown prince and as well as emperor, and we are told that he erected there an image of the god Vishnu in order to increase the religious merit of his father. It is, therefore, certain that he succeeded his father in those parts of his dominions. 14 The Junagadh Rock Inscription of the year 138 15 records that Skandagupta selected Parṇadatta as his governor over Surâshtra, and the latter appointed his son Chakrapâlita as the governor of the city. We are told that Chakrapâlita renewed the embankment of the Sudarsana lake in the year 137. Skandagupta must, therefore, have come into the possession of the western parts of his empire immediately after his father's death. These considerations seem to show that Skandagupta inherited the empire intact from his father and there could not possibly have been any formal division of the Gupta Empire on the death of Kumâragupta I.
It may be contended that Puragupta rebelled against his brother at a later date and carved out a dominion for himself and his successors. This view is, however, opposed to the testimony of coins.
It is a well-known fact that Kumaragupta I. introduced a new type of silver coinage for the home territories of the Gupta empire and this type is commonly found in the eastern portion of the Gupta empire. Skandagupta imitated this type of coins; four of them are dated in 141, four others in 146 and one in 148. This shows that Skandagupta was in possession of those parts down to the end of his reign. On the other hand, the available coins of Puragupta are all of the Archer' type and closely resemble in style Skandagupta's heavier issues which, according to Mr. Allan, belong to a later period of the reign. and to the most eastern Gupta dominions. 16 These numismatic considerations certainly do not favour the theory of a division of the Gupta empire in Skandagupta's reign, or the contemporaneity of the reigns of Skandagupta and Puragupta.
(3) We next come to the question of the identity of Puragupta and Skandagupta. The Bhitarî seal of Kumargupta II. favours, the supposition. It traces the genealogy of the Gupta dynasty from Gupta upto Kumâragupta I. and then continues: "His son (was) the Mahârâjadhiraja the glorious Puragupta, who meditated on his feet (tatpâdânudhyâta) (and) who was begotten on the Mahadevi Anantadevi."
Op. cit., p. 96.
24 Allan's Gupta Coins, p. xlvi.
as Abova, 1890, p. 227. 15 Fleet's No. 14.
26 Allan's Gupta Coins pp. xov, cii, 129-133.