Thread by @HindutvaItihas

1.
#Thread on the great Gupta Emperor Samudragupta

Samudragupta built a strong foundation for the Golden Age of India, ushered in by the Gupta Empire.

#GuptaEmpire #History #GoldenAgeOfIndia #Hindutva

2.
Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I & Kumaradevi (Lichchavi Princess)

320 CE: Samudragupta is coronated after Chandragupta I nominated him as successor. The Allahabad inscription, which presents comprehensive details about reign of Samudragupta, describes it thus 👇

3.
The Allahabad inscription describes first the complete subjugation of kings of the northern India, with his capital at Pataliputra.

In the first phase of Samudragupta's conquests, the territories of current UP, Bihar & some parts of West Bengal were annexed.

4.
The frontier kingdoms also acknowledged Gupta supremacy & paid taxes:-
S-E Bengal
Assam
Nepal
Punjab (Kartarpur).

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan too came under Samudragupta's control.

5.
After consolidating in northern India, Samudragupta turned his attention to southern India (Dakshinapatha).

Controlling the maritime trade between India & S-E Asia might have been one of his prime motivation.(Trade has been recorded since ~150 CE)

6.
Samudragupta subjugated no less than 12 kings along the Eastern Coast of India.

The Gupta territory extended, from the forest regions of Chhattisgarh & Odisha, along the Odisha coast, till Tamil Nadu. The rulers were tributaries of Gupta Empire.

7.
Gupta supremacy was even recognised by far-off rulers from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan (Kushanas).

Even the Indo-Scythian Shaka/Saka rulers were made Gupta tributaries!

8.
Thus, Gupta Empire came to assume imperial authority over Indian subcontinent, sans Western regions.

Guptas would later forge marriage alliance with the Vakatakas here, in part to expel the Shaka invaders (during Chandragupta II's reign) together, & re-establish #Indic sway.

9.
The Allahabad inscription also reveals that Samudragupta was a gifted poet, and a intelligent man of culture as well!

#HinduMonarch

10.
Samudragupta permitted Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka to construct a monastery at Bodhgaya.

11.
The above inscription also mentions Samudragupta donating 'thousands of cows', as well as conducting Ashvamedha Yagya.

This is attested in coins,on which is written:-"the overlord of kings,who has performed the horse-sacrifice,having protected the earth,conquers the heaven"

12.
KM Munshi opines about Samudragupta:-

"After more than 300 yrs of fragmentation & foreign domination, northern India was again united under vigorous rule of a *powerful monarch of versatile talents*...

13.
... A brilliant general, a farsighted statesman, a man of culture & a patron of arts & letters, Samudragupta became the *symbol & architect of a mighty creative urge* among the people which, while drawing vitality from tradition & race memory, took on a new shape & power"

14.
According to RC Majumdar, Samudragupta was a 'king of robust build, whose physical strength & prowess was matched by his cultural attainments, heralded a new era in Aryavarta'

15.
May such rulers of culture, character & prowess continue to inspire us to be, as well as produce, the new leaders of #Hindutva, and bring glory to #Dharma.

#GuptaEmpire #Hindutva #AkhandBharat

@rattibha