Question

Explain the importance of the Allahabad inscription as a source of history of Samudragupta's reign.

Answer 1

The Allahabad pillar is an Ashoka Stambha, one of the pillars of Ashoka, an emperor of the Maurya dynasty who reigned in the 3rd century BCE. While it is one of the few extant pillars that carry his edicts,[3] it is particularly notable for containing later inscriptions attributed to the Gupta emperor, Samudragupta (4th century CE).[4] Also engraved on the stone are inscriptions by the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, from the 17th century.[2]