Write are the sources of information about the Gupta Period?
Answers
All we know about History comes from the sources that were either created or written during the contemporary time or some years after it. Sources of Gupta Period can be divided in five types.
Literary sources-
Puranas- Some Puranas are historic as well as religious. The Puranas that mention Guptas are.
(i) Vayu Purana,
(ii)Brahmanda Purana,
(iii) Matsya Purana,
(iv) Bhagvata Saketa.
2. Dharamsasastras of Narad and Brihaspati
3. Smriti of Vyas, Harita, Pitamah and Pulastya.
4. Kamandaka Nitisara written by Sikhara, Prime Minister of CHandragupta II.
5. Kavya-Nataka Literature-
Setubandhakavya/ Setukavya by Pravarsena.
Kaumudi Mahotsav by Kisorika or Vijjika.
Devichandraguptam by Vishakhadatta. (Full text not available, mentioned in many works)
Mudarakshas by Vishakhadatta.
Travel account of Fa-Hein.
Inscriptions-
Udayagiri Cave Inscriptions
Mathura stone Inscriptions
Sanchi Stone Inscriptions
Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions
Bilsad Stone Pillar Inscription
Mankuwar Stone Image Inscription
Bilhar stone Pillar Inscription
Bhitari stone Pillar Inscription
Junagadh Rock Inscription
kahaum Stone Pillar Inscription
Indore Copper plate Inscription
Seals-
Seal of Dhruvaswamini, queen of Chandragupta II.
Seal of other officials.
Monument-
Vishnu temple at Tigawa
Siva Temple at BHumara
Parvati Temple at Nachna-Kuthara
Buddhist shrines at Sanchi and Bodhgaya
Dasvatara Temple at Deogarh, etc.
Coins- Every ruler mint there own coins and so it is with their own preferences. Some of them style themselves on these coins but most of them are different types. For example, Tiger type, Lyrist type, Asvamedha type, Archer type, Chhatra type, Lion-slayer type,etc.
Guptas have left many resources yet still there is much obscurity around them There are many sources taht are to be translated and many to be found.
Prashastis , coins , temples and Paintings are important sources of information about the Gupta period . Besides, there are many literary sources which tell us Guptas Important among them are the play of kalidasa , the puranas and the account of Chinese pilgrim Fa - hien .