Religion & Culture during Gupta Period 

The Gupta Period, often referred to as the Golden Age of India, marks a significant epoch in the history of Indian civilization, renowned for its substantial advancements in arts, science, and culture. Spanning from around 320 CE to 550 CE, this era is particularly notable for the flowering of classical art forms and the consolidation of Hindu culture, which has shaped much of modern Indian religious and cultural landscape. In this article, you will learn about religion of the Guptas, culture of Gupta society, etc.

This article will provide key insights for GS Paper-I Indian History of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• Religion of the Guptas
• Culture 
• Conclusion          
• Frequently Asked Questions         

Religion of the Guptas:

• The Guptas were a Hindu dynasty with orthodox Hindu belief.
• However, they were religious tolerant and allowed the practice of Buddhism and Jainism in their kingdom.
• This era saw harmonious coexistence between Brahmins and Buddhists.
• The Gupta kings had adopted a fair policy, allowing their subjects the freedom to practice their faiths.

Hinduism:

• During the Gupta period, the rulers had supported the Hindu religious tradition, leading to the resurgence of orthodox Hinduism.
• Hinduism experienced a revival during the Gupta Empire, and it became the state religion.
• The Gupta kings had a strong affinity to worship Lord Vishnu.
• This era was a classical period of Hindu art, literature, and science, marking the return of Vedic traditions along with the worship of indigenous gods.
• Over time, Hinduism transformed into current stage characterized by the worship of various deities, including Vishnu, Siva, Kartikeya, and others.

Buddhism:

• Sanchi remained a significant Buddhist center.
  • As per the Chinese Traveller Xuan Zang’s account– Nalanda university was founded during Kumaragupta I’s rule in the 5^th century CE.
• All three Buddhist doctrines including Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana were taught in Nalanda university.
• Later Gupta rulers, like Narasimhagupta Baladitya had showed interest to promote Buddhism.
• Narasimhagupta Baladitya was influenced by the Mahayanist philosopher Vasubandhu and constructed a sangharama at Nalanda along with vihara housing a Buddha statue.
• Narasimhagupta Baladitya’s son- Vajra had commissioned another sangharama or Buddhist settlements and was deeply committed to Buddhist faith.
• Chinese travelers like Faxian have visited the region during the Gupta era to study Buddhism.
• Despite its decline during the Gupta period, Buddhism did not face persecution from the rulers.
• However, Buddhism’s vitality was weakened by internal divisions and influences from Hindu practices, ultimately leading to its assimilation into Hinduism.

Jainism:

• Jainism also existed during this time, but it lacked royal support and did not gain prominence.
• There was still harmony between Jainism and other religions.

Culture

Sculptures:

• The Gupta era showcased remarkable creations for various religious communities.
• Although painting was widespread during this time, the artworks that has survived till now primarily consist of religious sculptures.
• Hindu art had witnessed the intricately carved stone deities, while Buddhist and Jain art had featured Buddha figures and tirthankara figures constructed on a grand scale.
• Bronze sculptures were often portable and monks used to carry them from place to place for individual worship or to be installed in Buddhist viharas.
• The centres of sculpture had flourished in Mathura and Gandhara, with the latter developing the Greco-Buddhist art.
  • The Mathura and Gandhara had exported sculptures to other parts of northern India.
• The monuments at Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora, all had reflected a Gupta-style grandeur and balance.
  • But they were actually constructed by later dynasties.

Caves:

• During the Gupta period, cave architectures had flourished and exemplified by the Udaygiricaves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
  • The cave has featured both the Jain and Hindu beliefs.
  • It has inscription describing Chandragupta II as a digvijaya that is his conquest of the whole world.
• The Ajanta caves in Maharashtra during the 5th and 6th centuries AD has showcased exquisite paintings depicting Buddha’s journey.
  • Ajanta contains the significant surviving paintings from the Gupta and later periods.
• The Ellora caves during the 6th to the 12th century had displayed Brahminical (Hindu), Jain, and Buddhist influences.
• The Bagh caves in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, comprised nine Buddhist caves known as Bagh Gupha.
• The Pandav caves of Nashik, during 250 B.C. to 600 A.D. consisted of Gupta period’s water management systems and Buddha sculptures.

Temples:

• The Temple architectures during this era was evolved into five distinctive types.
• The first type had a square structure with flat terraces, pillars surrounding the hall areas, and an entrance with garbagriha and mandapam.
• The second type was similar to the first type but included a pradakshina path and were a two–storeyed temples like the Shiva temple in Bhumara, Rajasthan.
• The third type had a square shape with a pyramidical roof pattern.
  • Example: The Dasavatara temple at Deogarh had sculptures of ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
  • They were mainly built in late Gupta Period.
  • Some of the temple is in the panchayatana style of architecture where the main shrine is built on a rectangular plinth with 4 subsidiary shrines at the corners.
    • Panchayatana means 5 shrines.
  • The temple had sculptures of female figures such as the Ganga on the left and the Yamuna on the right side.
• The fourth type had a rectangular pattern and a hollow roof shape.
  • Example: The Kapoteswara temple.
• The fifth type showcased circulararchitecture with distinct 4-cornered rectangular patterns.
  • Example: The Maniyar Math in Rajgir.
• The Gupta age has witnessed two temple styles: the Nagara-styled temples in North India with multiple shikharas and the Dravidian-styled temples in South India with a single Shikhara.
• Grand terracotta sculptures were used to decorate temples.

Buddhist architectures:

• The sculptural art at Nalanda were made up of stucco, stone and bronze.
• The Buddha statue with Abhaya mudra in Mathura and the calm Buddha sculpture in Sarnath are some of the remarkable art of that period.
• The pillars constructed during this era includes the Allahabad pillar engraved with Harisena’sprashasti or eulogy and the iron pillar of Delhi.
  • Iron pillar of Delhi is still rust-free and were built under the patronage of Chandragupta II.
• Stupas were also prominent during this time including the Mirpur Kha’sstupa in modern day Pakistan and the Dhamek stupa in Sarnath.
  • Both have reflected Gupta art with intricate animal figures.

Music, Dance & Literature:

• Sanskrit was the language of scholarship, official records, and courtly discourse.
  • Though, it was understood only by a small group of people in the court.
• The renowned playwright of Gupta era includes:
  • Kalidasa’s works like Abhijnanashakuntala, Vikramorvasiyam, Meghduta, and Malavikagnimitra.
  • Dandin, Vishakhadatta, Vatsyayana, Magha, and Vyasa were celebrated for their literary contributions in various genres.
• Chandragupta II had Navaratnas or nine gems in his court such as- Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Varahamihira, Dhanvantri, Ghatakarapara, Shanku, Kahapanaka, Vararuchi and Vetala Bhatta.
  • Varahamihira wrote Panchasiddhantika, Brihat Samhita and Brihat Jataka.
  • Shanku wrote Shilpashastra.
  • Kahapanaka wrote the Jyothisyashastra.
  • Vararuchi wrote Prakrit Prakasha.
  • Vetala Bhatta wrote Mantrashastra.
• The Gupta emperors have actively supported learning and artistic activities.
• Hindu scholars, often worked in proximity to the centres of power and enjoyed the patronage of the Gupta court.
• Meanwhile, Buddhist scholars were more concentrated in their monasteries.
• Sacred literature had undergone changes, such as Puranas were reworked to promote the worship of Shiva and Vishnu.
• The Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita were incorporated during this time.
• The influence of Buddhism led to a shift in Hindu rituals, with statues becoming central to worship.
• Samudragupta has patronised the music which is evident from his coins that represent him playing the veena.

Science, Technology and Mathematics:

• In the field of science, important contributions to astronomy and medicine were made.
• Aryabhata has shown that the Earth’s spherical shape and that Earth rotates around its axis.
• Indian mathematics had contributed towards the decimal system and the discovery of the concept of zero.

Shiva temple in Bhumara:

Alt text: Shiva temple in Bhumara

Conclusion

The Gupta period, often hailed as the “Golden Age” of ancient India, was marked by profound advancements in religion and culture that significantly shaped Indian civilization. This era witnessed the flourishing of Hinduism as the state religion, characterized by the worship of deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, and goddess Durga. The period also saw the composition of important literary works like the Puranas, which further solidified Hindu doctrines and practices.

Simultaneously, Buddhism and Jainism continued to influence societal values and artistic expressions, despite the predominant Hindu revival. Buddhist art, particularly evident in the sculptures and frescoes of places like Ajanta, reflects the Gupta mastery in art that transcended religious boundaries. Meanwhile, Jainism thrived, especially in the trading communities, contributing to the rich tapestry of religious life during this period.

In conclusion, the Gupta period significantly shaped the religious and cultural landscape of India, fostering a renaissance that left a lasting legacy on Indian society. The harmonious coexistence and mutual enrichment of different religions under Gupta patronage underscored a unique period of cultural synthesis and religious tolerance.

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