Origin of Imperial Guptas

The one century gap between the extinction of Kushana & Satavahanas (around 220-230 AD), till the rise of the Imperial Gupta Dynasty a century later, is known to be one of the darkest in the whole of history of India. After the disintegration of the Mauryas, the Kushanas kept the North united and Satavahanas kept the Deccan united. Further south there were three Cheras, Pandyas and Cholas. In north, the Malvas, Yaudheyas, Kunidas etc. contributed to the extinction of Kushanas and in Deccan, the Vakatas and Ikshwaku contributed to the death of Satavahana dynasty. This dark period of one century was followed by a dawn of classical age which is also known as the Golden Age of Indian History. The classical age refers to the period between 320 AD to 550 AD when India was united again under the Gupta Dynasty. This period marks the crystallization of Hindu Culture and known for developments in all walks of life including the science, technology, engineering, art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy. The founder of this dynasty was Sri Gupta. But there were other early Guptas mentioned in many inscriptions such as Shiva Gupta in Nasik Inscription and Puru Gupta in Karle Inscription. The origin of Gupta is shrouded in mystery.

Though, the earlier origins of the family of the Guptas are not traceable, yet it is now almost accepted that the Gupta Kings were of a Gotra known as Dharana. It is stated in the Poona Copper Plate Inscription of Prabhavatigpta. Prabhavatigpta was a Vaktaka queen who was daughter of Chandra Gupta II and his wife Kubernaga, who was from the Naga family. The views of the different scholars regarding the origin of the Guptas have been summarized in the following table:

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The Kshatriya Origin of the Guptas has been maintained on the account that Chandragupta II wedded to a princess named Kumara Devi, who belonged to an ancient Licchhavi clan. The Licchhavi clan was celebrated during the period of Bimbisara and Ajatshatru but for next 9 centuries the history is lost. Therefore, it is the marriage of Kumaradevi with the Chandragupta II, which has been the basis of arguments that Guptas were Kshatriyas.