Chp 6

• The traces of political history are also present in the text.
• Fa-Hien was the earliest Chinese pilgrim who visited India on a religious mission during the reign of Chandragupta II.
• During his stay in India, Fa-Hien went on a pilgrimage to Mathura, Kannauj, Kapilvastu, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashi, and Rajagriha.
• Fa-Hien made careful unbiased observations about the conditions at that time.
• Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.
• Fa-Hien went on a pilgrimage to Kashi, Kannauj and Kushinagar.
• Monarchy was the prevailing form of Government which means power was centred in the kings.
• Fa-Hien’s account is a literary source of the Gupta period.
• The theory of divinity of Kings became popular and Kings were compared to different Gods such as Yama, Varuna Indra and Kubera.
• Magadha was a prosperous country with large towns, teeming with a wealthy population during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The king enjoyed judicial, administrative, military and political powers.
• The king was the commander- in - chief of the army.
• Pataliputra was a flourishing city with numerous charitable institutions, including a hospital endowed by benevolent citizens during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The king appointed governors (under the control and guidance of the king) and military & civil officers.
• The central secretariat worked under the supervision of the king.
• The people of Pataliputra led simple lives, generally observing the Buddhist rules of conduct during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The king was the source of all honours and titles.
• All land in the country was the property of the king.
• Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Buddhism and Jainism were the main religions during the time of Fa-Hien.
• People had no ill-will towards other sects during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The Brahmanas were the chief custodians and interpreters of law and exercise a check on the king.
• Hindu gods and goddesses were depicted on coins and in sculptures and paintings during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The king had a Council of Ministers (Mantri Parishad) (Prince, high officials & feudatories).
• High officers were -sandhi vigra hika (Minister of peace and war)
• The penal code of conduct was mild, and the offences were ordinarily punished by fines only during the time of Fa-Hien.
• The main duty of the -sandhi vigra hika was to deal with feudatories.
• The Gupta empire was prosperous and governed on enlightened principles according to Fa-Hien.
• Harisena held the title of -sandhi vigra hika under Samudragupta.
• The Allahabad Pillar Inscription was composed by Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta.
• The officer connected with the collection of tolls on commodities was known as Shaulika.
• The first systematic provincial and local administration evolved under the Gupta Kings.
• The Allahabad Pillar Inscription is one of the important epigraphic evidences of the Imperial Guptas and is also known as PRAYAGA PRASHASTI.
• The Empire was divided into bhuktis placed under the Uparika.
• The bhuktis were divided into Vishayas placed under the Vishayapati.
• The Allahabad Pillar Inscription was composed in praise of Samudragupta and describes the reign of the Guptas in ancient India.
• Brahmagupta was a mathematician and astronomer who described the law of gravitation several centuries before Newton.
• Earlier, wood and other perishable materials were used but temples in the Gupta period were built of stone and bricks.
• Kalidasa’s dramatic works include Vikramorvashiyam, Malavikagnimitram, and Abhijnanashakuntalam.
• The ideal conditions available in the Gupta Age led to the unprecedented growth of Indian culture.
• The Brihat Samhita Varahamihira deals with astronomy, botany, natural history, and physical geography.