103.216.213.45 at 07:47, 13 November 2023

2023-11-13T07:47:23Z

New page

{{Infobox royalty
| succession = 11th [[Gupta empire|Gupta emperor]]
| image = [[File:Budhagupta in Malwa Circa 476-495 CE.jpg|280px]]
| caption = Coin of Budhagupta in [[Malwa]].
| reign = {{circa|476|495 CE}}
| coronation =
| full name =
| predecessor = [[Kumaragupta II]]
| successor = [[Narasimhagupta]]
| spouse =
| issue =
| dynasty = [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]]
| father = [[Purugupta]]
| mother = * [[Padmavatigupta]] (real mother)
* Chandradevi (stepmother)
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
}}
{{Location map+
|India
|float = right
|width = 280
|caption = Location of the inscriptions mentioning Budhagupta as ruler.<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal Of The Epigraphical Society Of India Vol Ix |date=1982 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973/page/n42 7] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973}}</ref><ref>For Sankarpur and Mathura: {{cite book |last1=Salomon |first1=Richard |title=Indian Epigraphy A Guide To The( Book Za.org) |page=[https://archive.org/details/RichardSalomonIndianEpigraphyAGuideToTheBookZa.org/page/n167 145] |url=https://archive.org/details/RichardSalomonIndianEpigraphyAGuideToTheBookZa.org |language=English}}</ref>
|nodiv = 1
|mini = 1
|relief=yes
|places =
{{location map~ |India |lat=27.4925|N |long=77.673611|E |label=[[Mathura]]|position=top |label_size=80}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=25.318889|N |long=83.012778|E |label=[[Varanasi]] |position=top |label_size=80 }}
{{location map~ |India |lat=26.6363|N |long=88.4166|E |label=[[Phulbari, Jalpaiguri|Damodarpur]] |position=top |label_size=80 }}
{{location map~ |India |lat=25.136667|N |long=85.443889|E |label=[[Nalanda]]|position=right |label_size=80}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=24.093846|N |long=78.172695|E |label=[[Eran]]|position=bottom |label_size=80}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=23.668|N |long=87.229|E |label=[[Sankarpur, Paschim Bardhaman|Sankarpur]]|position=bottom |label_size=80}}
}}
'''Budhagupta''' ([[Gupta script]]: [[File:Gupta allahabad bu.jpg|10px]][[File:Gupta allahabad dh.svg|12px]][[File:Gupta allahabad gu.jpg|14px]]<sub>[[File:Gupta allahabad pt.jpg|12px]]</sub> ''Bu-dha-gu-pta'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=John |title=Catalogue of the coins of the Gupta dynasties |date=1914 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.47214/page/n295 153] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.47214}}</ref> {{reign|{{circa|476}}|495 CE}}) was a [[Gupta empire|Gupta emperor]] and the successor of [[Kumaragupta II]]. He was the son of [[Purugupta]] and was succeeded by [[Narasimhagupta]].<ref name="hcr1">Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p. 522</ref>

==Rule==
Budhagupta had close ties with the rulers of [[Kannauj]] and together they sought to run the [[Alchon Huns]] ([[Hunas]]) out of the fertile plains of Northern India.

Northern India, and in particular the area of [[Eran]], was next invaded by the [[Alchon Huns]] ruler [[Toramana]], who set up his own inscription there, the [[Eran boar inscription of Toramana]], circa 510-513 CE.

==Inscriptions==
[[File:Eran Budhagupta pillar built circa 476–495 CE.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The Budhagupta pillar at [[Eran]], raised in honour of [[Janardana]], another name of [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fleet |first1=John Faithfull |title=Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. 3 |date=1888 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463254/page/n303 88] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463254}}</ref> On top if a double statue of [[Garuda]], holding a serpent in his hands, with a chakra wheel in the back.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bajpai |first1=K. D. |title=Indian Numismatic Studies |date=2004 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-035-8 |pages=19–20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=chGrJUMarHoC&pg=PA19 |language=en}}</ref>]]
{{Gupta Empire}}
The Damodarpur copper-plate inscription informs us that [[Pundravardhana|Pundravardhana bhukti]] (the present-day [[North Bengal]]) was ruled by his two viceroys (''Uparika Mahararaja'') Brahmadatta and Jayadatta.

The [[Eran#Important Inscriptions of Eran|Eran stone pillar]] inscription of two brothers, Matrivishnu and Dhanyavishnu mentions Budhagupta as their emperor (''Bhupati''), under whom ''Maharaja'' Surashmichandra was governing the land between the [[Yamuna]] and the [[Narmada River|Narmada]]<ref name="hcr1"/> The Budhagupta inscription on the Eran column is on the west face towards the bottom of the lower and square part of a large monolithic red-sandstone column situated near the ruined group of temples at Eran. The inscription refers to the reign of Budhagupta over the area "between the rivers [[Kalindi River|Kâlindi]] and [[Narmada river|Narmadâ]]", and it is dated 484–485 CE. The object of it is to record the erection of the column, which is called 'dhvajastambha' or flag staff of the god Vishnu. This pillar is about 48 feet high. This inscription was discovered by [[T.S. Burt]] in 1838.<ref>Dr. Mohan Lal Chadhar, Eran Ki Tamrapashan Sanskriti, Sagar, MP 2009, pp 11,{{ISBN|81-89740-07-5}}</ref>

A pedestal of a Buddha statue found at Govindnagar near [[Mathura]] bears an inscription "in the reign of Budhagupta in year 161" (circa 480 CE). This is the only known epigraphic evidence showing that Budhagupta's authority extended to Mathura in the north.:<ref>Agarwal, Ashvini (1989). ''Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas'', Delhi:Motilal Banarsidas, {{ISBN|81-208-0592-5}}, pp. 226–30</ref><ref name="D. K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd">{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=R.C. |title=The Splendour of Mathura Art and Museum |date=1994 |publisher=D. K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd. |page=143 |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/splendour-of-mathura-art-and-museum-IDD114/}}</ref>

{{Quote|...Today, when king Budhagupta of the famous dynasty is administering the whole earth, in the year one hundred and sixty one...|Budhagupta inscription of Govindnagar, Mathura.<ref name="JES">{{cite book |title=Journal Of The Epigraphical Society Of India Vol IX |date=1982 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973/page/n41 6]-12 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973}}</ref>}}

Two standing Buddha images from [[Sarnath]] are known, with bear dated inscriptions mentioning the "Gift of Abhayamitra in 157 in reign of Buddhagupta" (157 of the [[Gupta era]] being 477 CE).<ref name="JES"/><ref name="vmis.in">{{cite web |title=Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds |url=https://vmis.in/ArchiveCategories/collection_gallery_zoom?id=1329&search=1&index=147667&searchstring=buddhagupta |website=vmis.in |publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies}}</ref><ref name="Collections-Virtual Museum of Image">{{cite web |title=Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds |url=https://vmis.in/ArchiveCategories/collection_gallery_zoom?id=1329&search=1&index=147671&searchstring=buddhagupta |website=vmis.in |publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds |url=https://vmis.in/ArchiveCategories/collection_gallery_zoom?id=1329&search=1&index=147673&searchstring=buddhagupta |website=vmis.in |publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies}}</ref> There are also stone inscriptions in [[Varanasi]] and [[Eran]] and a seal from [[Nalanda]] mentioning Budhagupta as the ruler, as well as several copperplate inscriptions.<ref name="JES"/>

===First Buddha statue with inscription of Budhagupta===
A statue of the standing Buddha found in [[Sarnath]] has a dated inscription (year 157) in the name of Budhagupta. The content is partially preserved, but essentially identical to an inscription on a second statue, made by the same donor, allowing for reconstruction.<ref name="XII"/>
<gallery>
File:Buddha statue inscribed reign of Budhagupta year 157 (476 CE) Sarnath Museum.jpg|Buddha statue inscribed "Gift of Abhayamitra in 157 in the reign of Buddhagupta" (476 CE) Sarnath Museum.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Majumdar |first1=B. |title=Guide to Sarnath |date=1937 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.30293/page/n111 89] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.30293}}</ref><ref name="XII"/>
File:Buddha inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157.jpg|Buddha inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157, with extrapolation and English translation.<ref name="XII">{{cite book |last1=Sahni |first1=Daya Ram |title=Annual Report Of The Archaeological Survey Of India 1914-15 |date=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35506/page/n253 125] inscription XVII |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35506}}</ref>
</gallery>

===Second Buddha statue with inscription of Budhagupta===
A second statue of the standing Buddha found in [[Sarnath]] has a dated inscription (year 157) in the name of Budhagupta. This statue is defaced, but the devotees at the feet of the Buddha are beautifully preserved. The content is partially preserved, but essentially identical to an inscription on the first statue, made by the same donor, allowing for reconstruction.<ref name="XVI"/>

<gallery>
File:Buddha statue with inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157 (second statue).jpg|thumb|Buddha statue with inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157 (second statue).<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
File:Buddhist devotee on a statue of Buddha standing inscribed Gift of Abhayamitra in 157 GE (477 CE) in reign of Buddhagupta.jpg|Buddhist devotee on the second statue of the standing Buddha (fragment), inscribed "Gift of Abhayamitra in 157 in the reign of Buddhagupta" (477 CE). [[Sarnath Museum]].<ref name="vmis.in"/><ref name="Collections-Virtual Museum of Image"/>
File:Buddha inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157 (second statue).jpg|thumb|Buddha inscription of Budhagupta in the Gupta Era year 157 (second statue), with extrapolationa and English translation.<ref name="XVI">{{cite book |last1=Sahni |first1=Daya Ram |title=Annual Report Of The Archaeological Survey Of India 1914-15 |date=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35506/page/n252 124] inscription XVI |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35506}}</ref>
</gallery>

===Other inscriptions of Budhagupta===
<gallery>
File:Inscribed Pedestal of Buddha Image Installed in the Reign of Budha Gupta - Circa 480 CE - Govind Nagar - ACCN 82-240 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5537.JPG|Inscribed pedestal of Buddha installed "in the reign of Budhagupta in year 161" (circa 480 CE). Govind Nagar. Mathura.<ref name="D. K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd"/><ref>Description and translation of the inscription in: {{cite book |last1=Thaplya |first1=Kiran Kumar |title=Journal Of The Epigraphical Society Of India Vol Ix |date=1982 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973/page/n41 6]-11 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169973}}{{free access}}</ref>
File:Eran Budhagupta inscription.jpg|Budhagupta pillar inscription at [[Eran]].
File:Budhagupta.jpg|Copper-plate charter of Budhagupta, dated Gupta year 168
File:Malwa. Budhagupta. Circa AD 476-495.jpg|Coin of Buddhagupta in [[Malwa]], derived from the style of the [[Western Satraps]].<ref name="CIC">"Evidence of the conquest of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurastra]] during the reign of [[Chandragupta II]] is to be seen in his rare silver coins which are more directly imitated from those of the Western Satraps... they retain some traces of the old inscriptions in Greek characters, while on the reverse, they substitute the Gupta type ... for the [[chaitya]] with crescent and star." in Rapson "A catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. The Andhras etc.", p.cli</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080908045543/http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/history/primarydocs/Epigraphy/Gupta/eran_stone_budhagupta.htm Eran Stone Pillar Inscription of Matrivishnu and Dhanyavishnu]

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kumaragupta II]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Gupta Empire|Gupta Emperor]]|years=476–495}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Narasimhagupta]]}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:5th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:490s deaths]]
[[Category:Gupta Empire]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

Budhagupta - Revision history

103.216.213.45 at 07:47, 13 November 2023