Chandragupta II the Great, known in Sanskrit as Vikramaditya or Chandragupta Vikramaditya; was a great powerful emperor of the Gupta dynasty. His reign lasted from 375-415 AD when the Gupta dynasty attained its peak. That time of the Gupta Empire is also called the Golden Age of India. Chandragupta II the Great was the son of his former king Samudragupta the Great. He succeeded by following the policy of aggressive expansion and profitable accession policy.
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375 AD - 415 AD) It is clear from the Eran inscription of Samudragupta that he had many sons and grandsons, but in his last time, he appointed Chandragupta as his successor. The inscriptions of Chandragupta II and later Gupta emperors also say that after the death of Samudragupta, Chandragupta II became the Gupta emperor. But on the contrary, on the basis of 'Devichandraguptam' and some other literary and archaeological records available in part, some scholars prove Ramgupta as the successor of Samudragupta. Taking advantage of Ramgupta's incompetence, Chandragupta took away both his kingdom and his queen. The history of Ramagupta is doubtful. Ramgupta must have been a local ruler of that region of the copper coins received from Bhilsa etc.
The date of Chandragupta II is determined on the basis of his inscriptions etc. Chandragupta's Mathura pillar inscription in Guptasamvat 61 (380 AD), was written in the fifth year of his reign. As a result, his coronation took place in the Gupta era 61-5= 56= 375 AD. The last known date of Chandragupta II is obtained on his silver coins - Guptasamvat 90+ 0= 409- 410 AD. From this, it can be inferred that Chandragupta was probably ruling till the year mentioned above. In contrast, the first known date of Kumaragupta I is obtained from his Bilsand inscription, Guptasamvat 96 = 415 AD. On this basis, it is estimated that the reign of Chandragupta II would have ended in AD 413-14.
Devagupta and Devraj-other names seem to be known from the various writings of Chandragupta II. Inscriptions and inscriptions give knowledge of their various titles - Maharajadhiraja, Param Bhagwat, Sri Vikram, Narendrachandra, Narendra Singh, Vikramanka and Vikramaditya, etc.
Apart from being a great conqueror, Chandragupta II was also a skilled ruler. He had divided the vast Gupta Empire into many provinces (provinces were called Mukti) for a good system of governance. The provinces were divided into districts. The district was called a subject. At the top of the government was the emperor, who was the highest official of all civil and government powers. There was a council of ministers to assist him. He had various titles like Maharajadhiraja, Maharaja, Param Bhattaraka, Param Bhagwat, etc.
The name Chandragupta II holds a very important place in the Gupta Empire. He assumed the title of Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya has a remarkable place in the literary tradition of India. Even during the time of Chandragupta II, there was progress in various fields like Indian religion, art, culture, etc.
Many records of the reign of Chandragupta II have been available, many of which are also dated. From the point of view of chronology, the pillar inscription of Mathura is the first. This is the first authentic Gupta inscription written in the Sanskrit language on which date is mentioned. In the inscriptions, the titles of Parambhrittaraka and Maharaja are used. The popularity of the Pashupati religion is realized and the popularity of the Lakulish sect of the Pashupati religion is known in Mathura.
The removal of the doubts of Gujarat-Kathiawad and bringing their kingdom under the Gupta Empire is the most important event of the reign of Chandragupta II. That is why he was also called 'Shakari' and 'Vikramaditya'. Many centuries ago, the Satavahana emperor 'Gautami Putra Satakarni' had assumed the titles of 'Shakari' and 'Vikramaditya' by removing the Shakas in this manner. Now Chandragupta II also achieved the same glory once again. Due to the conquest of Gujarat and Kathiawar, the extent of the Gupta Empire now extended to the Arabian Sea in the west. Pataliputra had to be far away to rule well the newly conquered territories. Therefore Chandragupta II made Ujjayini his second capital.
Apart from the Shaka-Mahakshatrapas of Gujarat-Kathiawad, Chandragupta had also annihilated the Shaka-Murunds (Kushans) of Gandhara Kamboja. In Mehrauli, near Delhi, there is an iron 'Vishnudhwaj' (pillar) on which the inscription of a mighty emperor named Chandra is engraved. Historians are of the opinion that this article belongs to the Gupta dynasty Chandragupta II only. Describing Chandra's victories in this article, it has been said that he crossed the Saptmukhas of Sindh (the seven rivers of the ancient Saptsaindhav country) and won the war up to the country of Valhik (Balkh).
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375 AD - 415 AD) It is clear from the Eran inscription of Samudragupta that he had many sons and grandsons, but in his last time, he appointed Chandragupta as his successor. The inscriptions of Chandragupta II and later Gupta emperors also say that after the death of Samudragupta, Chandragupta II became the Gupta emperor. But on the contrary, on the basis of 'Devichandraguptam' and some other literary and archaeological records available in part, some scholars prove Ramgupta as the successor of Samudragupta. Taking advantage of Ramgupta's incompetence, Chandragupta took away both his kingdom and his queen. The history of Ramagupta is doubtful. Ramgupta must have been a local ruler of that region of the copper coins received from Bhilsa etc.
The date of Chandragupta II is determined on the basis of his inscriptions etc. Chandragupta's Mathura pillar inscription in Guptasamvat 61 (380 AD), was written in the fifth year of his reign. As a result, his coronation took place in the Gupta era 61-5= 56= 375 AD. The last known date of Chandragupta II is obtained on his silver coins - Guptasamvat 90+ 0= 409- 410 AD. From this, it can be inferred that Chandragupta was probably ruling till the year mentioned above. In contrast, the first known date of Kumaragupta I is obtained from his Bilsand inscription, Guptasamvat 96 = 415 AD. On this basis, it is estimated that the reign of Chandragupta II would have ended in AD 413-14.
Devagupta and Devraj-other names seem to be known from the various writings of Chandragupta II. Inscriptions and inscriptions give knowledge of their various titles - Maharajadhiraja, Param Bhagwat, Sri Vikram, Narendrachandra, Narendra Singh, Vikramanka and Vikramaditya, etc.
Apart from being a great conqueror, Chandragupta II was also a skilled ruler. He had divided the vast Gupta Empire into many provinces (provinces were called Mukti) for a good system of governance. The provinces were divided into districts. The district was called a subject. At the top of the government was the emperor, who was the highest official of all civil and government powers. There was a council of ministers to assist him. He had various titles like Maharajadhiraja, Maharaja, Param Bhattaraka, Param Bhagwat, etc.
The name Chandragupta II holds a very important place in the Gupta Empire. He assumed the title of Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya has a remarkable place in the literary tradition of India. Even during the time of Chandragupta II, there was progress in various fields like Indian religion, art, culture, etc.
Many records of the reign of Chandragupta II have been available, many of which are also dated. From the point of view of chronology, the pillar inscription of Mathura is the first. This is the first authentic Gupta inscription written in the Sanskrit language on which date is mentioned. In the inscriptions, the titles of Parambhrittaraka and Maharaja are used. The popularity of the Pashupati religion is realized and the popularity of the Lakulish sect of the Pashupati religion is known in Mathura.
Titles
The removal of the doubts of Gujarat-Kathiawad and bringing their kingdom under the Gupta Empire is the most important event of the reign of Chandragupta II. That is why he was also called 'Shakari' and 'Vikramaditya'. Many centuries ago, the Satavahana emperor 'Gautami Putra Satakarni' had assumed the titles of 'Shakari' and 'Vikramaditya' by removing the Shakas in this manner. Now Chandragupta II also achieved the same glory once again. Due to the conquest of Gujarat and Kathiawar, the extent of the Gupta Empire now extended to the Arabian Sea in the west. Pataliputra had to be far away to rule well the newly conquered territories. Therefore Chandragupta II made Ujjayini his second capital.
Empire Expansion
Apart from the Shaka-Mahakshatrapas of Gujarat-Kathiawad, Chandragupta had also annihilated the Shaka-Murunds (Kushans) of Gandhara Kamboja. In Mehrauli, near Delhi, there is an iron 'Vishnudhwaj' (pillar) on which the inscription of a mighty emperor named Chandra is engraved. Historians are of the opinion that this article belongs to the Gupta dynasty Chandragupta II only. Describing Chandra's victories in this article, it has been said that he crossed the Saptmukhas of Sindh (the seven rivers of the ancient Saptsaindhav country) and won the war up to the country of Valhik (Balkh).
The region of seven rivers Yamuna, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jelham, and Indus of Punjab was called 'Saptasindhav' in ancient times. In the region beyond this, at that time the kingdom of Shaka-Murunds or Kushanas existed. Probably these Shaka-Murunds had dared to raise their hands on Dhruvadevi. Now the greatness of Dhruvadevi and her husband Chandragupta II cut off these Shaka-Murundas up to Balkh and extended the northwestern border of the Gupta Empire to the distant Vankshu river.
