Administration Of Gupta

The Gupta Empire followed a hereditary monarchy system, with succession generally passing from father to son.
The administration was efficient and organized, with an emphasis on local self-government and administrative
decentralization.
The Gupta Empire was known for its well-organized administrative divisions. It maintained a hierarchy of regions,
including mahajanapadas (provinces), vishayas (districts), and bhuktis (local areas).

# Gupta’s Administration

King

Amatya Mahadandanayaka

Kingdom Provinces/ Vishyas Districts Village

bhuktis

Governor- Governor- Governor- Governor-

Uparik Vishaypati Paithpati Gramini

The Gupta Empire was divided into 26 Bhuktis (Provinces), which were at times under the charge of princes. The
royal emblem used by the Gupta empire was Garuda.
The provinces were further divided into Vishaya(Districts), Vithi(Sub-districts) and Grama (villages).
King maintained close contacts with provincial administration through a class of officials called “Kumaramatyas” &
“Ayuktas”
All foreign affairs were looked after by foreign affair minister known as “Sandivigraha”
Villagers were subjected to forced labour called Vishti for serving royal army & officials
Various new officers and departments emerged during the Gupta Age.

Gupta's chief minister

I. Kumaramatya :- Apex Administrative Officer
II. Mahadandanayak:- Highest officer of war and justice
III. Dandapashik:- Supreme Police Officer.
IV. Mahasandhivigrahik :- Supreme Officer of PEACE and TREATY
V. Mahabaladhikari :- The highest officer of the army
VI. Agraharak:- The highest officer of the charity department

NOTE-
The rise of a new class called Kayastha in the Gupta period
Work:- Statement of account
The first mention of the word Kayastha:-yagyavalakya smriti

Officer Function
Mahabaladhikrita Commander-in-Chief
Mahadandanayak Chief Justice
Mahapratihar Maintenance of Royal Palace
5 Years Banking PYQs 2023 www.parchamclasses.in

Mahasandhivigrahak Post-war conciliation

Dandapashika Police department head

Bhandagaradhikreta(भण्डागारधिक्रेता) Head of Royal treasury

Village assemblies and councils played a role in local governance, with decisions often made through collective
discussions.
Tax collection was an essential part of the administration. Land revenue was a primary source of income for the
empire. Taxes were collected in the form of agricultural produce.
The legal system was influenced by Hindu legal traditions, and laws were based on ancient texts like the Manusmriti.
Disputes were resolved by local courts or village councils.
Starting of DEVDAASI system.
(Kalidas : meghadoot)

Present of slavery system (manu:7 types of slave)

(narad smariti:15 types of slave)
The Gupta Empire encouraged trade and commerce. Trade routes connected India to regions like the Roman Empire,
Southeast Asia, and China. Trade taxes contributed to the empire’s revenue.
Trade relations with the Middle East improved. Ivory, tortoise shells, etc. from Africa, silk, and some medicinal plants
from China.
Food, grain, spices, salt, gems, and gold bullion were primary commodities of inland trade.
Gold and silver coins were issued in great numbers which is a general indicative of the health of the economy.
Silk, cotton, spices, medicine, priceless gemstones, pearls, precious metals, and steel were exported by sea.

• Agriculture, trade, commerce and art and crafts all flourished under Guptas.
• Amarkosh:12 types of land
• The King’s administration facilitated irrigation,
ensured measurement and categorization of land into cultivated (Kshetra) and un-
cultivated (Khila/ Aprahata) lands.
• Landowner class (mahattars, Gramika and Kutumbika) became influential as land was a
ECONOMY
prestigious property to be sold or gifted.
• Shreni continued to govern the trader’s affairs.
• Common people traded in cowrie shells.
• Issued less pure gold coins than Kushana.
• Land Revenue was called Bhaga or Bhoga, which could be Paid in cash. It was the
primary source of revenue for the empire.

• Society became clearly feudalistic,

• Position of women and Shudras improved Both were allowed listen the
Ramayana & Mahabharata & advised to worship Krishna.
• Bhanugupta’s Airana (Eran) inscription gives the first evidence of Sati and Child
marriage too existed.
• Fahien records almost absence of crime and death penalty.
SOCIETY AND RELIGION
• Vishti was forced labour to serve royal army & officials.
• Chandalas were the outcaste i.e., out of the 4-fold varna system and made to
reside outside village settlements.
• Different religious sects co-existed peacefully.
• Vaishnavite or Shaivite Kings got temples constructed for their respective deity.
• Bhagvatism centered around Vishnu emerged.

Connect Us - 2
5 Years Banking PYQs 2023 www.parchamclasses.in

• Continud growth of the Ajanta School (Theme: Buddha’s life)

• Metal and stone images of Buddha (bronze, Bhagalpur), Shiva and Vishnu are
reported from a number of places.
• Images of God appeared first time.
• Stupa and cave construction reduced and temple construction (Shikhara)
ART AND ARCHITECTURE picked up:
• Dashavatar Temple, Jhansi, U.P.
• Bhitargav Temple (Brick) Kanpur, U.P.
• Parvati Temple, Nachnakuthara, M.P.
• Vishnu Temple, Jabalpur, M.P.
• Bagh cave Paintings belongs to this period.

AUTHOR WORK
• Abhijnanshakuntalam
• Vikramorvasiyam
• Malavikagnimitra
Kalidasa
• Kumārasambhava
• Raghuvansham
• Meghadootam
• Ritusamhara
Kamandaka • Nitisara
• Mudrarakshas
Vishakhadatta
• Devichandraguptam
Gunadhya • Brihatkatha
Sudraka • Mrichhakatikam
Varahamihir • Panchasiddhantika (5 books, Brihatsamhita most notable)
Susrut • Susrutsamhita on surgery(121 instruments)
Vagabhata • Ashtanghridaya(अष्ाांगहृदय)
Dhanavantari • Ayurveda
Amar Singh • Amarkosh
Aryabhatt • Aryabhattiyam, Suryasidhanta

Brahmagupta • Brahmasphutasiddhanta(ब्रह्मस्फुटधिद्धान्त)
Bhasa • Svapanavasaydattam

Connect Us - 3
5 Years Banking PYQs 2023 www.parchamclasses.in

There are many coins of Samudragupta —

Tiger type of coins,
Lyrist type of coins,
Asvamedha type of coins,
Archer type of coins,

We have a large number of coins of Chandragupta II,

Archer Type,
Couch type of coins,
Chhattra type of coins,
Lion Slayer type coins,
Horseman type of coins.

Science & Technology

Aryabhatta Aryabhatiyam , Suryasidhhanta

Varahmitra Panch Sidhhanta (5 astronomical system)Brihadsamhita, Brihadjataka (Astrology)

Vagbhata Ashtangasamgraha (Summary of 8 branches of Medicine)

# GUPTA ECONOMY-
• Land revenue was 1/4 to 1/6 of the total production.
• In the Gupta period, forced labor was considered a source of income for the state. It was also considered a
tax paid by the public.
• Types of land on basis of economic use-
I. Aria:Cultivable land
II. Vaastu:-Habitable land
III. Pasture land : Livestock land
IV. Seal- Land which cannot be used for cultivation
V. Aprahat- barren land

# GUPTA RELIGION –
I. State religion :-VAISHNAV
II. State emblem:-GARUDA

Why is it considered the Golden Age of Ancient India?

• The Gupta period is referred to as the Golden Age of India since this period saw a number of achievements
in the field of art and architecture, education, literature, as well as astronomy, mathematics and science and
technology.
1. Aryabhatta, the highly revered mathematician and astronomer, wrote Aryabhattiyam and Surya Siddhantha
during the Gupta period. He also introduced the concept of ‘zero’ and gave the value of ‘pi.’
2. Aryabhatta also broke the myth that the Earth is flat and also put it forward that the Earth rotates around its
own axis and revolves around the sun. He calculated the exact distance between the Earth and the Sun.
3. The present number system with ten as the base has been developed by the mathematicians of this period.
4. The Shakti cult emerged during this period.
5. The concepts of Bhakti and Pooja emerged as replacements for Sacrifice.
6. The Hindu religion flourished during this period and became popular in various parts of the country.
7. Gupta kings were Vaishnavas but were accepting of other religions- Buddhism and Jainism.
8. Guptas patronized Buddhist architecture as well as art.
9. Chess, called chaturanga, is believed to have originated during this era. Chaturanga refers to the four
divisions of the army- namely, pawn (infantry), knight (cavalry), bishop (chariot) and rook (elephantry)

Connect Us - 4