Narasimhagupta

Narasimhagupta (Gupta script: Na-ra-si-ṅha-gu-pta)[2] Baladitya was an emperor of the Gupta Empire of North India. He was son of Purugupta and probably the successor of Budhagupta.

Narasimhagupta
Coin of Narasinhagupta I, Circa 414-455 CE.[1] The name Nara appears vertically under the left arm of the King.[2]
12th Gupta emperor
Reign	c. 495 – c. 530 CE
Predecessor	Budhagupta
Successor	Kumaragupta III
Spouse	Shrimitradevi
Dynasty	Gupta
Father	Purugupta
Religion	Hinduism

Defeat of the Hunas

According to the Chinese monk Xuanzang, Narasimhagupta had to pay tribute to the Huna king Mihirakula.[3][4]

Finally, Baladitya along with Yasodharman of Malwa is credited with driving the Alchon Huns from the plains of North India according to the Chinese monk Xuanzang.[5] In a fanciful account, Xuanzang, who wrote a century later in 630 CE, reported that Mihirakula had conquered all India except for an island where the king of Magadha named Balditya (who could be Gupta ruler Narasimhagupta Baladitya) took refuge, but that Mihirakula was finally captured by the Indian king, who later spared his life. Mihirakula is then said to have returned to Kashmir to retake the throne.[6][7]

Narasimhagupta's governor in Malwa, Bhanugupta may also have been involved in this conflict.

Buddhism

The Guptas were traditionally a Brahmanical dynasty.[8] Narasimhagupta Baladitya however, according to contemporary writer Paramartha, was brought up under the influence of the Mahayanist philosopher, Vasubandhu.[8] He built a sangharama at Nalanda and also a 300 ft (91 m) high vihara with a Buddha statue within which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great Vihara built under the Bodhi tree". According to the Manjushrimulakalpa (c. 800 CE), king Narasimhsagupta became a Buddhist monk, and left the world through meditation (Dhyana).[8]

The Chinese monk Xuanzang also noted that Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".[9]^:45[10]^:330

His clay sealing has been found in Nalanda. The name of his queen mentioned in the Nalanda sealing is Shrimitradevi. He was succeeded by his son Kumaragupta III.

Coinage

• 
  Coin of Narasimhagupta Baladitya, circa 495-530 CE.
• 
  Nalanda clay seals of Narasimhagupta.
• 
  A gold coin of contemporary Alchon Huns king Toramana with Lakshmi on the reverse (circa 490-515), inspired from contemporary Gupta coins, such as those of Narasimhagupta Baladitya.[11][12]

References

1. CNG Coins
2. Allen, John (1914). Catalogue of the coins of the Gupta dynasties. p. 137.
3. "According to Hiuen-tsang, Narasimhagupta was forced to the humiliating position of paying tribute to Mihirakula." Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 221. ISBN 9788122411980.
4. Indian History. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 396. ISBN 9781259063237.
5. Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D, Kailash Chand Jain p.249
6. Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas by Ashvini Agrawal p.245
7. Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks by Jason Neelis p.168
8. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh p.521
9. Sankalia, Hasmukhlal Dhirajlal (1934). The University of Nālandā. B. G. Paul & co.
10. Sukumar Dutt (1988) [First published in 1962]. Buddhist Monks And Monasteries of India: Their History And Contribution To Indian Culture. George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London. ISBN 81-208-0498-8.
11. CNG Coins
12. The Identity of Prakasaditya by Pankaj Tandon, Boston University

Sources

• Mookerji, Radhakumud (1995). The Gupta Empire. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 119. ISBN 9788120804401.