The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c16.9

c16.9

It was with such feelings that Chandragupta and the Lichchhavi clan set about the task of consolidating once more the material forces of Aryâvarta. In his short reign of five years, says Mr. Vincent Smith, "he extended his dominions along the Gangetic Valley as far as the junction of the Ganges and Jumna, where Allâhâbâd now stands; and ruled, during his brief tenure of the throne, a populous and fertile territory, which included Tirhût, Bihâr, Oudh, and certain adjoining districts."¹ In A.D. 326 Chandragupta died and his mantle fell upon his son Samudragupta, a young prince who had been thoroughly trained in the arts of war. And so successfully did he prosecute his father's mission that by the end of his reign, about 375, nine Râjas of the Gangetic plain, known as Aryâvarta, had become tributary to him. On the north, he ruled to the foot of the Himâlayas; on the south to the Narmada River; on the east to the Hooghly; and on the west to the Chambal River and the Jumna.² Moreover, by a tremendous raid through Southern India he had filled his treasury with the riches of Golconda and of the gold mines of Mysore.