Indian Epigraphy c15.t15.9

c15.t15.9

It is as yet unknown which early member of the Imperial Gupta dynasty founded the Gupta era, i.e. the regnal reckoning of which amongst them was continued by his sucessors. Since Candragupta I, father of Samudragupta and grandfather of Candragupta II, was the first imperial ruler of the family, the first year of the era is generally believed by scholars to be equivalent to the year of that king's accession. This is quite probable in view of the fact that his grandson ascended the throne in the year 57 of the era, but is by no means certain. It is not at all impossible that the era started from the first regnal year of Gupta, Ghaṭotkaca or Samudragupta who were respectively the grandfather, father and son of Candragupta I. If the spurious Nalanda³ and Gaya⁴ inscriptions of respectively the 5th and 9th regnal years of Samudragupta are believed to be forged copies of two genuine records of that king bearing the said dates, the era may have started from Samudragupta's accession. But the records appear to have been copied from those of his successors.