The Age of the Imperial Guptas c7.2.1

c7.2.1

The monarchs of the Gupta dynasty will be remembered for ever for the great reformation they brought about in Orthodox Hindu society and religion. From their inscriptions, coins, and seals they are distinctly Vaiṣṇavas. In the majority of their inscriptions and coins they are styled *Parama-Bhāgavata*. The emblems on their personal and official seals, Garuḍa and Lakṣmī, the vehicle and consort of Viṣṇu, also indicate that they were ardent Vaiṣṇavas. There is no indication of any of the kings from Candragupta I to Bhanugupta having leant towards any other Indian faith. They are clearly different from the Vardhanas of Thanesar in this respect. The inscriptions of the dynasty clearly indicate a revival of Hinduism or the Orthodox Brahmanical religion and a corresponding decline in the two remaining religions of India. From other inscriptions we learn that Jainism was still lingering in Mathurā but that the days of its prosperity were finally over. As no other material is available for the study of the religious history of the Gupta Empire we must return to a further study of the inscriptions of the period. There is no indication of a leaning towards any particular sect in the Allahabad pillar inscription save and except that Hariṣeṇa was a Hindu and probably a Śaiva. The fragmentary condition of the Eran pillar makes it difficult to assign it to any Hindu sect, but the sense is sufficiently clear to mark it as Hindu. The new Mathurā inscription of G.E.