Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c20.s1.2

c20.s1.2

² In the *Modern Review* (November), 1929, p. 499 f., it has been suggested that the Guptas are of Kāraskara origin. But the evidence on the point is hardly conclusive. The identification of the “accursed” Chaṇḍasena of the *Kaumudīmahotsava* (adopted son of Sundaravarman), whose family was uprooted (p. 500) with Chandra Gupta I, son of *Mahārāja Śrī* Ghaṭotkacha whose dynasty ruled gloriously for centuries, is clearly untenable. The mere fact that Lichchhavis helped Chaṇḍasena is not enough to prove that the prince in question is identical with Chandra Gupta I. Lichchhavis appear as enemies of Magadha as early as the fifth century B.C. For a summary of the plot of the drama, which is attributed by some to a female writer, see *Aiyangar Com. Vol.*, 361f. If Sundaravarman, and his son Kalyāṇavarman are real historical figures, and if they actually ruled over Magadha, they must be placed either before Mahārāja Śrī Gupta or after Bālāditya (6th century A.D.). The memory of Varman *ādhipatya* over Magadha was fresh at the time of the Sirpur Stone Inscription of Mahāśiva Gupta (*Ep. Ind.*, XI, 191). *Cf.* also Pūrṇavarman and Devavarman mentioned by Chinese writers, as well as kings of the Maukhari line. The origin of the Imperial Gupta family is wrapped up in obscurity. We only know that they probably belonged to the *Dhāraṇa* gotra (IHQ, 1930, 565). They may have been related to Queen Dhāriṇī, the chief consort of Agnimitra. Dr. R. C. Majumdar points out (IHQ, 1933, 930 ff.) that according to a Javanese text (*Tantri Kāmandaka*) *Māhārāja* Aiśvaryapāla of the Ikshvāku race traced his genealogy to the family of Samudra Gupta. Little reliance can, however, be placed on the uncorroborated assertions of late writers. Even more unreliable is the testimony of works like the *Bhavishyottara Purāṇa* which, according to some critics, 'is a palpable modern forgery' (*NHIP*, VI. 133n). *Cf. Proceedings of the I. H. Congress*, 1944, pp. 119 ff.