Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c21.s2.12

c21.s2.12

¹ *Cf.* the Bilsaḍ, Mankuwar, Karamadaṇḍe and Mandasor inscriptions. Śiva appears to have been the favourite deity of many high ministers, Vishṇu of the most powerful ruling race and the sun of traders and artisans in the early Gupta period. The expression *Jitaṁ Bhagavatā* appears to have been popularised by the king. His example seems to have been followed by Mādhava Gaṅga of Penukonda plates (Ep. Ind. XIV. 334), Vishṇuvarman I Kadamba of Hebbata grant (Mys. A. S., A. R., 1925. 98), Nandivarman Pallava of Udayendiram (Ep. Ind., III. 145) and other kings of the south. The popularity of the cult of Kārttikeya is well illustrated not only by the sanctuaries erected in his honour, but also by the names Kumāra and Skanda assumed by members of the imperial family, and the issue of the peacock type of coins by the emperor Kumāra Gupta I. The Gupta empire reached the zenith of its splendour before its final decline in the time of the originator of the 'peacock' coins, as a later empire did in the days of the builder of the peacock-throne.