According to some inscriptions, Sri Gupta was the likely founder of the Gupta dynasty. Between 240 and 280 A.D., he reigned. Sri Gupta is described as Adhiraja of Gupta dynasty in the Poona copper inscription of Prabhavati Gupta (Daughter of Chandra Gupta II). Other early Guptas, however, were mentioned in many inscriptions, including Shiva Gupta in the Nasik inscription and Puru Gupta in the Karle inscription. The majority of the evidence, however, pointed to Sri Gupta as the founder of the Gupta dynasty. The Gupta dynasty reign was regarded as India’s golden age.

Sri Gupta – Features

• Sri Gupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty. He ruled from 240 to 280 AD. The Poona copper inscription of Prabhavati Gupta (daughter of Chandra Gupta II) describes Sri Gupta as the Adhiraja of the Gupta dynasty.
• The Guptas may have lived in northern or central Bengal during his reign.
• Sri Gupta is said to have ordered
• the construction of a temple in Mgasikhavana for Buddhist pilgrims from China.
• Sri Gupta is thought to have been a Vysha emperor. Sri Gupta was a member of the Dharana Gotra, according to Prabhavati Gupta’s Riddhapura copper plate inscriptions.
• Because the Dharana Gotra was one of the original 18 Gotras of the Agrawals,
• Sri Gupta was thought to be an Agrawal Vyshya.
• As the ruler of the Gupta dynasty, he was succeeded by his son Ghatotkacha.

Gupta Empire Origins

• The third of the four Hindu castes, which represents farmers and merchants, the Vaishya, was thought to have been the dynasty of the Gupta Empire.
• There are conflicting hypotheses as to the Guptas’ original home country, which they established between 240 and 280 CE.
• As kings who vowed loyalty to the Kushan Empire, historians speculate that Sri Gupta and his son may have been Kushan vassals.
• Ghatotkacha, Sri Gupta’s son and successor, ruled from approximately 280 to 319 CE, and Chandragupta, who succeeded him, took the throne around 319 and held it until 335 CE.

Sri Gupta – Extent of Empire

• There isn’t much known about Maharaja Sri Gupta. The accounts of the Chinese traveller I-Tsing in his historical documents had mentioned that the extent of the Gupta empire was too small when the founder of the Gupta empire, Sri Gupta, ascended the throne. It included parts of Bengal and a small portion of Bihar.
• Sri Gupta is thought to have been a Vyshya ruler.
• Sri Gupta was a Dharana Gotra member, according to Prabhavati Gupta’s Riddhapura copper plate inscriptions.
• Sri Gupta was thought to have belonged to the Agrawal Vyshya community
• because the Dharana Gotra was one of the original 18 Gotras of Agrawals.
• It is abundantly clear that Sri Gupta was a follower of Hinduism.
• Sri Gupta is identified as the king Che-li-ki-to mentioned in the writings of Chinese traveller Yijing, who wrote around 690 A.D.
• and described the king as ruling 500 years before.
• Sri Gupta also ordered the construction of a temple at Mrigashikhavana, near Varendri or Varendra Bhumi in Bengal, and granted revenue from 24 or 40 villages for temple maintenance. He built the temple for Buddhist pilgrims visiting from China.

Conclusion

Although Sri Gupta founded the Gupta dynasty, his grandson, Chandra Gupta I, was known as the most powerful king of the Gupta clan because he expanded and strengthened the Gupta empire. Sri Gupta had a son named Ghatotkacha, who succeeded him around the year 280 A.D.