Examine how Chandrayagupta II (also known as Vikramaaditya) represented golden age of Gupta empire seen from both literary and archaeological evidence: why golden age of cultural development. (Answer in 250 words)

Why golden age of cultural development:

① Development of Sanskrit language – Sanskrit works by Kalidasa (Kumar Sambhav, Meghadutam)

② Various scholars in his court – Amarsiinha (role in lexicon), Aryabhatta (science and technology role)

③ Patronised Hindu (Vaishav and Shaivite) tradition, also with Jain – Temple architecture beginning seen

④ Fa Huen – record of Buddhist kingdom – visited in his reign

⑤ Patronised music and singing activities (Veena or cars)

⑥ Gold coin issue – showed economic strength – basis for cultural development

⑦ Coins show lion slaying – expand of territory – thus integration of various cultures

⑧ Expansion of tribes – brought in hindu gold → Shakti cult developed

⑨ Various standards developed (Shilpashastra)

Foundation for Art and Literature:

① Development of Nagara style – From Nagara Keitaar → to essential big temples

② Depth to Sanskrit language – poems, plays, verses all of them popularized

③ Promoting music and literary traditions

④ Literature expanded with standardisation → integration of Buddhist Mahayana traditions

⑤ Development of mathematical ideas – Aryabhatta gave 0; Suryasidhanta Pythagorean theory built

⑥ United India → thus enhanced cultural exchange for development

⑦ Foundation laid → continued even after his death – Nalanda University, and others by Kumaragupta

— Akansh Dhull · AIR 3