Question

Who among the following was a Navratna in the court of Chandra Gupta II?

• A. Brahmagupta
• B. Kalidasa
• C. Bhaskaracharya
• D. Aryabhatta

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Brahmagupta

The Gupta Empire

• After the decline of the Maurya Empire, the empire that developed in the Gangetic plain was the Gupta empire. It emerged in the fourth century AD. Chandragupta I, Samudragupta and Chandragupta II were the important rulers of the Gupta dynasty.

• Chandragupta I was the first powerful Gupta ruler. He introduced the Gupta era in 320 C E. Samudragupta, who succeeded him, extended the empire.

'Prashasti' was written by his court poet Harisena

• Samudragupta defeated the northern states of India and brought under his control the southern states.

• After Samudragupta, the Gupta empire was enlarged by Chandrgupta II. Chandragupta II is considered as Vikramaditya who is referred to in the stories of Vikramaditya.

• After defeating the Shakas he assumed the title 'Shakari.' He was called by the name 'Devaraj' in the Sanchi inscription and as 'Devagupta' in the edict of his daughter Prabhavati Gupta

• He transferred the capital from Pataliputra to Ujjain.

• The Navaratnas (Nine Gems), who were famous in various fields, lived in his court. Among them the most prominent was Kalidasa.

• Others are Khadakarpara, Kshapanaka, Vararuchi, Vetala Bhatta, Varahamihira, Amarasima, Shanku, Dhanvantari.

• Kalidasa was an important Sanskrit writer of the period. Abhijnanashakuntalam, Meghasandesam, and Kumarasambhavam are his great works.

• A number of books were written in Sanskrit language. The table shows the names of writers and the books