Mod 6: Kumaragupta I and Nalanda โ Mahendraditya, the Peacock Coins, the Mandasor Silk-Weavers, the Founding of Nalanda Mahavihara and the New Nalanda University
Concept
13.11 Kumaragupta I Mahendraditya
๐ซ School level ยท NCERT Class 6โ12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
A long, prosperous reign
Kumaragupta I (c. 415โ455 CE), son of Chandragupta II and Dhruvadevi, enjoyed a long and mostly peaceful reign over the whole empire. He issued more inscriptions and coin types than any other Gupta.
| Theme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Titles | Mahendraditya, Shakraditya, Shri Mahendra |
| Coins | Over a dozen gold types; peacock type showing Kartikeya (Kumara) on a peacock; Ashvamedha type |
| Mandasor inscription (436/473 CE) | A guild of silk weavers who migrated from Lata (Gujarat) built a Sun temple; poem by Vatsabhatti |
| Other records | Bilsad, Karamdanda, Damodarpur copper plates |
| Late threat | The Pushyamitras attacked; his son Skandagupta fought them (Bhitari) |
- Kumaragupta I (c. 415โ455): Mahendraditya; peacock (Kartikeya) & Ashvamedha coins.
- Mandasor: silk-weaversโ guild, Vatsabhatti; Pushyamitra threat.
- Question: What is on Kumaraguptaโs peacock coins? Answer: Kartikeya on a peacock.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] Kumaragupta I is known by the title:
[UPSC level] Kumaragupta Iโs peacock-type coins show:
[BPSC level] Kumaragupta I reigned approximately:
[UPSC level] The Mandasor inscription of Kumaraguptaโs time records a temple built by a guild of:
[BSSC pattern] The poet of the Mandasor silk-weaversโ inscription was:
[BPSC level] Kumaragupta I was the son of:
[UPSC level] Late in Kumaraguptaโs reign the empire was attacked by the:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
What is on Kumaraguptaโs peacock coins?
Kartikeya on a peacock.Concept
13.12 The founding of Nalanda
๐ซ School level ยท NCERT Class 6โ12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
From a Gupta vihara to a world university
Nalanda Mahavihara, near Rajgir in Bihar, grew from the 5th century into the greatest residential centre of learning in Asia. Xuanzang credits its first monastery to King Shakraditya, usually identified with Kumaragupta I. Seals read โShri-Nalanda-Mahavihariya-Arya-Bhikshu-Sanghasyaโ.
- 2010: Nalanda University Act passed by Parliament (idea backed by the East Asia Summit); classes began in 2014 at Rajgir.
- 2016: the excavated site โNalanda Mahaviharaโ became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 19 June 2024: the Prime Minister inaugurated the new net-zero campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir.
- Nalanda founded by Shakraditya = Kumaragupta I; Harsha, Palas later.
- Act 2010; UNESCO 2016; new campus 19 June 2024.
- Question: When did Nalanda become a UNESCO site? Answer: 2016.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Nalanda University was founded during the reign of which Gupta emperor?
[BPSC level] Nalanda Mahavihara lies near which town of Bihar?
[BSSC pattern] Nalanda Mahavihara was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in:
[Current affairs 2024] The new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir was inaugurated on:
[BPSC level] The Nalanda University Act was passed by Parliament in:
[UPSC level] Xuanzang studied at Nalanda under the abbot:
[BPSC level] Nalanda was destroyed in about 1200 CE during the raids of:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
When did Nalanda become a UNESCO site?
2016.Concept
๐ฏ UPSC ยท BPSC ยท BSSC ยท State PSC level: PYQs and traps
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Mandasor guild; Nalandaโs history; coin types |
| BPSC | Nalanda founder; UNESCO 2016; new campus 2024 |
| BSSC / SSC | Kumaraguptaโs title Mahendraditya |
Nalanda University was founded by: (a) Harsha (b) Kumaragupta I (c) Dharmapala (d) Ashoka
- Xuanzang names Shakraditya โ Kumaragupta I โ as the founder. Harsha and the Palas were later patrons; Dharmapala founded Vikramashila.
- Nalanda founder = Kumaragupta I; Vikramashila founder = Dharmapala (Pala).
- UNESCO: Mahabodhi 2002; Nalanda 2016.
- Nalanda โ Kumaragupta I; Vikramashila โ Dharmapala.
- Question: Under whom did Xuanzang study at Nalanda? Answer: Shilabhadra.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] Who founded Nalanda Mahavihara, according to Xuanzang?
[UPSC level] Which pair of Buddhist university and founder is correct?
[BSSC pattern] The official seals of Nalanda name the institution as:
[UPSC level] Which Chinese visitor stayed at Nalanda in the late 7th century and described its routine?
[School] Nalanda is in which state?
[BPSC level] Kumaragupta Iโs Ashvamedha coins show that he:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Under whom did Xuanzang study at Nalanda?
Shilabhadra.