Gupta

Author: * Kevin Gupta - 10 Posts on this thread out of 8 Posts sitewide.
Date: Apr 5, 2007 - 05:13

Gupta (Sanskrit: Goptri meaning military governor) is one of the most common surnames in northern India. Though the Indian caste system puts the Gupta clan under the category of traders and merchants, who are also known as Vaisyas according to the Vedic varnas. Guptas are related to other bania and khatri communities like the Aggarwals. However, their significant contribution to Indian mathematics, politics, culture, astronomy and literature gives them a unique place in Indian history.
The origin of the name Gupta dates back to 2000 BC. During the reign of Maharaja Agrasen, Gupta was added to the first name of military governors, a title available only to close relatives Agrasen.
After the Gupta community got involved in trading activities and increasingly merged itself with the bania communities. As a consequence, the legacy, political and cultural influence of the Guptas gradually declined while their economic influence increased. Along with the Aggarwals, they formed the bulk of India's merchant community, driving the region's economy. Today, most of the Guptas are well educated and form an integral part of the Indian upper- and middle-class society. Some of the richest Indians, like Lakshmi Mittal (Mittal Steel), Sunil Mittal (Bharti Telecom), Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways) and Sajjan Jindal (Jindal Steel) belong to the Gupta/Bania community.

Hinduism is practised by 99% of Guptaas. Guptas are scattered throughout northern India, especially in Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. Hindi and its dialects are spoken by the majority of Guptas. Some Guptas, especially those settled in Punjab and Haryana mainly speak Punjabi.

A few words about Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya' (Sanskrit: 'चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य;sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born on c. 340 BCE, ruled c. 320 BCE[1] to 293 BCE[2]) was the founder of the Mauryan Empire.

Chandragupta succeeded in bringing together much of the Indian subcontinent. As a result, Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and the first genuine emperor of India.[3]

Prior to Chandragupta's consolidation of power, small regional kingdoms dominated Northwestern India, while the Nanda Empire dominated the Gangetic plain.[4]

In Chandragupta's time, the Mauryan Empire spanned from Afghanistan and Balochistan in the West, Bengal in the East, and Kashmir in the North, except the Deccan plateau in the South. [2].

There are different theories regarding Chandragupta Maurya’s origins. Most regard Chandragupta to have originated from Magadha, possibly as the son of a Nanda prince.[5] A kshatriya people known as the "Mauryas" who had received the relics of the Buddha are also mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Digha Nikaya. Then the Moriyas of Pipphalivana came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And they sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: "The Blessed One was of the warrior caste, and we are too. We are worthy to receive a portion of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor."

There is however an alternative school including noted Buddhist scholar B.M. Barua and others like Dr J.W. McCrindle, Dr D.B. Spooner, Dr H. C. Seth, Dr Hari Ram Gupta, Dr Ranajit Pal who connect Chandragupta to Gandhara (in modern day Pakistan).[6]

Claims that the Mauryas were the Muras or rather Mors and were kshatriyas of Indo-Scythian origin have been proposed.[7] [8] [9]Based on Plutarch's evidence, other historians state that Chandragupta Maurya belonged to the Ashvaka (q.v.) or Assakenoi clan of Swat/Kunar valley ( modern Mer-coh or Koh-I-Mor — the Meros of the classical writings).[10] Ashvakas were a section of the Kambojas who were exclusively engaged in horse-culture and were noted for renting out their cavalry services.[11]

Regardless, his achievements, which ranged from defeating Macedonian armies to establishing centralized rule throughout Northern India, remain some of the most celebrated in Indian history. Two thousand years later, the accomplishments of Chandragupta and his successors are objects of great study in the annals of South Asian and world history.