SSC
The Vakataka dynasty was directly related by marriage to which Gupta ruler?
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Answer: Option A — Chandragupta II
Detailed Solution
The Vakataka dynasty was related by marriage to the Gupta ruler Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), whose daughter Prabhavati Gupta was married to the Vakataka king Rudrasena II.
About the marriage alliance:
- Chandragupta II married his daughter Prabhavati Gupta to Rudrasena II, the Vakataka king of the Deccan.
- Rudrasena II died young, after ruling for a short time.
- Prabhavati Gupta then ruled the Vakataka kingdom as regent for her young sons, for about 13 years.
- During this period, the Vakataka kingdom was strongly influenced by the Guptas.
- Her copper plate inscriptions (the Pune and Riddhapur plates) mention her Gupta ancestry; she proudly described herself as the daughter of Chandragupta II.
- Her mother was Kuberanaga, a princess of the Naga family.
Why the alliance was important:
- The Vakataka kingdom was located in the Deccan, in present-day Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
- The alliance with the Vakatakas helped Chandragupta II in his campaign against the Shakas (Western Kshatrapas) of Gujarat and Malwa, as the Vakataka territory was located strategically on the route.
- After defeating the Shakas, the Guptas gained control of western India and its ports, which increased trade.
About the Vakatakas:
- They ruled in the Deccan from the mid-3rd century to the late 5th century CE.
- They were patrons of art; some of the caves at Ajanta (such as Caves 16, 17 and 19) were made during the rule of the Vakataka king Harishena (5th century CE).
- They were Brahmanas, and followed Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
- They performed Vedic sacrifices.
- Pravarasena II wrote a Prakrit poem, "Setubandha" (Ravanavaho).
Other Gupta marriage alliances:
- Chandragupta I married Kumaradevi, a Lichchhavi princess.
- Chandragupta II married Kuberanaga of the Naga family.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Samudragupta, Skandagupta and Chandragupta I were not directly related by marriage to the Vakatakas.
Quick tip
Remember: Prabhavati Gupta (daughter of Chandragupta II) married Vakataka Rudrasena II and ruled as regent; alliance helped defeat the Shakas; Ajanta caves under Vakataka Harishena.
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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.