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Samudragupta (AD 335-380)
Famous emperor, belonging to the Gupta dynasty, Samudragupta ascended the throne in Kaliyuga's year 2782 ( i.e. 320 B.C. ) and made an ample extension of the Gupta Empire. in accordance with the Prayag-pillar-inscription Samudragupta made the entire Bharatvarsha region an autonomous area. He had diplomatic relations with the foreign countries as well. A description of the great bravery ( heroism ) of Samudragupta and his being a man with a magnanimous mind, we get in a transcript recorded in ancient Iran from which we can infer the extent of his victory in all directions. He did perform an Asvamedha yajna after his all round victory. Among the great kings endowed with super human personalities due to whose endeavour the period of existence of the Gupta empire was called the Golden Age of Indian History the name of Samudragupta is at the top. Vasubandhu, the great Buddhist wise man had been provided patronage by Samudragupta.
Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I. Samudragupta is considered as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. He is also compared to Alexander or Napoleon as a conqueror. He performed Ashwamedha Yajna (horse sacrifice) after defeating nine kings in the north and twelve kings in the south to underline the importance of his conquest of almost the whole of India. He also assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja (King of Kings) and Chakravartin (Universal Monarch).
Samudragupta was not a only a great warrior but also a great patron of art and literature. He gathered around himself a galaxy of poets and scholars, the most prominent ones being Harishena, Vasubandhu and Asanga. He himself was a great poet and musician. In one of his coins, he is shown playing the Veena. Samudragupta was a staunch believer of Hinduism and was a worshiper of Lord Vishnu. He also respected other religions like Buddhism and also allowed the Buddhist king of Ceylon to build a monastery at Bodh-Gaya.
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