Legacy of Gupta Art and Architecture

The Gupta period is a golden era of India as it was effectively marked by extensive discoveries and inventions of science, technology, literature, and art development of Indian classical music. Sri Gupta established the Gupta empire effectively c. 240-280 CE. 

Architecture and Art of Gupta Empire

The era between the centuries of 4th and 6th, the CE (Common Era) is recognised as the Golden era of India due to the considerable achievements of the country in the fields of philosophy, science, and art. On the concept of Gupta age architecture, it includes both sculptural temples as well as the temples of rock-cut caves. Guptas established the temples of Buddhist rock-cut at Bagh, Madhya Pradesh, and Ajanta, Maharashtra.

In the Gupta period, the Guptas established Hindu structural temples for the first time in India. The temples of Gupta era are:

Varaha and Vishnu temples in Madhya Pradesh

The temple of Kankali Devi at Jabalpur

The temple of Mahadeva and Parvati at Nachna Kuthara

The temple of Dasavatara at Deogarh 

The art of Gupta era primarily includes paintings and the paintings are effectively found in Bagh cave as well as Ajanta caves. The Hindu religion before the Gupta era used to be recognised as “Vedic religion”. The iron pillar was established by Chandragupta II in Delhi.  The iron pillar has effective inscriptions that were implanted from the era of Guptas. The inscriptions of the iron pillar in Delhi define Chandra’s name that is effectively recognised as Chandragupta, the Gupta ruler. 

The Gupta Empire can be described as the fourth largest entity of politics who have ruled appropriately in India. Guptas followed decentralized administration. The Gupta age of architecture brought effective knowledge as well as architects in terms of making efficient and effective structures and temples. The era of Guptas has an effective and positive impact on Hindu religion in India. Majority of temples in the era of Guptas were craving and represented Gods and goddesses, primarily avatars of Lingams and Vishnu. The era has assisted to develop knowledge among people in the field of art and architecture. Guptas have developed effective advancements in philosophy, religion, astronomy, logic, dialectics, art, engineering, as well as science. There is an effective contribution of the Gupta Empire in the religion of Hinduism as well as in the development of art and architecture in India. 

Development of Indian Classical Music in Gupta Era

The era of Guptas is well known for its excellence on the grounds of Indian culture as well as art. In the concept of Indian classical music, the era of Guptas arrives from the exertions of Vatsyayana and Kalidasa among others. Kalidasa wrote multiple instruments of Indian classical music for instance Shankha, Vamshi, Mridang, Pushkar, Vipanchi Veena, as well as Parivadini Veena. Kalidasa also discussed different kinds of songs in the development of Indian classical music such as Apsarogeeti, Streegeet, and Kakaligeet, as well as Swarasaptaka, Tana, and Murchana.

Vatsyayana during Gupta period listed almost 64 arts or Kalas in his “magnum opus Kamasutra”. In “Kamasutra” Vatsyayana described the musical instruments of playing, dancing and singing among 64 Kalas. Fa-Hien visited India during the Gupta period and noticed the effective prevalence of music in Indian society. From the period of Guptas, different kinds of Indian classical music were effectively played in temples. The Gupta era has developed Indian art and architecture as well as it has developed the functions of Indian classical music. 

The Vedic era saw priests composing hymns while Indian music developed during the Gupta era with the help of Vatsyayana and Kalidasa who introduced new instruments. This era is considered a Golden era for culture and music, with royal patronage and skilled female musicians. Chandragupta was a highly trained musician and there were centers for entertainment like Sangeet Graha and Natya Shaala. The common instruments of Indian classical music in this era were Mridang, Veena, Venu, and Sankha.

Conclusion 

It can be concluded that the Gupta era is widely regarded as a Golden Age for art, architecture, and music, with royal patronage and skilled female musicians. The common instruments of Indian classical music during this time were Mridang, Veena, Venu, Sankha, and Bheri.