Goparaja
Goparaja | |
---|---|
Maharaja | |
Male head, northern India, 5th-6th century CE. | |
Period | 5th–6th century CE |
Died | 510 CE Eran, Gupta Empire |
Father | Madhava |
Mother | Daughter of Sarabharaja |
Religion | Hinduism |
Military career | |
Battles / wars | Second Battle of Eran |
Goparaja, a Gupta Empire feudal ruler, is famous for his bravery and untimely death in the Second Battle of Eran in 510 CE. He fought in coalition with King Bhanugupta against the Huna king Toramana. A memorial inscription at Eran commemorates his bravery as well as the sacrifice of his wife, who carried out the ritual of sati.[1]
Early life
[edit]Goparaja was the son of King Madhava and the grandson, on his mother's side, of King Sharabha. His mother's line traces back to the Laksa dynasty, and the inscription addresses him as "an ornament" of this dynasty.[1]
Military campaigns
[edit]Battle of Eran (510 CE)
[edit]In the Second Battle of Eran, fought in Gupta Year 191 (510 CE),[2] Goparaja fought in coalition with Emperor Bhanugupta. The Eran inscription addresses Bhanugupta as "the mighty king, the bravest man on earth, equal to Partha (Arjuna)." This battle, most probably fought against the Huna king Toramana, was a typical example of the collaborative efforts of Gupta forces and their vassal rulers. Despite their bravery, Goparaja perished in the battle.[3][4]
Sacrifice and Memorial
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Eran_pillar_inscription_of_Goparaja.jpg/220px-Eran_pillar_inscription_of_Goparaja.jpg)
After his death, Goparaja's wife carried out the ritual of sati, immolating herself on his funeral pyre.[1] This act of devotion and sacrifice is highlighted in the inscription, which addresses her as "devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous." The cremation took place in the monsoon season of Gupta Year 191 (July 510 CE), and a memorial monument was set up at the location to commemorate both of them.[5][4]
Historical significance
[edit]The memorial inscription at Eran is a precious record in Gupta history, chronicling the bravery of Goparaja and the devotion of his wife. It is also a precious source of information on the socio-cultural practices of the time, such as the ritual of sati and the political relations with the Hunas in the second half of the Gupta period.[5]
Legacy
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Eran_pillar_of_Goparaja_%28detail%29.jpg/150px-Eran_pillar_of_Goparaja_%28detail%29.jpg)
The story of Goparaja and his wife has been recorded in the Eran inscription, which serves as a permanent record of their courage and sacrifice. The monument remains a significant archaeological and historical site.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c Sharma 1978, p. 43.
- ^ Bakker 2020, p. 33.
- ^ Goyal 1967, p. 371.
- ^ a b Agrawal 1989, p. 243.
- ^ a b c Bakker 2020, p. 71.
Sources
[edit]- Sharma, Tej Ram (1978). Personal and Geographical Names in the Gupta Inscriptions. Concept Publishing Company.
- Agrawal, Ashvini (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
- Goyal, S. R. (1967). A history of the Imperial Guptas. With a Foreword by R. C. Majumdar.
- Bakker, Hans T. (12 March 2020). The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia. Barkhuis. ISBN 978-94-93194-00-7.