Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?
A
:
Banabhatta
B
:
Harishen
C
:
Chand Bardai
D
:
Bhavabhuti
General Knowledge
Ancient History
Answer
Option 2 : Harishen
Explanation
The correct answer is Harishen.
Key Points
- Harishena was the court poet of the Gupta Emperor, Samudragupta.
- Allahabad Pillar inscription is also known as Prayag Prashasti consists of 33 lines composed by Harishena.
- Prayag Prashasti is one of the important epigraphic sources to know about the political history of the Gupta dynasty.
- Samudragupta was a patron of many poets and scholars, one of whom was Harishena.
- Samudragupta was the son and successor of Chandragupta I and was the greatest ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
- He conquered the Kushans and other small kingdoms and greatly expanded the Gupta empire.
- He had been termed as the Nepolean of India by V. A. Smith.
- He annexed the territories after defeating the monarchs of North India but did not annex south India.
- His authority over Java, Sumatra, and Malaya Island prove that he maintained a strong navy.
- He is said to have composed numerous poems.
- Some of his coins present him playing Veena.
- He also performed Ashvamedha sacrifices.
- According to Chinese sources, Meghaverma, the ruler of Srilanka, sent a missionary to him for permission to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya.
- The Allahabad pillar inscription mentions the title Dharma Prachar Bandhu i.e. he was the upholder of Brahmanical religion.
Additional Information
- Banabhatta was the court poet of King Harsha Vardhana.
- Chand Bardai was the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Bhavabhuti was the court poet of the King of Kannauj, Yashovarman.