Previous Year Question

Paramabhagavata means a supreme devotee or deeply devoted worshipper of Lord Vishnu. The title reflects the Vaishnava affiliation of the Gupta rulers.

According to epigraphic evidence contained in Epigraphia Indica associated with the Archaeological Survey of India, Chandragupta II was the first known Paramabhagavata among the Gupta rulers. Some of his coin legends also describe him as “Paramabhagavata Maharajadhiraja Sri Chandragupta.”

During the reign of Chandragupta II, the royal association with Vaishnavism is clearly visible. He had a special association with Garuda; Garuda is the vehicle of Vishnu and was widely used in Gupta royal symbolism. A Garuda-standard is also found on his coins.

An important historical clarification is necessary here. Some older references identify Samudragupta as the first Paramabhagavata and cite the Nalanda and Gaya copper plates as evidence. However, epigraphists have regarded these records as spurious, i.e. later forged or non-genuine inscriptions. Select Inscriptions explicitly states that Samudragupta never assumed the title Paramabhagavata and that the title was adopted by his successors.

Therefore, on the basis of authentic epigraphic evidence, Chandragupta II is the first known Gupta ruler to have assumed the title Paramabhagavata.