Who was the Gupta contemporary of the Kadamba King Kakusthavarman?
By N. Lakshminarayan Rao
Summary
This historical inquiry addresses the question of which Gupta emperor was the contemporary of Kakusthavarman, the powerful Kadamba ruler of Karnataka. Early scholars variously proposed Chandragupta II or Kumaragupta I based on coin types and inscriptions. The author re‑examines copper‑plate grants from Talagunda and Halsi, which record marriage alliances between the Kadambas and the Guptas. He argues that the style of the script and the titles used (such as Mahārājādhirāja and Paramabhāgavata) point to the later part of Chandragupta II’s reign. Additionally, he cites astronomical references in the grants that can be correlated with known eclipses to support a narrow date range. The article concludes that Kakusthavarman most likely corresponded with Chandragupta II, not Kumaragupta, and that this alliance facilitated the southward expansion of Gupta influence.
Conclusion
By combining epigraphic analysis with astronomical data, the article resolves a longstanding chronological puzzle. It suggests that Chandragupta II, not Kumaragupta, was the Gupta contemporary of Kakusthavarman, highlighting the sophistication of early medieval diplomatic networks.