The Gupta Era
By Dhirendra Nath Mukherji
Summary
Mukherjee’s article examines the Gupta era, an era dating system adopted by the Gupta dynasty and later by regional powers. He discusses evidence from inscriptions, coins, and astronomical texts to determine the starting year of the era, concluding that it began in A.D. 319‑320. The article explains how the era’s use persisted beyond the fall of the Guptas, being employed by later dynasties in Bengal, Bihar, and central India. Mukherjee analyses the difference between the Gupta era and the Kuṭṭan era, clarifies confusion with the Harṣa era, and examines why the Guptas chose to inaugurate a new epoch rather than adopt the Śaka or Vikrama eras. He explores administrative and ideological reasons, suggesting that the new era signalled a return to indigenous sovereignty. The study also highlights the role of the Gupta era in calibrating historical chronology.
Conclusion
Mukherjee concludes that the Gupta era not only facilitated chronological reckoning but also expressed the dynasty’s political ambition. Its widespread adoption underscores the prestige of Gupta rule and provides modern historians with a crucial anchor for dating early medieval events.