Gupta Period: Art, Architecture and Literature

Navaratnas – Kalidas, Amarsinh, Dhanvantari, Varahminhira, Vararuchi, Ghatakarna, Kshapranak, Vetalabhatt and Shanku – In the court of Chandra Gupta 2
Kalidasa – Abhijnanasakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Raghuvansham and Kumarsambhavam.
Harishena – Composed Allahabad Prasasti.
Sudraka – Mricchakatika, Vishakhadatta – Mudrarakshasa and Vishnusharma – Panchatantra.
Vararuchi, Baudhayana, Ishwar Krishna, and Bhartrihari contributed to both Sanskrit and Prakrit linguistics, philosophy, and science.
Varahamihira – Brihatsamhita also contributed to the fields of astronomy and astrology.
The Puranas in their present form were composed during this period. The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana were given final touches.

The finest examples of the period’s painting, sculpture, and architecture can be found in Ajanta, Ellora, Sarnath, Mathura, Anuradhapura, and Sigiriya.
Stone-studded golden stairways, iron pillars (The iron pillar of Dhar is twice the size of Delhi’s Iron Pillar), intricately designed gold coins, jewellery, and metal sculptures speak volumes about the skills of the metalsmiths.
Carved ivories, wood and lac-work, brocades, and embroidered textiles also thrived.
Further, practising vocal music, dance and several types of musical instruments including veena (an Indian musical stringed instrument), flute, and mridangam (drum) were a norm.
The art of casting metal images reached its climax during this period.

Bronze statue of Buddha near Bhagalpur.
Fashioned Buddha images at Sarnath, and Mathura.
Temple – The main deity along with the subordinate ones shows clear social discrimination and hierarchy. Example – Temples at Bhitargaon and Bhitari.