[Solved] Guptas and the Bhagavata Sect | Birth of Vaishnavism

Who contributes the most in the development of Bhagavata sect?

[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]

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Correct Option: D

The Gupta dynasty contributed the most to the development of the Bhagavata sect. They were supreme devotees of Vishnu and built the first significant structural temples dedicated to him.

A. Persian

B. Indo-Greek people

C. Kushan

D. Gupta

Analysis & Evidence

Concept

The Gupta period (4th–6th century CE) was the golden age of classical Hinduism, where the Bhagavata sect (devotion to Krishna/Vishnu) became a dominant imperial religion.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Gupta emperors were 'Parama-Bhagavatas' (supreme devotees of Vishnu). Their patronage led to the transition of Bhagavatism into systematic Vaishnavism.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: They commissioned the first Hindu structural temples, such as the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh.

Logic 2: The term 'Vaishnava' began to replace 'Bhagavata' as the cult integrated with broader Vedic traditions under Gupta sponsorship.

Logic 3: Puranic stories of Rama and Krishna were codified and immortalized in sculptures during this era.

Historical Logic Quest

"How did the Gupta rulers declare their religious identity on coins?"

They often adopted the title 'Parama-Bhagavata' and replaced the Buddhist trident with the 'Garuda Dhwaja' (Garuda-headed standard) on their coins.

The Topper's Edge

"Under the Guptas, the Bhagavata sect was transformed from a localized tribal cult of the Vrsnis into a pan-Indian institutionalized religion."

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