Bhitari Pillar Inscription of Skanda Gupta: Achievements | UPSC

The Bhitari Pillar Inscription of Skanda Gupta is a historical artifact that dates back to the 5th century CE. It was discovered in the village of Bhitari in Uttar Pradesh, India, and contains an inscription in Sanskrit. Skanda Gupta, a powerful ruler of the Gupta dynasty, commissioned the inscription to commemorate his military conquests, religious beliefs, and charitable acts.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Bhitari Pillar Inscription of Skanda Gupta, including its location and historical significance. Through this piece, you will get to know everything about the remarkable achievements of Skanda Gupta, his military conquests, religious and charitable acts, as well as the Huna Invasion that occurred during his reign.

Bhitari Pillar Inscription is also called as Bhitari Monolithic Pillar.

What is Bhitari Pillar Inscription?

Bhitari is a village, located in Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh. The Bhitari Pillar Inscription was constructed by the important Gupta ruler – Skanda Gupta who was the son of Kumar Gupta. Further, this inscription is written in 19 lines and divided into three parts. The initial part of the inscription describes the genealogy of the Gupta rulers, the second part describes the life of Skanda Gupta and the third part discusses the achievements of Skandagupta.

The height of the Bhitari pillar inscription is about 15 feet and everything is written in the Sanskrit language. In addition, this pillar is monolith i.e. it is made of one stone and it is red sandstone.

Information	Details
Location	Bhitari village, Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh
Inscription	Bhitari Pillar Inscription
Inscription Author	Skanda Gupta, son of Kumar Gupta
Language	Sanskrit
Number of lines	19
Divisions	Divided into three parts
Part 1	Genealogy of Gupta rulers
Part 2	Life of Skanda Gupta
Part 3	Achievements of Skanda Gupta
Height	15 feet
Material	Red sandstone
Type	Monolith (made of one stone)

Also Read: Hathigumpha Inscription

Achievement of Skanda Gupta

The following are the major achievements of Skandagupta:

• Successfully repelled the Huna invasion, which threatened the Gupta Empire’s existence.
• Expanded the Gupta Empire’s territory through military conquests.
• Constructed several temples and sponsored the creation of many works of art.
• Patronized the arts and encouraged intellectual pursuits.
• Known for his religious and charitable acts.
• Strengthened the administration and the economy of the Gupta Empire.
• His reign is considered one of the most prosperous and culturally significant periods in Indian history.
• The Bhitari Inscription clearly mentions that Skanda Gupta defeated the Sunga and the Huna.

Huna Invasion

• By the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the Gupta Empire had spread across northern and central India through the efforts of its mighty warriors Samudragupta and Chandragupta II.
• Moreover, Trade with the Roman Empire was at its peak, the Empire was touching the heights of its civilization in art, science, and literature.
• But the clouds of disaster were going to fall on this empire and India.
• The Gupta Empire weakened politically under the reign of Emperor Kumar Gupta in the late fifth century.
• The empire was battling internal rebellion and external aggression.
• In central India, the Pushya friends revolted against the empire, this revolt was crushed, but it further weakened Kumar Gupta’s central power.
• At the same time, the Hunas were expanding their power in Central Asia, they were marching toward China, Russia, the Roman Empire, and Iran.
• China survived to some extent under the cover of its Great Wall, but when it attacked Russia, the Volga River turned red with blood.
• The Roman Empire in the west was shaken by the invasion of Huna and weakened in such a way that the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD.
• He trampled Iran under his feet and now his eyes were on India.
• The weak central power of the Gupta Empire and the presence of the Hunas on the northwestern frontier of India put a big question mark on the security of the empire.
• Emperor Kumaragupta died untimely in 455 AD and it seems that Huna will now sweep India under their feet.
• In this crucial moment in India, Kumaragupta’s son Skanda Gupta Vikramaditya took the reins of governance into his own hands.
• The Junagarh and Bhitari Pillar Inscriptions show that Skandagupta boosts his military capability to fight the Hunas, sleeping with them on the ground in the camp to boost their morale.
• Skandagupta knew that if he had to fight the forces of Central Asia, he would have to give importance to the cavalry archers in his military capacity and he did so.
• Through his heroic prowess and his skillful military policies, Skandagupta crushed the Huna invasion and pushed them back from Sindh.

During his reign of 12 years, he was able to stop both internal rebellion and external aggression and he saved India from a tyrannical power. Further, Skanda Gupta’s victory over the Hunas is a very important moment if some defining moments in the history of India are taken out.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bhitari Pillar Inscription is a significant historical artifact that represents India’s rich cultural heritage. The inscription is an important piece of ancient Indian art, literature, and history. Its unique design and structure are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of ancient Indian artisans.

Further, the Bhitari Pillar Inscription continues to be a valuable source of information about the Gupta dynasty and its rulers, and its study and preservation are essential for understanding India’s ancient past.

Thank You!

Some other important Inscriptions:

Hathigumpha Inscription	Paharpur Copper Plate Inscription
Baigram Copper Plate Inscription	Kurram Copper Plate Inscription