Govindagupta

Govindagupta (r.412 - 415 AD) has been mentioned in Basarh Clay Seal of Govindagupta (No. 42, L. 2; No. 32, L. 3). He is mentioned as the son of Chandragupta II. His mother's name as Dhruvasvamini. Basarh is village in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar.

Mandasor Stone Inscription of the time of Prabhakara-Malava (Vikrama) year 524 (=A.D. 467)

Mandasor Stone Inscription of the time of Prabhakara-Malava (Vikrama) year 524 (=A.D. 467) explains the basis of his name :

"The lord of the earth, i.e. king Chandragupta, produced a son whose exalted name was Govindagupta, who was as famous as Govinda (Visnu) for the glory of his virtues, and who resembled the sons of Diti and Aditi, i.e. the demons and gods."

The poet means that Govindagupta resembled demons in physical strength and valour, and gods in spiritual virtues.

Govindagupta probably ruled as emperor between (his father) Chandragupta II and (his younger brother) Kumaragupta I. His reign could not have been more than three years, the interval between the last known date of Chandragupta II (G.E. 93) and the earliest known date of Kumaragupta I (G.E.96). P. L. Gupta assigns his short regnal period between A.D. 412 and 415. That Govindagupta could have ruled as emperor only for a very short period is also evident from the fact that he has left no coins. Being a collateral, Govindagupta does not appear in the genealogical table in the inscriptions of Kumaragupta and his successors.

It is also likely that Kumaragupta I defeated or ousted Govindagupta and seized the throne; and after his accession, avoided all references to his elder brother.