Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions/Conclusion I
Concept Publishing Company Delhi, 1978
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Conclusion I
We may review our discussion before we conclude as follows :
Names of the Gupta kings
Among the names of the Gupta kings 'Gupta' is an example of an abbreviated name. Ghatotkaca, Ghatotkacagupta, Puru- gupta and Vainyagupta are the Epic names. Budhagupta is a naksatra-nama (name based on constellation). Bhanugupta is a name based on the Sun god.
Govindagupta, Narasimhagupta and Vishnugupta are Vaisnavite names. Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Kumaragupta I, Skandagupta, Kumaragupta II and Kumaragupta III are Saivite names. The names of Skandagupta and Kumaragupta exhibit the popularity of the war-god Skanda or Karttikeya.18
The names Chandragupta and Kumargupta were repeated in the Gupta family which is against the Mahabhasya rule19 that the first part of the name can be borrowed from one of the three male ancestors but the second part of the name should be different. It may be said that the repetition of the second part could not be avoided due to the tendency of the Guptas to add to their names the termination 'Gupta' which had almost become their family name.
Names of the Gupta queens
Among the names of the Gupta Queens Kumaradevi, Anantadevi, Candradevi, Srivatsadevi and Mitradevi were after gods. In Dattadevi, the name-ending termination 'datta' forms the first part of the name. The name Dhruvadevi or Dhruvasvamini was based on Dhruva (polar star). This was against Smrti injunctions. Manu says that a brahmana should not marry a maiden who bears the name of a constellation, tree or river, of a low caste, of a mountain, of a bird, snake
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 107
or slave, or of anything terrifying.20 The names of women derived from the names of the naksatras are forbidden by the Dharmasutras.21
Devi meaning goddess is the common termination in all the names except Dhruvasvamini which ends in Svamini meaning 'mistress'.
It is interesting to note that Kamarupa king Pusyavarman's son Samudravarman was named after the Gupta king Samudragupta. Moreover, Samudravarman's queen took the same name as that of the queen of Samudragupta, i.e. Dattadevi.22 Barua considers Samudravarman to be the contemporary of Candragupta II, Vikramaditya and the celebrated poet Kalidasa.23
We also take into account the other feminine names which are as follows :
(i) Damasvamini
(ii) Devaki
(iii) Harisvamini
(iv) Padmavati
(v) Rami
(vi) Sabhati
(vii) Samadhya
In feminine names we notice the terminations svamini and vati. We find that the feminine names in our inscriptions generally end in 'ī'.
Now we classify the names according to the deities they represent. Some names were used by more than one person and somehow seem to have been popular. As they appear in more than one inscription and for different individuals we have listed them separately.
Saivite Names
1. Acyutabhadra
2. Sivakunda
3. Ratibhadra
4. Bhavanatha
5. Kumarabhava
6. Bhavaraksita
7. Rudrabhava
8. HimaSarmman
9. Sarvvadasa
10. Aparasiva
11. Bhavadatta
12. Vasusiva
13. Guhavisnu
14. Jyesthadama
15. Kumaravisnu
16. Kumaradeva
108 Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions
17. Sarvvavisnu
18. Svamicandra
19. Somavisnu
20. Sivanandin
21. Bhava
22. Somapala
23. Boyila
24. Stambhesvardasa
25. Guha
26. Ganapati
27. Samkara
28. Ganapatinaga
29. Damarudra
30. Candravarmman
31. ISvaracandra
32. Rudradatta
33. Kumarabhuti
34. Rudradeva
35. Kumarayasas
36. Ugrasena
37. Mahasena
38. Acyutanandin
39. Sthanudatta
40. Bhima
41. Mahasenadatta
42. Bhimavarman
43. Sivasarmman
44. Ciratadatta
45 Abhayamitra
46. Sikharasvamin
47. Bhadra
48. Candragupta
49. Bhattibhava
50. Sarvvanaga
51. Bhattisoma
52-53. Candragupta (I),(II) and (III)
54. Guhanandin
55. Samudragupta
56. Kusika
57. Rudrasoma
58-60. Kumaragupta (I), and (III)
61. Skandagupta
62. Somila
63. Udi(ta)caryya
64. Upamita
65. Kumaradevi
66. Sambapala
67. Anantadevi
68. Skandapala
69. Candradevi
70. Prabhucandra
71. Surasmicandra
72. Rudradasa
73. Sasinandin
74. Sthanunandin
1. Jayadatta
2. Hari-Sresthin
3. Krsnadatta
4. Sridatta
5. Harideva
6. Srideva
7. Bhima
8. Krsnamitra
9. Krsnadasa
10. Srinatha
11. Gopadatta
12. Harisarmman
13. Haridasa
14. Jayasvamin
15. Visnudatta
16. Guhavisnu
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 109
17. Dhrtivisnu
18. Jayavisnu
19. Harisimha
20. Kirttivisnu
21. Gopala
22. Kumaravisnu
23. Sribhadra
24. Sarvvavisnu
25. Visnubhadra
26. Somavisnu
27. ...visnu
28. Yasovisnu
29. Gopasvamin
30. Harisena
31. Sribhadra
32. Acyutanandin
33 Acyuta
34. Dhanyavisnu
35. Gopala
36. Harivisnu
37. Guha
38. Indravisnu
39. Hari
40. Matrvisnu
41. Nabhaka
42. Varunavisnu
43. Visva
44. Visnudasa
45. Nandadama
46. Visnugopa
47. Sribhadra
48. Goparaja
49. Visvavarmman
50. Kurma(a)ravyabhajta
51. Visnupalitabhatta
52. Acyuta
53. Gopadevasvamin
54. Madhava
55. Jayabhattisvamin
56. Harisena
57. Devavisnu
58. Gopasvamin
59. Haritrata
60. Harisena
61. Devaki
62. Cakrapalita
63. Harisvamini
64. Jayadatta
65. Padmavati
66. Acyutadasa
67. Govindagupta
68. Visnugupta
69. Anantadevi
70. Srivatsadevi
71. Narasimhagupta
Names based on Skanda or Karttikeya
1. Kumarabhava
2. Guhavisnu
3. Kumaravisnu
4. Kumaravisnu
5. Kumarabhuti
6. Kumarayasas
7. Mahasena
8. Mahasenadatta
9. Guhanandin
110 Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions
Names based on Ganapati
1. Ganapati
2. Ganapatinaga
Names based on Moon
1. Himasarmman
2. Somavisnu
3. Somila
In order to determine the prevalence of Saivite names we may keep out of our consideration, names which are not directly based on Siva but are based on auxiliary deities. Names based on god Moon are Bhattisoma, Isvaracandra, Prabhucandra, Sasinandin, Svamicandra, Somapala, Candravarmman, Candragupta (I) and (II), queen Candradevi and Surasmicandra.
Names based on Lord Krsna
1 . Krsnadatta
2. Harideva
3. Krsnamitra
4. Harisarmman
5. Gopala
6. Hari
7. Nandadama
8. Gopadevasvamin
9. Haritrata
10. Krsna
11. Devaki
12. Harisvamini
13. Hari-sresthin
14. Krsnadasa
15. Gopadatta
16. Haridasa
17. Harisimha
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 111
18. Gopala
19. Gopasvamin
20. Harisena
21. Harivisnu
22. Visnugopa
23. Goparaja
24. Harisena
25. Gopasvamin
26. Harisena
27 Govindagupta
Though Krsna is an incarnation of Vishnu24 , for determining the currency of names based on Visnu directly, we will not count names based on Krsna.
Names based on Rama
Lord Rama is believed to be the seventh incarnation of Visnu. Rama occurring in our inscriptions seems to have been Rama Raghava. The names based on Rama are given below :
1. Laksmanasarmman
2. Ramasvamin
3. Raghava
4. Rami
5. Laksmana
6. Ramadasa
7. Rama
8. Ramaka
9. Ramasarmman
Other minor deities of the period which emerge out from an analysis of the proper names are as follows :
Names based on Naga
1. Nagadeva
2. Rajyanaga
3. Viranaga
4. Sarppapalita
5. Ahisarmman
6. Nagasarmman
7. Bhatanandin
8. Nagadatta
112 Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions
Names based on Indra
1. Puramdara
2. Jayanandin
3. Mahendragiri
4. Devaraja
5. Indravisnu
Names based on Sun
1. Bhaskara
2. Adityabandhu
3. Divakaranandin
4. Arkkadasa
5. Ravila
6. Prabhakara
7. Devabhattaraka
8. Bhanugupta
9. Mitradevi
The only name based on Goddess Durga is 'Durgadatta' The two names based on Matr cult (seven Matrkas) follow :
1. Matrdasa
2. Matrvisnu
There is only one name based on god Varuna (Sea-god), which is Varunavisnu.
The names based on Nara form of God are Narayanadasa Naradeva and Nara-Nandin.
We find that both the Saivite and Vaisnavite names are almost equal in number. If we delete the names of allied deities we get about 51 Saivite names and 44 Vaisnavite names. Thus Saivite names seem to be more popular. An indication of the leaning of the Gupta kings towards Vaisnavism is clear from the Garuda emblem of the Guptas.25 The gupta monarchs also used the title 'Paramabhagavata' i.e.; the devout devotee of Visnu, in their imperial records. Majority of the names of Guptas show a preference for Saivism. We know from the
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 113
Mathura Pillar Inscription of the year 61 (No. 41) about the Lakulisa sect of the Pasupatas which was very popular at Mathura. Kusika one of the four main disciples of its founder Lakulisa who is regarded as the last incarnation of Siva finds mention in this record. Parasara, Upamita, Kapila and Udita were the Pasupata teachers, who flourished in the Gupta period. We know of the prevalence of the worship of goddess Durga and Siva's two sons, Karttikeya and Ganesa. There are two names based on Cupid (god of love) which are Ratibhadra and Maravisa. The popularity of Naga worship in the Gupta period known from other sources is confirmed by an analysis of the names. Other categories of names are Buddhist and Jaina names which also indicate popularity of Hindu sects to some extent. They are as follows :
Buddhist and Jaina names
1 . Abhayamitra
2. Guhanandin
3. Gosarmman
4. Jitasena
5. Dat(tt)ilacarya
6. Parsva
7. Buddhamitra
8. Bhattibhava
9. Bhattisoma
10. Bhadra
11. Madra
12. Rudrasoma
13. Sarhkara
14. Santideva
15. Sanasiddha
16. Somila
17. Buddha
18. Samghiladeva
19. Samghila
A large number of names discussed by us reveal an inclination towards Saivism. Buhler had already proved from the date of the Sanchi Stupa Inscriptions that the worship of Visnu and Siva is older than Buddhism and Jainism. It can be guessed that the donors mentioned in the records or their ancestors adhered to these creeds before their conversion and that they
114 Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions
received their names in accordance with the established customs of their families.26
Epic and Puranic names
We also find some Epic and Puranic names which show the popularity of the Epics and the Puranas. The names are :
1 . Ghatotkaca
3. Purugupta
4. Vainyagupta
5. Partha
6. Prthu
7. Vyasa
8. Yudhisthira
9. Bhima
10. Dhananjaya
11. Sagara
12. Parasara
Naksatra names
Another considerable group of proper names is derived from the names of Naksatras. This shows that the rule in the Grhyasutras recommending the use of Naksatra names, was obeyed. These names are as follows :
1. Pusyamitra
2. Dhruvasarman
3. Dhruvadevi, Dhruvasvamini (against the rules in case of women)
4. Budhagupta
Madra and Khasaka are the two names which may be termed as tribal names, presumably pointing to the tribes to which they belonged.
Names based on colour
Names based on colour are (1) Kalaka, (2) Kapila, (3) Pingala and (4) Nilaraja.
Names based on animals
The names based on animals are:
1. Simhaha(da)tta,
2. Simhanandin,
3.Ganda,
4.Sarabharaja,
5.Vyaghraraja,
6.Hastivarmman,
7.Chagalaga,
8. Sandaka,
Names based on abstract qualities
The names based on abstract qualities are :
1. Bhadradeva
2.Kamanakunda,
3.Rupasarmman,
4.Susarmman,
5.Bandhumitra,
6.Amrtadeva,
7.Samadhya,
8.Ribhupala,
9.Dhrtimitra,
10.Matidatta,
11.Ksemadatta,
12.Balavarmman,
13. Dhruvabhuti,
14.Matila,
15.Virasena.
We can also classify the names into two categories, Sanskrit and non-Sanskrit or Prakrit names. A few of the second group
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 115
may be enumerated here :
Prakrit names
1. Piccakunda
2. Prabhamitra
3. Kahkuti
4. Bonda
5. Vailinaka
6. Karppatika
7. Risidatta
8. Rami
9. Dudika
10. Lidhaka
The names of brahmanas occurring in our inscriptions sometimes end in a non-brahmanic cognomen such as Bhatta, Datta and Kunda, etc., which are available in the inscriptions of Bengal. Surnames like Datta, Dama, Pajita, Pala, Kunda (Kundu), Dasa, Naga and Nandin are now confined to Kayasthas of Bengal but not to brahmanas. Bhandarkar27 has pointed out that identical surnames are used by the Nagara-brahmanas. It cannot be said definitely whether the name-endings in daman occurring in the names of several Saka satraps portraying Iranian influence28 have any relationship with the name-ending 'dāman' found in our records.
Noticing brahmanic names with a large number of modern Bengali Kayastha cognomens in several early epigraphs discovered in Bengal, some scholars have suggested that there is a considerable brahmana element in the present day Kayastha community of Bengal. Originally the professions of Kayastha (scribe) and Vaidya (physician) were not restricted and could be followed by people of different Varnas including the brahmanas. So there is every probability that a number of brahmana families were mixed up with members of other Varnas in forming the present Kayastha and Vaidya communities of Bengal.29
Kayasthas frequently figure in our inscriptions usually as professional writers. The office of Kayastha (scribe) seems to have been instituted before the beginning of Gupta period. It seems likely that they had not developed into a caste during our period "This may account for the non-reference to them as a caste in the contemporary Smrtis".30 Majumdar31 says
116 Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions
that the Gupta emperors were vaisyas but this is wrong, as we have shown that they were certainly non-vaisyas.
Professions were not determined rigidly according to caste. We find in our records that some brahmanas followed non-brahmanical professions. Likewise some [[kshatriyas followed non-ksatriya professions. We find in the Eran Stone Pillar Inscription of Budhagupta, of the year 165 (No. 18) that Matrvisnu, a brahmana, was a feudatory of the Guptas in Central India. Indravisnu, and Varunavisnu the great grand-father and grand-father respectively of the donor are described as pious brahmanas who were engaged in spiritual and religious pursuits. In the Inscription the heroic and victorious character of Matrvisnu is stated. From the Indore Copper Plate Inscription of Skandagupta of the year 146 (No. 16), we come to know that two kshatriyas Acalavarman and Bhrukunthasimha (भ्रुकुंठसिंह) were merchants of the town of Indrapura in U.P.
References
Note - References 1 to 17 appearing in this chapter are for previous chapter - Names of Women
1. Vg. part I, p. 351.
2. Amarakola, 2.9.73, p. 331.
3. Fz. p. 1284, see Svamin and Svamini.
4. Cf. Uy. 3/4 p. 146. A daughter is called 'Duhita' as she milks the cow.
5. No. 13. V. 6.
6. Hz. p. 323, note 2.
7. See Fz. p. 495, 2-3.
8. Ibid col. 3.
9. (Dx) 1 p. 261.
10. Fz. p. 585, col. 1
11. Ibid., p. 877, col. 1
12. Ibid., p. 878, col. 3.
13. Supra, See Devaki
14. S.K. Chatterji, Hg. Part, II, p. 695 :
"Rami(< Rama), s(y)ami (< Syama), Bami (Varna, Vami).
15. Fz. p. 1204, col. 2.
16. S.K. Chatterji, Hg. Part II, p. 695 : s(y)ami (< Syamd).
17. Fz. 1094, col. 2.
18. Cf. H,D. Sankalia, Pz. p. 107.
19. JJ. XIV, p. 242 (Mahabhasya, ed. by Kielhorn, Vol. I, p. 4).
20. Manu-smrti, III. 8-9.
21. Varaha-Grhya-sutra, III, 1-3 : JJ. XIV, p. 233 : Cf. Pargiter, M. pp. 134-6.
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions 117
22. K.L. Barua, Zz. p. 41 .
23. Ibid., p. 43.
24. Fz. p. 877, col. 2.
25. No. 1, L. 24.
26. Cf. GJ. II, p. 95, p. 366 if.
27. GJ. 19, p. 246.
28. Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya, Mg. pp. 13, 77-78.
29. JJ.19, pp. 17-18.
30. R.C. Majumdar, Pg. p . 345.
31. Ibid., p. 344.
Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions: End of Chapter Conclusion I