# Vainyagupta

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? Gupta Ruler

Vainyagupta ? Gupta Ruler Reign 543 – 548 CE Predecessor Vishnugupta Successor Bhanugupta Dynasty Gupta Father Purugupta

Gupta Empire 320–550 Gupta (c. 240 – c. 280) Ghatotkacha (c. 280–319) Chandragupta I with Kumaradevi (c. 319–335) Kacha (c. 335) Samudragupta (c. 335–375) (Ramagupta) (c. 375) Chandragupta II (380–415) Kumaragupta I (415–455) Skandagupta (455–467) Purugupta (467–473) Kumaragupta II (473–476) Budhagupta (476–495) Narasimhagupta (495–530) (Bhanugupta) (c. 510) Vainyagupta (c. 507) Kumaragupta III (c. 530 – c. 540) Vishnugupta (540–550) v t e

**Vainyagupta** ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit_language): वैन्यगुप्त) was one of the lesser known kings of the [Gupta dynasty](/source/Gupta_Empire).

He is known from the fragmentary clay sealing discovered at [Nalanda](/source/Nalanda) and the Gunaighar copper plate inscription dated [Gupta era](/source/Gupta_era) 188 (507 CE). [R. C. Majumdar](/source/R._C._Majumdar) considers him as son of [Purugupta](/source/Purugupta). In the Nalanda fragmentary clay sealing he is mentioned as the *Maharajadhiraja* and a *paramabhagavata* (devout worshipper of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu)), while the Gunaighar copper plate inscription mentions him as the *Maharaja* and a *Bhagavan Mahadeva padanudhyato* (devotee of [Shiva](/source/Shiva)).

[Nalanda](/source/Nalanda) clay seal of Vainyagupta.

Vainyagupta had the first construction of Kashi Vishwanath temple between 500 CE - 508 CE during his reign.

## Identification

Historians came to know about Vainyagupta after discovering the Nalanda clay seal, Gunaighar copper plate and coins belonging to his reign. The artifacts neither contain his father nor his grandfather's name. According to [R.C. Majumdar](/source/R.C._Majumdar), Vainyagupta's father was [Purugupta](/source/Purugupta). The Gunaighar copper plate mentions one Vainyagupta donating land to a Buddhist monastery at Gunaighar. Majumder and D.C. Ganguli amongst others feel that Vainyagupta mentioned in Gunaighar copper plate is same the Vainyagupta of the Nalanda clay seal who was a ruler of the [Gupta Empire](/source/Gupta_Empire). However, Vainyagupta of the Gunaighar copper plate is a devotee of [Shiva](/source/Shiva) and the Vainyagupta of the Nalanda seal is a worshipper of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu).[1]

## Reign

Vainyagupta ascended the throne in c. 507.[2] According to the Nalanda seal, his title was *Maharajadhiraja*. However, according to the Gunaighar plate, his title was simply *Maharaja*.[3]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAgarwal1989233_1-0)** [Agarwal 1989](#CITEREFAgarwal1989), p. 233.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAgarwal1989234_2-0)** [Agarwal 1989](#CITEREFAgarwal1989), p. 234.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGanguly198794_3-0)** [Ganguly 1987](#CITEREFGanguly1987), p. 94.

## References

- Agarwal, Ashvini (1989), *Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas*, Motilal Banarsidass, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788120805927](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788120805927)

- Ganguly, Dilip Kumar (1987), *The Imperial Guptas and Their Times*, Abhinav Publications, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788170172222](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788170172222)

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