The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

mercenary soldiers, although they also
had substantial trading interests. These
functions have largely disappeared in
contemporary times. All of the akharas
have certain symbols that signify
their organizational identity, and the
Atala akhara is represented by this
particular spear.

Chandogya Upanishad

Along with the Brhadaranyaka
Upanishad, one of the two earliest
upanishads, the religious texts that form
the most recent stratum of the Vedas.
Internal textual factors indicate that
the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is the
older of the two, and since large sections
of both texts are the same, the
Chandogya Upanishad is thought to
be dependent on the Brhadaranyaka.
Both texts are also much larger than the
other upanishads and much less
organized, rambling from topic to topic
without an apparent focus. Both
are written in prose rather than poetry,
with the text itself often presented as
a dialogue between various speakers.
Their profoundly speculative discus-
sions about the nature of the
universe became important sources for
the later upanishads.

Chandra Gupta I

(r. 320–35 C.E.) Founder of the Gupta
dynasty, which like the Maurya dynasty
had its capital in Pataliputra, identified
with the modern city of Patna in the
state of Bihar. The Gupta capital was
later moved to Allahabad. At the height
of the dynasty, under Chandra Gupta II
(r. 376–415), the Guptas controlled all of
northern India and modern Pakistan, as
well as the Coromandel Coast all the
way to modern Madras. The Gupta
dynasty flourished between about 350
and 550 C.E., and its reign is associated
with the development of Indian culture
and a revival of Hinduism in northern
India. Both were accomplished through
the patronage of the Gupta kings, who
are remembered both as patrons of high

culture and ardent devotees (bhakta)

of Shiva.

Chandra Gupta II

(r. 376–415 C.E.) Third in the line of great

monarchs in the Gupta dynasty, after

his father, Samudra Gupta, and his

grandfather, Chandra Gupta I. The

Gupta dynasty reached its territorial

peak under Chandra Gupta II. During

his reign the Shaka kingdom of the

Malwaregion was finally conquered,

after which the Guptas controlled by

conquest or tribute all of northern India

and modern Pakistan, as well as the

CoromandelCoast all the way to mod-

ern Madras. The Gupta dynasty flour-

ished between about 350 and 550 C.E.,

and its reign is associated with the

development of Indian culture and a

revival of Hinduism in northern India.

Both were accomplished through the

patronage of the Gupta kings, who are

remembered both as patrons of high

culture and ardent devotees (bhakta) of

Shiva. This is especially true of Chandra

Gupta II, since one of the major figures

associated with his court is Kalidasa,

considered the greatest of the Sanskrit

poets. See also Shaka era.

Chandragupta Maurya

(r. 321–297 B.C.E.) The founder of the

Maurya dynasty. The young

Chandragupta began his empire by

Chandragupta Maurya

Coins from the Gupta dynasty.