Cultural and Diplomatic Interactions between the Guptas and Vakatakas
Keywords:
Gupta Empire, Vakataka Dynasty, diplomacy, cultural exchange, PrabhavatiguptaAbstract
This study explores the cultural and diplomatic interactions between the Guptas and the Vakatakas, two influential dynasties that shaped early historic India between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. Through an analysis of matrimonial alliances, artistic exchanges, religious affiliations, and administrative linkages, the research highlights how their cooperation fostered regional stability and encouraged the movement of ideas across North India and the Deccan. The marriage of Prabhavatigupta into the Vakataka dynasty serves as a focal point, illustrating the role of dynastic diplomacy in promoting cultural synthesis and political cohesion. The study further examines epigraphic and archaeological evidence to understand how shared ideologies of kingship and cultural patronage contributed to a period of significant artistic and intellectual flowering. Overall, the paper underscores the importance of inter-dynastic relations in shaping broader patterns of cultural integration in early Indian history.
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