Gupta War of Succession

These included Kumaragupta's brother Govindagupta, a nephew called Ghatotkachagupta, and one Prakashaditya; gold coins discovered in the course of excavation at Mandasor and elsewhere establish the existence of this latter one.

It could also be that both events occurred simultaneously, with Skandagupta fighting the Hunas while a succession crisis arose after Kumaragupta's death.

[7] Some scholars suggest that she may have been a junior queen or belonged to a lower caste, citing a line from the Bhitari pillar inscription as evidence.

[3][9] Other historians have placed him as a governor, regent, or even as a usurper who founded a small kingdom in western Malwa and reigned for a period.

He misunderstood one line in the Bhitari Pillar inscription as an evidence of his contention that Skandagupta was "elevated to Aryan status" through the panegyrics of bards.

Gupta supports it also as Skandagupta's mother's name being missing from the inscription as implying shame over her low rank.

It is impossible with regards to the traditionally courtly poetry meant at praising kings that the text would even imply something negative about his lineage.

[8] गीतैश्च स्तुतिभिश्च वृत्तकथनैः यं हेपयत्यार्यता । Translation:Whom (his innate) nobility causes to blush by reason of the narrations of his exploits by means of songs and eulogies".The author of the inscription seems to have been inspired by the following verse of Kalidasa.

Though he had conquered the ranks of his enemies by means of sharp arrows, he felt shy on account of his modesty, when he was eulogised ".This claim of the mother of Skandagupta being of lower status comes from a wrong understanding of the text.

[11] The Bhitari Pillar inscription reports that nearly the Gupta Empire was brought on the verge of collapse due to civil war.

After the death of Kumaragupta I, it is likely that there was a power struggle which led to the rise of Govindagupta and Ghatotkachagupta who may have declared their independence.

[11] The Indo-Hephthalites, also known as the White Huns, invaded India from the northwest under Skandagupta's reign and advanced to the Indus River.

[1][14] These were not merely raiders; the date of the invasion is uncertain, but it was probably early in Skandagupta's reign, or even under his father Kumaragupta, who had found time for the building of temples like this one.