Q34
History of IndiaGupta & Post-Gupta Period
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription dates back to the
- a.Maurya period
- b.Gupta period
- c.Kushan period
- d.Saka period
Answer: (B) Gupta period
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription usually means the Prayag Prashasti of Samudragupta, composed in Sanskrit by his court poet Harishena, which belongs to the Gupta period. Maurya period is the tempting option, because the pillar itself was first raised by Ashoka and carries his edicts too; it also bears a later inscription of Jahangir. For the Kushan period, Kanishka's Rabatak inscription is a key source. For the Sakas, Rudradaman's Junagadh inscription is famous as the first long inscription in Sanskrit.