SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE

CASTE SYSTEM

The social structure of Gupta Empire was highly influenced by religion. Hinduism divided people of Gupta Empire into five classes.
     
             The highest was composed of Brahmin (priest and teachers), Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya ( merchants and artisans) and ending with  Sudra (unskilled workers).

The Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya were included in Twice Born Groups i.e, incarnation or rebirth.
           
            The Pariah were outcaste and are considered untouchable.They were hardly considered a part of society, making it the lowest class.

           The division of the people was called the Caste System. Different classes were never allowed to speak or even look at each other. The belief in ones Dharma, or purpose in life, was to be their own class and do what that class demands of you kept in line.

POSITION OF WOMEN

Based on their status and religion in society the freedom of women is depended. But their was a general role for women to play in the society. All women were to rise the children and do all the household works. The women of the Gupta Empire were to please their husbands. In the Hindu religion, women were at the bottom of the social caste. They were often forced to married at young age to ensure virginity. They were like a toys. They were owned by their fathers and were passed on to their husbands. But, women who were wealthy or who had powerful families could get educated. Some women becomes philosophers, wrote poetry and played music. One of the most disadvantages of the women of the Gupta Empire were, they were not allowed to remarry. Widows sometimes commited Sati , or by setting themselves on fire. Women who were widows commited Sati because they lost a place to live as property was not inherited by widows from their husbands. Unmarried non-virgin was not wanted in the society.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STATUS OF PEOPLE                                               

According to Fa hein, a Chinese pilgrim, people of higher caste in Middle-India did not kill any living creature, nor drink intoxicating liquor, nor eat onions or garlic.

In contrast to the higher class, the lower caste people (Chandalas) lives sharply different. They lived in totally separate area, usually situated outside the cities. It was a social practice that when the Chandalas entered the gate of a city or market they used to instruck to struck a piece of wood to make themselves known so that the people of higher caste of the society knew and avoided them, and did not come into direct contact with them.

FOOD

According to the description of Kalidasa, the food of the people of Gupta period was both delicious and nutritious. Wheat and rice were their staple food. The cucumber, onion, garlic, pumpkin, gourd etc. were used as vegetables. Oil were contributed from mustard seed tamarind, betel nut, saffron etc. Moreover mango, orange, jack fruit, grapes, pomegranate, banana, coconut etc were obtained from gardens and forests. Various kinds of sweetmeats were prepared out of milk and sugar. Honey was another items which was used as a reception of guest and at other festive rites.



DRESS

The dress of men and women suited differently for various occasions. From Kalidasa, it is written that their was a hunting dress. Man put on dhoti, turban and scraf. They were generally made of cotton. Their wedding dress were made of silk. Women used sari and shawl. The main colours of their dress were - white, red, blur, saffron, multi-coloured and black. Jewellery was also important in their society, men and women have different jewellery suchs as ornaments for head and hair, ears, neck, arm, waist, feet and fingers. A large variety of Jewellery used by men and women are seen from the sculpters and the Ajanta paintings.


AMUSEMENT AND SPORTS

Kalidasa described the high standard of music both in theory and practice. music, dancung and acting were quite popular in the Gupta society. Sprinkled of coloured water was common in some festivity. Dice was another popular game. Hunting was another pastime. Elephant riding were favorites outdoor sports of the kings.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture was the mainstay of the common people during the Gupta period. There was an increased more and more land for cultivation, the revenue from land was still the main source of income of the state. Wastelands were bought for cultivation by digging of tank, wells, canals etc. They also set up large number of irrigation which boosts the Agricultural process in dry land. Rice, Wheat, Barley were the principal crop during the period. Vegetables like peas, beans etc were also grown, oil-seeds was cultivated on large scale.

According to to the record of Fa-Hein it can be describe as follows:

Fa-hein's main aim was to pious Buddism and discover places and events connected with Buddhism.So,he did not focus on the lifestyle of the Indians in the 5thCentury AD.He described how the people lived a happy and peaceful life along with prosperity.

Marriages:-

Marriages were usually arranged by the parents.The Darmashastra advocate that widows have to celibate and restrain themselves.The Brihaspati Smirti advocated an alternative suggestion i.e burning of the widow on the funeral pyre of her dead husband(Sati).Remarriage of widows often disliked was not completely forbidden.The married widow did not enjoy social status.


Slaves:

The Narada Smirti has a detailed discussion of slavery and different types of slaves.Slaves could be handed down to successors like property.Slaves were generally called general slaves or personal attendants.A child born from a slave woman was also considered a slave.The Narada Smirti described the amputation of the foot of the person who abduct a slave women.Slaves could be freed from their captive only when the master wishes to do so.However,the master must perform a ritual i.e he must take a jar of water off the shoulder of the slave and sprinkle parch grain along with flowers on the slave while chanting 'you are no longer a slave' 3 times.


Untouchables:-

Untouchables or Chandalas were suppose to live outside the towns and market places.they were expected to strike a piece of wood to inform them of their presence.If a person was in close range with an untouchable,that person must perform a ritual to purify himsef.Fa-hein also mentioned about the fear of pollution by the approach of the outcasts or untouchables