One important feature of Indian history is the fact that for each succeeding phase we get comparatively larger number of sources. For Gupta period we get more sources than the Mauryan and post-Mauryan periods. We have larger number of epigraphs which are in most cases dated and still larger number of literature.
Numismatic evidence also increases in number whereas foreign sources become more accurate and identifiable. We can divide the sources of the Gupta period mainly into archaeological and literary.
Archaeological sources can further be subdivided into epigraphic, numismatic and excavation reports including the extant monumental structures. Literary sources can be subdivided into religious texts (Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain) and secular texts (including foreign accounts).
We all know that the ancient Indian scripts remained undeciphered for a long time. The earliest efforts to have them read by Feroz Shah Tughluq and Akbar had failed. However, the sustained efforts of the British scholars yielded fruits and the Ashokan inscriptions were read by James Princep. Before Princep could finally read the Brahmi scripts many partially successful attempts were made by Charles Wilkins, Captain Troyer and W.H. Mill.
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Charles Wilkins was able to read almost half the letters of the Gupta alphabet by 1789. In 1 Captain Troyer read a part of the Allahabad Pi inscription of Samudragupta. In 1837 W.H. deciphered the Bhitari Pillar inscription Skandagupta.
Finally James princes not only the earliest Brahmi script, but also successfully a host of inscriptions of the Gupta period and 1871 a table of the Gupta alphabet was publis The early epigraphists committed many e in their decipherment and interpretation of Gupta records and in absence of any corroborate evidence, they had to grope in the dark for a 1 time in efforts to place it in time and space.
But patient efforts of the epigraphists very soon laid skeleton bare. General Cunningham was able solve many vexed problems. He had suggested 319 as the initial year of the era used in the G inscriptions though he later retracted from position. In 1888 J.F. Fleet published the epigra belonging to the Gupta dynasty in the vol. Ill the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum.
Epigraphy, though conventionally regarded a branch of archaeology, is in fact much moreel to the evidence of literary variety. For, the evide of an epigraph comes to us more or less in a finis form, having a pattern and ready to tell a story, cannot, therefore, be properly evaluated with taking into consideration the nature and pu of the document, and the mental outfit, attitu prejudices and predilections of its author ands contemporary colour which unconsciously spil over into its composition. (S.R. Goyal)
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The Gupta epigraphs may broadly be divid into two groups. First group consists of priv; records which generally records the donations favour of religious establishments. The epigra of the second group is also divided into two grou (i) prashastis or purvas and (ii) tamra shasan the epigraphs commemorating particul achievements or kirti of a king were calW prashastis or purvas.
Kalhana calls them pratisht shasanas which is slightly different from pure prashastis. The tamra-shasanas on the other cord the grants made in favour of learned hmanas, religious institutions or deserving dividuais and officials. They are generally graved on copper-plates and seldom on stone abs.
The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, and the undated Mandasor inscriptions of Yashodharman, the Mehrauli stone inscription of Chandra, Eran stone inscription of Samudragupta, Junagarh rock inscription of Skandagupta and Bhitari pillar inscription of Skandagupta belong to the pure prashasti genre.