Budhagupta
Gupta emperor
About Budhagupta
Rule Budhagupta had close ties with the rulers of Kannauj and together they sought to run the Alchon Huns (Hunas) out of the fertile plains of Northern India.
Northern India, and in particular the area of Eran, was next invaded by the Alchon Huns ruler Toramana, who set up his own inscription there, the Eran boar inscription of Toramana, circa 510-513 CE.
Inscriptions The Budhagupta pillar at Eran, raised in honour of Janardana, another name of Vishnu. On top if a double statue of Garuda, holding a serpent in his hands, with a chakra wheel in the back.
The Damodarpur copper-plate inscription informs us that Pundravardhana bhukti (the present-day North Bengal) was ruled by his two viceroys (Uparika Mahararaja) Brahmadatta and Jayadatta.
The Eran stone pillar inscription of two brothers, Mātṛviṣṇu and Dhanyaviṣṇu mentions Budhagupta as their emperor (Bhupati), under whom Maharaja Surashmichandra was governing the land between the Yamuna and the Narmada
A pedestal of a Buddha statue found at Govindnagar near Mathura bears an inscription "in the reign of Budhagupta in year 161" (circa 480 CE). This is the only known epigraphic evidence showing that Budhagupta's authority extended to Mathura in the north.:
Two standing Buddha images from Sarnath are known, with bear dated inscriptions mentioning the "Gift of Abhayamitra in 157 in reign of Buddhagupta" (157 of the Gupta era being 477 CE). There are also stone inscriptions in Varanasi and Eran and a seal from Nalanda mentioning Budhagupta as the ruler, as well as several copperplate inscriptions.
Second Buddha statue with inscription of Budhagupta A second statue of the standing Buddha found in Sarnath has a dated inscription (year 157) in the name of Budhagupta. This statue is defaced, but the devotees at the feet of the Buddha are beautifully preserved. The content is partially preserved, but essentially identical to an inscription on the first statue, made by the same donor, allowing for reconstruction.
Other inscriptions of Budhagupta
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Budhagupta?
Gupta emperor
When did Budhagupta die?
Budhagupta died in 480.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Budhagupta. https://biography.guide/budhagupta/
MLA: "Budhagupta." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/budhagupta/.
Chicago: "Budhagupta." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/budhagupta/.
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