Model Question and Answers for APSC | Describe the achievements of the Gupta period in the fields of science, art and architecture. (APSC)

Ans : The Golden Age means a period in which remarkable progress is made in art, architecture, literature, astronomy and medicine.
Science:
1. Aryabhatta was the greatest astronomer and mathematician of the time. He was the first to measure the radius of the Earth, explain the shape of the Earth and also the formation of solar and lunar eclipses. He wrote the famous Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhatiyam.

2.Varamihira was another great astronomer who introduced Romaka Siddhanta which became the basis for the lunar calendar. He also wrote the famous Brihatsamhita, Brihatjataka and Pancha Siddhanta.
3. Brahmagupta preceded Newton in founding the Theory of Gravitation. He wrote Brahmasputa Siddhanta and Kandakadyaka.
Medicine
1. Dhanwantary perfected Charaka Samhita (Charaka belonged to the age of Kaniska), a text on ayurvedic medicine and surgery.
2. Navaneetaka wrote Navaneetakam on Ayurvedic medicine.
3.Palakapya wrote Hastya Ayurveda that dealt with Veterinary diseases.

Literature
1. All the literary forms (Kavya, Drama, Short Stories, Satire and Dictionary Composition) reached their perfection under the Guptas.
2. Amarasimha wrote Amarakosa, which was the 1st dictionary in Sanskrit.
3.Vishnu Sharma wrote Panchatantra stories, the first short stories collection in Indian History.
4. Chandragomin wrote Chandra Vyakarna which is still popular in Bengal.
5. A Jain monk Vimla wrote Jain Ramayan,according to which Sita was the sister of Rama. Sculpture,Painting and Architecture
1. In architecture, the Guptas were the first to start the construction of temples in North India. Guptas introduced the Nagara style of architecture. The Gupta temples are found at Gaya, Varanasi, Paharpur, Mathura and Deogarh.

2. In the field of sculpture, the royal Boar (Rajavaraha) was the best specimen of Gupta sculpture found in Gupta temples. Guptas continued the Ajanta cave painting tradition at Bagh caves (M.P).