Ghatotkacha

Ghatotkacha, who rules the Gupta family holdings around Bihar from about 280 to 319, is succeeded by his son Chandragupta (not to be confused with Chandragupta Maurya, the fourth century BCE founder of the Mauryan Empire).

In a breakthrough deal, Chandragupta is married to Kumaradevi, a Licchavi princess—the main power in Magadha.

With a dowry of the kingdom of Magadha and an alliance with the Licchavi, Chandragupta sets about expanding his power, conquering much of Magadha, Prayaga and Saketa, to establish by 321 a realm stretching from the Ganges River to Prayaga (modern-day Allahabad).

He assumes the imperial title of Maharajadhiraja, and expands his empire through marriage alliances.

The origins of the Guptas are shrouded in obscurity.

The Chinese traveler I-tsing (Heiun-Tsang), who provides the first evidence of the Gupta kingdom in Magadha, came to India in 672 and heard of Maharaja Sri-Gupta, who built a temple for Chinese pilgrims near Mrigasikhavana who lost their lives in epic battle.

I-tsing gives the date for this event merely as 'five hundred years before'.

This does not match with other sources and hence we can assume that I-tsing's computation was a mere guess.

The most likely date for the reign of Sri-Gupta is roughly 240 to 280.

The reign of his successor Ghatotkacha, who ruled probably from about 280 to 319, is considered insignificant; he is best known as the father of Chandragupta I, the first Gupta emperor.

In contrast to his successor, Ghatotkacha is also referred to in inscriptions as 'Maharaja'.