Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/322

 280 THE GUPTA EMPIKE AND THE WHITE HUNS poses of Buddhist ritual dropped out of use, and re- markable developments in the design of the Hindu temple were elaborated, which ultimately culminated in the marvellously ornate styles of the mediaeval period, extending from the ninth to the end of the twelfth century. The golden age of the Guptas, glorious in liter- ary, as in political, his- tory, comprised a period of a century and a quar- ter (330-455 A.D.), and was covered by three reigns of exceptional length. The death of Kumara, early in 455, marks the beginning of the decline and fall of BRAHMAN PRIESTS AT SECUNDRA INDIA, the From stereograph, copyright 1903, by Under wood -i J rto J-Vi "U^ ~h n A & underwoodfNew York. ins deatn, He naci involved, about the year 450, in serious distress by a war with a rich and powerful nation named Push- yamitra, otherwise unknown to history. The imperial armies were defeated, and the shock of military dis- aster had endangered the stability of the dynasty, which was " tottering " to its fall, when the energy and abil- ity of Skandagupta, the crown prince, restored the fortunes of his family by effecting the overthrow of the enemy.