Consider the following statements about Buddhism during the Gupta Age: 1. Gupta kings did not force religion on the people of their empire. 2. Images of Buddha were found in Sultangunj, Sarnath and Mathura. 3. The paintings at the Ajanta Caves depict various life events of Buddha. Which of the statements given above are correct?

• The Gupta period is called the Golden Age of ancient India and important kings like Samudragupta and Chandragupta II were patrons of art and literature. Samudragupta is represented on his coins playing the lute (vina), and Chandragupta II is accredited with maintaining in his court nine luminaries or great scholars. The nine gems were Kalidasa, Vetala Bhatta, Varahamihira, Vararuchi, Amarasimha, Dhanvantri, Kshapanak, Shanku and Ghatakarpura.

• Art was mostly inspired by religion and Buddhism was given great impetus. It led to the creation of massive stone pillars, cutting of beautiful caves and raising of high stupas or relic towers. Numerous images of Buddha were sculpted, for example, an over two metre high bronze image of Buddha was recovered from Sultanganj near Bhagaipur. Beautiful images of the Buddha were fashioned at Sarnath and Mathura.

• The greatest specimen of Buddhist art in Gupta times is provided by the Ajanta paintings. Most of the paintings are from the Gupta Age. They depict various events in the life of Gautama Buddha and previous birth stories of Buddha, as mentioned in the Jatakas.

• The Gupta period was poor in architecture. Only a few temples were made of bricks in Uttar Pradesh and a stone temple and some brick temples of Bhitargaon in Kanpur, Bhitari in Ghazipur and Deogarh in Jhansi.

• The Buddhist University at Nalanda was set up in the fifth century by Kumaragupta I.