The Maitrakas of Valabhi were initially the:

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) subordinates of the Guptas

Explanation:

• The Maitraka dynasty was established in Valabhi (present-day Gujarat) around the 6th century CE.
• They were originally subordinates (vassals) of the Gupta Empire.
• After the decline of the Guptas, the Maitrakas emerged as independent rulers.
• The founder of the dynasty, Senapati Bhatarka, was a military governor under Gupta king Skandagupta.
• They played a significant role in the political revival of western India after Gupta decline.

Information Booster:

• Valabhi was the capital of the Maitrakas and became a renowned center of learning and Buddhism.
• The dynasty ruled from around 475 CE to 775 CE.
• Maintained relations with other dynasties like the Harshavardhana of Kannauj.
• The Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited Valabhi and praised its learning institutions.
• They patronized Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Buddhism.
• The Maitrakas used both Sanskrit and local scripts in their inscriptions.
• Their administration resembled that of the Guptas, with governors and provincial divisions.