Fa Hien, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of which Gupta ruler?

Introduction / Context:
Chinese pilgrims who visited India left valuable travel accounts that help historians reconstruct ancient Indian history. Fa Hien, also written as Faxian, was one of the earliest such pilgrims. This question asks under which Indian ruler he visited India. Correctly linking Fa Hien with the appropriate king helps place him in the timeline of ancient Indian dynasties and the development of Buddhism.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The pilgrim in question is Fa Hien, a Chinese Buddhist monk. • The options name four famous Indian rulers: Harshavardhana, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Chandragupta Vikramaditya. • We assume that the question refers to the dominant ruler of North India during Fa Hien visit.

Concept / Approach:
Fa Hien travelled in India in the early fifth century of the common era. At that time, the Gupta Empire was a major power in North India. Chandragupta II, often called Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the ruler during the main part of Fa Hien travels. Fa Hien description of cities, monasteries, social conditions and Buddhist sites under Gupta rule is an important source for historians. The other rulers in the options belong to different centuries and cannot match the time of Fa Hien visit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the Gupta period is often called a golden age of ancient India and roughly spans the fourth to sixth centuries of the common era. 2. Remember that Fa Hien trip took place in the early fifth century and that he stayed for several years in India. 3. Identify Chandragupta II, also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, as the Gupta emperor ruling in this period. 4. Check the other options: Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka are Mauryan rulers from the third century before the common era. 5. Harshavardhana ruled much later in the seventh century of the common era, associated with a different Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang or Hiuen Tsang. 6. Therefore, among the options, only Chandragupta Vikramaditya fits the time frame of Fa Hien visit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on ancient Indian history clearly state that Fa Hien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II. They also mention that another famous pilgrim, Xuanzang, came later during the time of Harsha. This separation of pilgrims by associated kings is a common exam tip: Fa Hien with Chandragupta II, and Xuanzang with Harshavardhana. This widely accepted pairing supports the choice of Chandragupta Vikramaditya as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Harshavardhana: A ruler of the seventh century, known from the travels of Xuanzang, not from Fa Hien account. Chandragupta Maurya: Founder of the Mauryan Empire in the third century before the common era, much earlier than Fa Hien time. Ashoka: A Mauryan emperor famous for his role in spreading Buddhism, but he ruled about six centuries before Fa Hien journey.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up Chinese pilgrims and associate Fa Hien with Harsha instead of Chandragupta II. Others generalise and connect any Buddhist traveller with Ashoka because of his strong Buddhist links. A simple memory aid is to remember that Fa Hien belongs to the Gupta age and Xuanzang to the age of Harsha. Keeping this pair clear in memory helps answer such questions quickly and accurately.

Final Answer:
Fa Hien visited India during the reign of the Gupta ruler Chandragupta Vikramaditya.