Kṣemendra
990 – 1070 CE - 11th century
Kṣemendra is a significant figure in the history of Sanskrit literature, not just poetry. He had a mastermind and a wide range of interests and wrote several treatises on various subjects. He is genuinely referred to as a polymath. Fortunately for us, he recounts his personal history and dates the composition of some of his works. He was a disciple of Gaṅgāka, the son of Prakāśeṇḍrā and the grandson of Sindhu. He was born a Śaiva, but after studying the teachings of Somācārya Bhāgavata, he converted to a Vaiṣṇava. He was the father of Somendra and the preceptor of Udayasimha and Prince Lakṣaṇāditya. Kṣemendra wrote his works during the reign of the King of Kashmir, Ananta and his son Kalasa, placing him in the second and third quarters of the eleventh century A.D. He was born into a prosperous family. He studied literature under the celebrated Śaiva philosopher and literary exponent Abhinavagupta.
Kṣemendra’s contribution to Sanskrit literature is unique. Kṣemendra’s contribution to Sanskrit literature is valued only after its discovery in 1871, the first of the 34 works attributed to him. He incorporates social satire, as well as humour and sarcasm in his works. His Bhāratamañjarī, Rāmāyaṇamañjarī, Brhtathāman̄jari, Padyakādambarī (lost) and Avadhānakalpalatā are, respectively, the abstracts of the two great epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa, Guṇāḍhya Bṛhatkathā, Baṇa’s Kādambari. All these were written in verse. Among his other works, known only by name, are Śaśivansamahākāvya, Anrtāraṅgakāvya, Avasarasāra, Muktāvali Vātsyāyanasūtra-sāra, Lalitaratnamālā, Kanakajānaki, Nrapāvaḷi, Lāvaṇyavati and Pāvanapan̄cāśikā. His known and printed works include Nittikalpataru, Chārucharyā, Deśopadeśa, Narmamālā, Nittilatā, and Vinayavalli. Darpadalaṇa, Sēvyāsēśvakōpadēśa, Cāturvargasaṅgraha Aucityavicārācārcā Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa and Daśāvatāracarita.