Ksemendra and His Times: Socio-Religious & Economic History of Kashmir as Depicted by Ksemendra

by Sarla Khosla

The work deals with the socio-religious history of Kashmir in 10 &11 c. A.D. It is based on original works of Ksemendra & allied sources including the upto date archaeological evidences. Except the octagerian writer Ksemendra no one has written about the corrupt life of common man in Kashmir. He in his satirical style, teaming will jokes has not spared from thieves and prostitutes to Kayastha and judges. The psychological study of contemporary society e.g. foreign students, vanika, wife & Kuttani & Mathadesika, barbarele has been illucidated as told by the poet with an aim of guiding the stray youth and eradicate the social abuses of the society. Full justice is done to the religious condition before & after 10-11 c. A.D customs & manners of the time, and how they are still lingering in the worship of Siva (Amarnath yatra) & Devi (Ksira Bhavani fair) and customary feast so. Infact Dr. Sarla Khosla has recorded the traditional Buddhist philosophy upto the conception of ten Avataras. This is also perhaps done by the author for the first time. The work contains rarest photograph including that of Kuttani, the most recent excavation from Pandrathan near Srinagar.

About the Author:

Dr. Sarla Khosla is internationally known scholar of Buddhism. She is credited for writing history Political Social & Religious) of the period under reference. She sifts material provided in the philosophical, critical, sativical & detective Sanskrit works. Her works include History of Buddhism Kashmir, Gupta Civilization, Asvaghosa & his times, the evolution of Buddha Legen, Lalitavistara, Buddha bhakti and Epithets, Ksemendra and his times and various research articles includingd that of 'Buddhism in Ladakh' The present work 'Brhatkatha and Its Contribution', not only highlights the social religious and political history of the time, but also compares Brhatkatha Sloka Samgraha of Buddhaswami (a Sanskrti version of Gunadya's Brhatkatha) with Sudraka�s Kalidasa & Bana etc. she has assigned date to Sudraka and Mrchchkatikam utilizing the material provided in the play. The deteriorating trend of already corrupt and demoralized society of Brhatkatha's time to Mrchchkatikam�s time is also illucidated. How Buddhaswami has tried to raise the moral standard of the people (from trader to prostitute) is well explained & illustrated by Dr. Sarla Khosla, on the anatogy of Brhatkathas, Sudraka has also followed on the same lines. Both the heroes get married to harlots are (each) given the status of a wife. This great social change is beautifully narrated by both the authors & hence by the author or this work.