Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources

Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources

Biographical writers took the lives of their royal patrons as the theme of their literary works.

So the biographical texts cannot be regarded as genuine history, although they contain some valuable historical information.

Their main object was the glorification of the king rather than giving a real picture of his life and times. That's why these are called "Prashasti Kavya," I, eulogy verse.

Banabhatta's Harsha Charita

• Banabhatta composed "Harsha Charita" based on the life of his patron king Harshavardhana in 620 AD.

• It is the earliest available biographical text in India.

• It is written in the Sanskrit language.

• It contains 8 Uchchhawas, i.e,. Chapters.

• The first 3 chapters contain the autobiography of Banabhat, and the remaining 5 chapters contain the life story of Harshavardhana.

• Though highly exaggerated, it gives us an excellent idea of court life under Harshavardhana and the social and religious life in his time.

Vakpatiraj's Gaudvaho (Gaud Vadhah)

• Vakpatiraj's "Gaudvaho" (Gaud Vadhah) contains a detailed description of the victories of Yashovarmana, the Chandra ruler of Kannauj, in which the most important event described is the illing (Vadha) of the Gaud king by the King of Kannauj, Yashovarmana.

Padmagupta Parimal's Navasahasanka Charita

• Padmagupta Parimal's "Navasahasanka Charita" describes the life story of Vakpati Munj, the Paramara ruler of Malwa.

Ballal's Bhoja Prabandha

• Ballal's "Bhoja Prabandha" contains the life story of Bhoja, the Paramara ruler of Malwa.

Bilhana's Vikramanka Charita

• Bilhana's Vikramanka Charita recounts the achievements of his patron Vikramaditya-VI (Vikramanka), the Chalukya King of Kalyani.

• It describes the circumstances in which Vikramaditya-VI (Vikramanka) ascended the throne of Kalyani.

Sandhyakar Nandin's Ramcharita

• Sandhyakar Nandin's "Ramcharita" throws light on the history of the Pala dynasty. Nandin called himself "Valmiki of Kali Yuga" and his patron Rampala as "Rama".

• Nandin wrote this book in an extraordinary style; it simultaneously narrates the story of Rama, the hero of "Ramayana", and Rampala, the Pala king.

• Such a style of verse (poetry) is known as "Dvyasraya Kavya", i.e., a verse with two bases (meanings).

Hemachandra's Kumarpala Charita

• Hemachandra's Sanskrit-Prakrit text "Kumarpala Charita" describes Kumarapala, the Chauluhya Solanki ruler of Anhilwara.

• It is also a Dvyasraya Kavya. It simultaneously narrates the story of the king Kumarapala and the rules of Sanskrit & Prakrit grammar.

Jay Singh Suri's Kumarpala Bhupala Charita

• Jay Singh Suri's "Kumarpala Bhupala Charita" describes Kumarpala, the Chaulukya ruler of Anhilwara.

Anand Bhatt's Ballalcharita

• Anand Bhatt's "Ballalcharita" describes the history of Ballal Sena, the Sena ruler of Bengal.

Chandbardai's Prithwiraja Raso

• Chandbardai was a court poet and friend of Prithwiraja-III, the Chauhan ruler of Shakambhari. He wrote "Prithwiraja Raso", the first epic of the Hindi language.

• "Prithwiraja Raso" describes the life account of Prithwiraja-III and the conflict between Prithwiraja-III & Muhammad Ghori.

Jayanak's Prithwiraja Vijaya

• Jayanak's "Prithwiraja Vijaya" contains a poetic description of the struggles of Prithwiraja-III, the Chauhan ruler.

Jayachandra's Hammir Kavya

• Jayachandra's "Hammir Kavya" describes the life account of Hammir Dev, the Chauhan ruler of Ranathambhore.

Rajanath-II's Achyutarajabhyudaya

• Rajanath-II's "Achyutarajabhyudaya" throws light on Achyutadeva Ray, the Tuluva ruler of Vijayanagar.

Court Poets & Their Patron Kings

Final Thoughts

Biographical texts from ancient and medieval India, although not entirely reliable as historical records, offer valuable insights into the political, social, and cultural life of their respective times.

Composed primarily to glorify royal patrons, these Prashasti Kavyas serve as valuable supplementary sources for reconstructing history.

Despite their literary embellishments and exaggerations, works like Harsha Charita, Ramcharita, Prithviraja Raso, and Vikramanka Charita preserve important details about dynasties, court life, and the personalities of notable rulers.