Introduction
Rajashekhara (Sanskrit: राजशेखर, Rājaśekhara) was an eminent Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic. He was court poet of the Gurjara Pratiharas. He wrote Kavyamimamsa between 880 and 920 CE. The work is essentially a practical guide for poets that explains the elements and composition of a good poem. The fame of Rajashekhara rests firmly on his play Karpuramanjari, written in Sauraseni Prakrit. Rajashekhara wrote the play to please his wife, Avantisundari, a woman of taste and accomplishment. He is perhaps the only ancient Indian poet to acknowledge a woman for her contributions to his literary career.
Life
In his Bālarāmāyaṇa and Kāvyamimāṃsa, Rajashekhara referred himself by his family name Yāyāvara or Yāyāvarīya. In Bālarāmāyaṇa, he mentioned that his great grandfather Akalajalada belonged to Maharashtra. In the same work, he described his father Durduka as a Mahamantrin (minister) without providing any details. He mentioned in his works that his wife Avantisundari belonged to the Cahamana (Chauhan) family. In his works, he described himself as the teacher of the Gurjara-Pratihara king Mahendrapala I.
Works
The works attributed to poet Rajshekhara include:
- Viddhaśālabhañjikā
- Bālabhārata
- Karpūramañjarī
- Bālarāmāyaṇa
- Kavyamimamsa