SANSKRIT IN THE REIGN OF MAHENDRA VARMAN

          Some of the occupants of the throne were themselves scholars and poets of no mean repute.  Among the royal authors like HarshaVardhana, SundaraPandya, BallalaSena etc., MahendraVarman of Kanchi also deserves Special mention as they left works that are studied even at the present day.

          In this respect, the MahendraVarman also called VicitraCitta= “curious-minded”, in the south, set examples that were initiated by some of the ablest among their successors.

          The MattavilasaPrahasanam was written by Mahendravarman, the Pallava king who was also called MahendraVikraman I in 600-630 A.D.  It is a variety of Prahasana among the ten types Dramas in Sanskrit.  In this Prahasana variety, in which comic element dominates.  Heritics, servants, libertines and degraded persons take part in it.  It is a farce depicting the degraded condition of life led by the adherents of Buddhism and of Kapalika and Pasupata sects of Saivism.  In this work the author describes the city life of Kanchi. Karpata is mentioned as the author of a manual for thieves and a hint to the story of the Kiratarjuniyam of Bharavi are found in this work.

          Dandin the famous poet was patronized by this king Mahendra-Varman in his court.  He was author of many and different genres in Sanskrit literature.  His Gadya Kavyam titled DasaKumaraCaritam is a prose work of considerable merit.  The simple style and the political divisions of India mentioned in it suggest that the work could not have been later than the 7^th century A.D.  Dandin is famous for his simple and graceful style – “Dandinah padalaalityam” is popular saying.

          He is also the author of an Alankara work called Kavyadarsa.  Tradition attributes three works to Dandin “Trayo dandi- prabandhaasca trishu lokeshu visrutaah”.