SRIHARSHA

flourished 12th century Indian author and epic poet whose Naiadhiyacarita, or Naiadha, is among the most popular mahakavyas in Sanskrit literature. The details of Sriharsha's life are uncertain. Reportedly, when Sriharsha's father, a poet in King Vijayacanra's court in Kannauj, was disgraced in a poetry contest, he retired and asked Sriharsha to avenge him. In time Vijayacanra became Sriharsha's patron, and it was at the king's request that the poet composed Naiadhiyacarita. Among his other writings are treatises on elements of Buddhist and Vedanta beliefs and eulogies on late kings. Persecuted by a queen jealous of an honour bestowed upon him, he retired to a quiet life by the Ganges River. Naiadhiyacarita, in 22 cantos, is a retelling of the tale of Nala, king of Niaha, and amayanti, princess of Viarbha, from the Mahabharata. It is a story of love overcoming obstacles, ending happily in marriage, and the poem is especially notable for its descriptive embellishments and skillful presentation of emotion. Sriharsha's mastery of metre is evident, but he has been criticized for occasional obscurity and excessive verbal ornamentation.