Somadeva

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Somadeva, 11th century CE, from Kashmir was the author of a famous compendium of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales - the Kathasaritsagara.

Not much is know about him except that his father's name was Rama and he composed his work (probably during the years 1063-81 CE) for the entertainment of the queen Suryamati, a princess of Jalandhara and wife of King Ananta of Kashmir. The queen it is said was quite distressed as it as time when the political situation was 'one of discontent, intrigue, bloodshed and despair'.

Though he was a Shaiva Brahmin, he was respectful of Buddhism and some of the tales in the Kathasaritsagara show Buddhist influences.

[edit] References

• The Katha Sarit Sagara, or Ocean of the Streams of Story, Translated by C.H.Tawney, 1880