Ma?khaka

The book entitled "Maṅkhaka: A Sanskrit Genius (Reflexion of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita and the Maṅkhakośa)" focuses on the literary expertise of Maṅkhaka, exhibited through his monumental works viz. the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita (ŚKC) and the Maṅkhakośa (MK).The ŚKC is a standard mahākāvya from the standpoint of the canons laid down for a mahākāvya by the poeticians. Mahākavirājarājānakaśrīmaṅkhaka, one of the foremost poets of Kashmir composed the ŚKC during A.D.1136-1142, consisting of twenty five cantos.It describes the destruction of the three cities of gold, silver and iron, in the sky, air and earth, built for the demons by Mayāsura. Later, these cities were burnt to ashes, along with the demons inhabiting therein by Lord Śiva, at the behest of the gods.The ŚKC proves the fact that Maṅkhaka has full command on Sanskrit language and has complete capability to write a mahākāvya. Again, the Maṅkhakośa or the Anekārthakośa is a kośa text of homonymous words. It is an important hand-book on lexicography. Thus, endowed with the title Karṇikāramaṅkha, Maṅkhaka occupies a unique place in the history of Sanskrit literature and truly deserves to be called a Sanskrit genius for the merits of his works.