Robin Stein

Kalhana was a historian from Kashmir who lived in the 12th century. He composed the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir, in Sanskrit between the years 1148 and 1149. Our understanding of Kalhana's life is derived primarily from his own writings, with scholars like Mark Aurel Stein analyzing them extensively. Robin Donkin has noted the rarity of developed historical chronologies in native Indian literature before the 13th century, highlighting Kalhana's work as an exception.

Born into a Hindu Brahmin family, Kalhana's father, Chanpaka, was a minister who likely served King Harsha. Kalhana may have been born in Parihaspore early in the 12th century. His historical work begins each book with prayers to the Hindu deity Shiva. While deeply rooted in Hinduism, Kalhana also showed sympathy towards Buddhism, a sentiment that was often reciprocated by Buddhists in Kashmir at the time. This syncretic view is consistent with the historical acceptance of Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu by Hindus.

Kalhana was well-versed in earlier Indian epics and literature, referencing works like the Vikramankadevacharita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. Interestingly, his writing style, as observed by Stein, avoided the excessive praise typically expected by patrons in Indian literary traditions. This lack of overt flattery led Stein to infer that Kalhana was not closely associated with the ruling monarch, Jayasimha, during the period he was writing.

Kalhana's historical account, the Rajatarangini, is significant for its chronological structure, a feature noted as rare in native Indian literature prior to the 13th century by Robin Donkin. Kalhana himself was knowledgeable about earlier Indian literary traditions, including epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and specific works such as Bilhana's Vikramankadevacharita. He integrated references to these texts within his own narrative. The composition of the Rajatarangini took place between 1148 and 1149 in Sanskrit, providing a historical record of Kashmir.

Information about Kalhana's personal life is largely inferred from his writings. He belonged to a Hindu Brahmin family in Kashmir, and his father, Chanpaka, served as a minister, possibly to King Harsha. Kalhana's birthplace might have been Parihaspore, and he was likely born in the early 12th century. His work consistently includes prayers to Shiva at the beginning of each book, indicating his adherence to Hindu traditions. However, Kalhana also demonstrated an affinity for Buddhism, reflecting a broader trend of religious syncretism in Kashmir, where Buddhists and Hindus often held mutual respect and where Buddha was recognized by Hindus as an avatar of Vishnu.

Scholars like Mark Aurel Stein have dedicated significant study to Kalhana's Rajatarangini, deducing aspects of the author's life and context from the text itself. Stein observed that Kalhana's writing style diverged from the customary practice of lavishing praise on patrons. This observation led Stein to suggest that Kalhana was not part of the inner circle of Jayasimha, the ruler at the time of the Rajatarangini's creation. The very act of writing a detailed historical chronicle points to Kalhana's intellectual engagement with the past and his role as a chronicler.