The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.466

v1.c16.466

Lakṣmaṇasena was a liberal patron of letters. Umāpati, the composer of the Deopara *praśasti*, who appears to have survived both Vijayasena and Ballālasena, probably lived for some time in his reign. Jayadeva, the author of the *Gītagovinda*, Dhoyī, the author of the *Pavana-dūta*, Halāyudha, the author of *Brāhmaṇa-sarvasva*, Śrīdharadāsa, the compiler of the *Sadukti-karṇāmṛta*, were the other more important luminaries of his court. Of these Śrīdharadāsa, is described as *Mahāmāṇḍalika* and son of the *Mahā-sāmanta-cūḍāmaṇi* Vaṭudāsa. The king himself was a poet of some repute. Nine of his verses are quoted in the *Sadukti-karṇāmṛta*. He also finished the *Adbhuta-sāgara*, which was left incomplete by his father.⁴ In religion Lakṣmaṇasena still remained a worshipper of Śiva, as his title of *Madana-śaṅkara* in the Madanapara and Mymensing grants of his son shows. But in his Tarpandighi and Anulia grants he assumes the title *Parama-vaiṣṇava*, and in the Madhainagar grant that of *Parama-nārasiṁha*. All these three grants open with *Oṁ namo Nārāyaṇāya*; but in the opening verses of the Madhainagar and Anulia inscriptions there are invocations to Pañcānana and Śambhu. It thus appears that he gradually leaned towards the Vaiṣṇava form of religion. His eclecticism is however proved by the title *Parama-saura* given to him in the Madanapara grant of Viśvarūpa.