Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t19.3

v2.c10.s2.t19.3

The representative works of Bāṇa include the biographical novel Harṣacarita and legendary novel Kādambarī. In the first three chapters of Harṣacarita, Bāṇa told the history and legend of Vātsyāyana and stories of his own life. Bāṇa’s ancestor once made friends with the son of Sarasvati and then acquired her knowledge and power. After a passage of time, Bāṇa was born in a Brahman family on the bank of the river Sone, in Kanyākubja. His mother died when he was very young and later when he was 14, his father passed away too. Although he inherited the legacy of his family and had a very good learning environment, he idled around all the day making friends of all sorts, which include linguists, philosophers, folk singers, storytellers, bards, doctors, goldsmiths, jewellers, calligraphers, painters, sculptors, drummers, singers, musicians, dancers, actors, magicians, hair washers, gamblers, monks, nuns and Saivism ascetics. He also visited some holy places, royal palaces and learning centres to enrich his experience and knowledge. Later, he experienced the luxury of the royal palace and realised the importance of wisdom, and decided to return to his hometown. Shortly after that, he