5. Kṣemendra’s Religion

Kṣemendra belonged to a Saivite family. His father Prakāśendra was a great admirer of Saivism. In the Bṛhatkathāmañjarī^[1], it is stated that Prakāśendra breathed his last embracing the image of lord Śiva. The mention of lord Śiva in the works of Kṣemendra, indicates his ardent devotion to lord Śiva. In the Suvṛttatilaka,^[2] he called them fool who do not bow down to the feet of lord Śiva. Later on, he leaned towards the Vaiṣṇavism under the influence of Soma Bhāgavata.^[3] In the benedictory verses of many of his works, he eulogises Viṣṇu.^[4] In the Bṛhatkathāmañjarī^[5], he himself states that he is a devotee of Nārāyaṇa. During the time of compilation of his last work Daśāvatāracarita, he appeared to be a fully sincere devotee of Vaiṣṇava cult. By narrating ten incarnations of lord Viṣṇu in his work, Kṣemendra offers his tribute to his deity-the lord Viṣṇu. For him, one should eulogise Viṣṇu till the end of his life.^[6] It indicates that till the end of his life he was a Vaiṣṇava. However, in spite of his having his own religious inclination, Kṣemendra advises to pay homage to all the gods.^[7]

Kṣemendra’s impartial and liberal mind was also greatly influenced by the Buddhist cult. He had close relation with the scholars of this cult. With the help of Buddhist ācārya Vīryabhadra^[8], he became conversant with Buddhist philosophy. Being influenced by Buddhist thought and ideas, he composed Bauddhāvadānakalpalatā based on Buddhism. In the work, he shows Buddha as the Ninth incarnation of lord Viṣṇu.