Studying Indian history for competitive exams is a gruesome task. It involves a lot of data and details about so many individuals and their contributions. All this details leads to cluttering of information in minds and confusion in exams even after going through the material thoroughly. This situation can be helped by sorting information according to various heads, and then revising it multiple times for retention in memory. Under this endeavor to sort things out in Indian history, we at exampariksha, have compiled study material and notes about Important Poets in Ancient Indian History for quick revision.
Ancient Indian literature has been a crowning glory for our civilization showcasing the immense amount of talent and expertise shown by the masters themselves. Probably no other part of the world has produced such huge amount of literature containing knowledge and wisdom. Ancient Indian poets have entailed various degrees of minute details of their surrounding, as well as their imagination. These have also been a hugely important source of documenting Indian history of ancient times. But these descriptions have to be considered with caution while keeping in mind that majority of these poets produced their works under patronage of a ruler. Therefore, their works are usually biased towards their patrons.
These considerations about the contributions make the work of historians difficult and highly subjective. Thankfully, the questions asked in various competitive exams are usually just based on either the work of the Poet or their patron. Therefore, we have here the list of all important poets in Ancient Indian history as part of our history study material.
Let us get into brief snippets about important poets and their contributions along with their patrons.
| Poet/ Author | Patron | Contribution |
| Banabhatt/ ‘Bana’ | Harshvardhan | Kadambari, Harsha Charita |
| Kalidasa | Chandragupta II | Kumarasambhava , Raghuvamsa, Meghdoota, Ritusambara. His plays are Abhijan Shakuntalam, Vikramorvashi and Malvikaganimithram. |
| Amarsimha | Chandra gupta II | |
| Harisena | Samudragupta II | Prayag Prashasti on Allahabad Pillar inscription |
| Shudraka | Mrichchha Katikam | |
| Vishakhadutta | Harshavardhan | Mudra Rakshas and Devichandraguptam |
| Ashvaghosa | Kanishka | Buddhacharitra (a biography of Buddha), Saundarananda |
| Ravikirti | Pulkesin II | Aihole inscription |
| Jinasena | Amoghavarsha | Harivamshapurana |
| Dandin | Narsimhavarman | Dasakumaracarita, Kavyadarsa |
| Bhavabhuti | Yasovarman | Malatimadhava, Mahaviracharita |
| Rajashekhar | Mahindrapala | Kavyamimamsa, and Karpuramanjari (written to please his wife in Sauraseni Prakrit). |
| Magha | King Varmalata | Sishupalavadha (about the killing of Shishupal) |
| Bharavi | Yasodharman | Kiratarjuniyam (about Kirat and Arjun) |
| Jayadev | Geet Govinda (Krishna and Radha) | |
| Thiruvalluvar | Thirukkural (tamil epic) |
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