Question

It tells us how rulers wanted to depict themselves-as valiant, victorious warriors. ( Kadamai Araiyar Prashastis )

Answer 1

Prashastis and Land Grants

Prashastis are a special kind of inscription, meaning “in praise of”. They were composed by learned Brahmans in praise of the rulers, which may not be literally true; but, they tell us how rulers of that time wanted to illustrate themselves.

If the kings liked the prashastis, they gave land as gift to the Brahmans, with records of it on copper plates.

Kalhansa was a famous writer who wrote a long Sanskrit poem (Rajatarangini - "The River of Kings") on kings of Kashmir by using variety of sources,such as inscriptions, documents, eyewitness accounts, and earlier histories. He was usually critical about rulers and their policies.