SOMADEVA

Although his dates have not been conclusively established, according to some historical records Somadeva was a Kashmiri Shaivite Brahmin who lived in the eleventh century during the rule of King Anantadeva. Legend has it that he composed the Kathasaritsagara around AD 1070 for Queen Suryamati (also known as Suryavati), wife of King Anantadeva. However, the stories in the Kathasaritsagara were in circulation long before Somadeva compiled them into this particular collection. The Kathasaritsagara is supposed to be part of a larger text, the Brihatkatha, composed by Gunadhya who is generally reckoned to be a mythical figure.