Kalhana

"That noble-minded poet alone merits praise whose word, like the sentence of a judge, keeps free from love or hatred in recording the past."

"‘‘Trilochanapala causing floods of blood to pour in batttle resembled Shiva (frilochana) when sending forth the fire which burns the world at the end of the Kealpa. After fighting crores of armour-clad soldiers in the battle, this (prince), who was experienced in affairs, came forth singly from among the foes pressing (around him). When Trilochana (pala) had gone afar, the whole country was overshadowed by hosts of fierce chandalas, which (resembled clouds of) locusts.’’"

"The ancient temple of Varaha which seems to have been one of the most famous shrines of Kasmlr, is repeatedly mentioned by Kalhana. According to the tradition of the local Purohitas it stood near the site of the present Kotitirtha, at the western extremity of the town and close to the river-bank. Some ancient Lirigas and sculptures found at the Kotitirtha may have originally belonged to the temple. The destruction of its sacred image is noted by Jonaraja in the reign of Sikandar Butshikast."

"Only one Hindu writer seems to have grasped the function of the historian. Kalhana, author of the Rajatarangini, or "Stream of Kings," expressed himself as follows: "That noble-minded poet alone merits praise whose word, like the sentence of a judge, keeps free from love or hatred in recording the past." Winternitz calls him "the only great historian that India has produced.""

"Professor D.P.Singhal asserts that, contrary to the general belief, Indians in ancient times did not neglect the important discipline of historiography. On the contrary, they were good writers of history. He states: “Ancient India did not produce a Thucydides, but there is considerable evidence to suggest that every important Hindu court maintained archives and geneologies of its rulers. And Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, written in twelfth century Kashmir, is a remarkable piece of historical literature. Despite his lapses into myths and legends, Kalhana had an unbiased approach to historical facts and history writing. He held that a true historian, while recounting the events of the past, must discard love (raga) and hatred (dvesha). Indeed, his well-developed concept of history and the technique of historical investigation have given rise to some speculation that there existed at the time a powerful tradition of historiography in which Kalhana must have received his training.”"