Krishnamishra

(late 11th c.) Author of the Sanskrit
drama Prabodhachandrodaya (“Rising
of the moon of wisdom”), an allegory
celebrating the triumph of Vaishnava
piety. The play is noted for the third act,
in which four representatives of nonVaishnava sects appear: a materialist; a
Jain monk; a Buddhist monk; and a
Kapalika, a member of an ascetic
373
Krishnamishra
community who worshiped the god
Shiva. The last is portrayed as depraved,
indulging in meat, wine, and sexual
gratification, as well as having a
penchant for violence. Although the
reader may safely assume that this is a
biased perspective, it is instructive in
the attitudes it reveals toward ascetics
and all non-Vaishnava religious groups.