This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The vast ocean of stories that influenced storytelling the world over 'The Kathasaritasagara' is said to have been compiled by a Kashmiri Saivite Brahmin called Somadeva in AD 1070, although the date has not been conclusively established. Legend has it that Somadeva composed the Kathasaritasagara for Queen Suryavati, wife of King Anantadeva who ruled Kashmir in the eleventh century. The stories in this book are retold from ten of the eighteen books of the original Kathasaritasagara. The most remarkable feature of the Kathasaritasagara is that unlike other texts of the time, it offers no moral conclusions, no principles to live by and is throughout a celebration of earthly life. The tale of Naravahanadatta, the prince of the vidyadharas, the sky-dwellers with magical powers, comprises the main narrative and is used as an outer frame to introduce the stories in the text. Promiscuous married women and clever courtesans, imbecile Brahmins, incompetent kings and wise ministers, wicked mendicants and holy ascetics, cursed men and men who are granted boons, evil non-human creatures and friendly magical beings, all jostle for attention in Arshia Sattar’s masterful translation of this timeless collection of tales.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

After massive research, the author already published two fabulous books from the Series of Katha Sarit Sagara titled as 'Vikram Betal; and 'The Amazing Throne' and now presenting Katha Sarit Sagara Book -1 titled as 'Kathapitha' with the encouragement of Ms. Jocelyn C. Lee, California USA is a contributing editor. She is an expert who has proven ability and has readership draw and did excellent work in this book's preparation. As the original author with the rights of both electronic, print and publishing, he brought Kathapitha into life with fully illustrated with the licensed Images and Content with authenticity! Even before this work published, I have received excellent reviews and recommendations from Jocelyn C. Lee, Dr. Keshab Mandal M.A (Triple), Ph. D., B.Ed., PGDBM Researcher, Author, Publisher, and Columnist from Kolkata Area, India and also from Prof. Surendera Kala, Professor Emeritus in Strategic Management at Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, India. All their wonderful reviews and recommendations are furnished at Book Reviews.The Katha Sarit Sagara opens with Parvati asking Shiva to tell her stories that she had never heard before. These were overheard by Pushpadanta, one of his attendants who repeat them to his wife Jaya who was Parvati's Sevita. She, in turn, told these stories to Parvati who enraged that Shiva had told her stories that even her Sevita knew. The erring attendant, Pushpadanta was cursed to be reborn as Vararuchi as well his accompli Malyavan was also cursed to be reborn on earth as Gunadhya until he has spread these stories overheard far and wide. Thus, they took their births and these stories reached earth and told in the world of mortals by a narrator Gunadhya, a celestial being. Gunadhya's Brihatkatha was authored in the Paisacha language with his blood in the 1st AD. Brihatkatha means 'The Great Story', all the seven tales that he heard from Shiva, on bark in his own blood using the Paisachi language. This 'manuscript' was presented to a Satavahana king by Gunadhya's students. King Simuka heard that Paisacha language and saw that they had the appearance of Pisachas said with a sneer: '... the Paisacha language is barbarous... away with this Paisacha tale.' So Gunadhya burnt the manuscripts of six of the seven tales that comprised 600,000 couplets and reserved only 100,000 in his Brihatkatha. When the King Simuka chanced upon hearing this, he was entranced, and salvaged from the proverbial flames. He decreed that it should be preserved. He had obtained possession of the 100,000 couplets which formed the Brihatkatha and composed the book named Kathapitha.Kathapitha or Katha + Pitha mean the father of (Katha) stories, the great god Shiva, who sat up the pedestal (Pitha) upon which Somadeva's dizzyingly complex web of fabulous stories built. As per Kalhana's Rajatarangim (1148 CE), a historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir and dealt about 11th century King Anantadeva of Kashmir and Somadeva, a Sanskrit scholar, who was in his court. Somadeva stated in his epilogue that he composed Kathasaritsagara in Sanskrit with 22,000 Shloka for Queen Suryavati. Each Shloka consisting of two half-verses of 16 syllables each. He titled this work as Kathasaritsagara consisting of 18 books of 124 chapters which contain the pith of the Gunadhya's Brihatkatha.King Anantadeva of Kashmir hoped that the Kathasaritsagara stories 'would, even for a brief while, divert the queen's mind from the political turbulence and strife in the kingdom, as he and his son Kalasa battled each other for the throne. The King ensured that Somadeva imparted them to his queen Suryavati. She loved all the stories in the vast, rambling and thoroughly captivating treasure trove of tales. The queen had spent her time in the worship of Lord Shiva. Kathapitha is a must for educators, teachers, students, and librarians. The readers will love to read, digest and remember for ages with wonder!