He had four brothers all well-versed -in Sanskrit learning and all of them gifted with the poetic muse. He was a staunch Saivite by religion and he was best at the Srikantha philosophy. His Nilakanthavijayam, a champu kavya, has the date •of its composition : —
This year 4138 of Kali corresponds to 1637 A.D. Therefore Nilakantha must doubtless have flourished in the first half of the i/th century. His Sivalilarnava is a long poem of 22 cantos describing the history and actions of Siva* It •comprehends in itself all the legends that make up the whole range of Siva's incarnation. His Gangavatarana — a poem of eight cantos — describes the story of the descent of the celestial Ganges to the human world by the efforts of Bhagiratha. Among his minor poems may be mentioned Kalividambanam} Sabharanjanam and Anyapadesa-Satakam* As a poet, Nilakantha ranks high. His fancies are highly imaginative, his sentiments fine and his language natural. His style has been thus described: u
Laxmipati was the fourth son ofVisvarupa. He flourished in the troubled times consequent on the death of Aurang-zeb% His Avadullacharitam is a long poem on the life of the King-maker Sayyid Abdulla, It presents no division into sargas or chapters. There is a frequent influx of Persian words due to the contact with the Muhamadan public.ed at Benares in the fortieth year of his life, £*., 1635 A.D. The poet himself sums up his story;