Paper Title
A STUDY OF THE POETIC BACKGROUND OF KAVIRAJ RAJSHEKHAR

Abstract
Abstract - This paper highlights the influence of earlier poets (Valmiki, Bhasha, Bhavabhuti etc.) on Kaviraj Rajshekhar. The works of Acharya Rajshekhar could not remain untouched by the contemporary and previous environment. They are heavily influenced by the ancient theatrical and scriptural traditions. Acharya Rajasekhar quotes a fortune teller about himself: “Babhuvvalmikbhavkavi pura tata prapedebhuvibhartmenthataam SthitaPunaryobhavbhutirekhayasavartetesampratiRajshehkar” In the past there was a poet named Valmiki who again appeared on earth as Bhartrimentha, he again became known as Bhavabhuti and he (the great poet) is Rajashekhar at this time. Thus Acharya Rajashekhar considers himself as the incarnation of Valmiki, Bhartrimentha and Bhavabhuti. Valmiki is the author of the Ramayana.Bhartrimentha’s epic is ‘‘Hayagriva Vadh ’’ which is not available. Bhavabhuti has composed Mahaviracharita, Malatimadhava and Uttara-Ramacharita. All these poets have described only the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, so they were all Vaishnavas. Rajashekhar, the author of the Bal Ramayana and the Bal Bharata, also appears to belong to this sect. Acharya Rajashekhar's scholarship seems to be as comprehensive and well-established as Bhavabhuti's. Acharya Rajshekhar is certainly influenced by his predecessors and contemporaries, but at the same time, his works are original and innovative. Now we will see how much truth is in the saying quoted by Acharya Rajasekhar about himself. For this we have analyzed which poets have influenced Acharya Rajasekhar.