Sakthibhadran was a Classical Sanskrit writer, who lived in ancient Kerala. He wrote Ascharyachoodamani (Devanāgarī: आश्चर्यचूडामणि ), the first Sanskrit drama from South India. He was born in Chengannur, Kerala between the 7th and 11th centuries. The malayalam translation of Ascharyachoodamani was made by the famous Sanskrit scholar Vedashri Parakkode N. V. Nambiathiri.

Early life

A popular tradition current in malabar represents Shaktibhadran as a pupil of Adi Shankaracharya; and if this tradition could be trusted, Adi Shankaracharya saved 'Ascharyachoodamani' from complete loss by reciting it from his memory when the work was accidentally burnt. According to Ascharyachoodamani, he was the first playwright of South India and also wrote the play named 'Unmadavasavadatta' on popular story of King Vatsaraj.

Story of Ascharyachudamani