Asvaghosa

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Aśvaghoṣa (?80-?150 CE) (Devanagari: अश्वघोष) was an Indian philosopher-poet, born in Saketa in Central India. He is believed to have been the first Sanskrit dramatist, and is considered the greatest Indian poet before Kalidasa.

He was first a student of non-Buddhist teaching, but upon losing an argument with Parshva converted to Buddhism. He became a religious adviser to the Kushan king Kanishka.

He is said to be the author of the influential Buddhist text Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana. He also wrote an epic life of the Buddha called Buddhacarita (Acts of the Buddha) in Sanskrit and the Mahalankara (Book of Glory).

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