Life of Kalhana has been influenced by the internal struggles of Kashmir. His chronicles also reveal this fact. His father Canpaka was a Brahmin who was a faithful enthusiast of king Harsha. According to historical Kalhana was born in the year1100. His uncle, Kanaka was deeply attached to Harsha. Kalhana like his father was a devotee of Lord Shiva. He knew and respected the Shaiva Shastra, the obscure system of Shaiva philosophy for which Kashmir was famous. However he did not have good opinion of the devotees of the Tantric rites of Shaivism.
However he has great respect towards Buddhism as well as approves the practice of ahimsa that was enforced by some kings. Kalhana was debarred from politics. He might have conceived the idea of rewriting the chronicles of Kashmir probably at the instigation of Alakadatta. He studied deeply the great poems of the past like the Raghuvamsa and Meghaduta of Kalidasa, Harsha Charita of Bana. He was also inspired by Bilhana`s compositions. He was also well versed in the epics which are evident from his constant references to the heroes of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. He was interested in literary history. He had studied the science of astrology that is proved by his reference to Varahamihira`s Brihat samhita attest.
The contemporary history was violent and blood-spattered. Harsha`s death allowed his foes to divide the Kingdoms. In 1149 Kalhana began his great poem and finished it in the next year. He stood apart from the struggle; though he wrote under Jayasimha. His wrote in favour of Bhiksachara. His records reveal that he and his family gained nothing by the brief period of that prince`s power.
Kalhana`s indifference enabled him to predict analytically the demerits of his own countrymen. He treated the disorderly and coward soldiers with contempt. Kalhana notes fidelity with special care. The city public is presented as idle, pleasure-loving, and callous. He has bitter feelings for the Damaras as his family had doubtless suffered greatly at the hands of these cruel and brutal men. He presents a true picture of the official classes; their greed, speculations, oppressions and disloyalty. The priests are also not secure. Kalhana ridicules their ignorance of affairs and their arrogance in intervention in matters which are beyond their skill. He however appreciates ministers Bilhana and Alamkara, Udaya, commander of the frontier defences.
He was always in contact with reality observing the current events and found satisfaction in recording the events around him and those of earlier days.
