Which twelfth century Sanskrit scholar was first responsible for the compilation of ‘Nibandhas’ or digests of epic and Puranic texts?

Lakshmidhara (also known as Bhatta Lakshmidhara) was a prominent twelfth-century Sanskrit scholar who served as a minister in the court of the Gahadavala King Govindachandra of Kanauj. He is credited with the compilation of the 'Kritya-Kalpataru' (or 'Kalpataru'), which is considered one of the earliest and most influential 'Nibandhas' or digests of Hindu law and religious practice. This massive work is organized into fourteen volumes covering diverse topics such as daily rituals, worship, and pilgrimage. Lakshmidhara's compilation is significant because it primarily utilized excerpts from the Mahabharata and various Puranas, providing a structured digest of epic and Puranic texts with minimal personal commentary. His work served as a foundational model for later Nibandha writers like Mitra Mishra. While Govindachandra was his patron, Lakshmidhara was the actual scholar responsible for the compilation.