Āścaryacūḍāmaṇi

​The Āścaryacūḍāmaṇi is a play (nāṭaka) in seven acts that focuses on a number of episodes from the Rāmāyaṇa, from the Araṇyakāṇḍa onwards.

According to the prologue (sthāpanā), the play has come "from the Deccan" (dakṣiṇāpathād āgatam), and the actress' incredulity at this remark has suggested to several scholars that the Āścaryacūḍāmaṇi was the earliest Sanskrit play, or at least the earliest nāṭaka, to be composed in South India. What seems more likely is that the Āścaryacūḍāmaṇi predates the plays of Kulaśekhara (ca. 10th century).

The seven acts of the Āścaryacūḍāmaṇi are in the repertoire of Kūṭiyāṭṭam performers in Kerala. Old Kramadīpikās (director's manuals) and Āṭṭaprakārams (actor's manuals) are available for most of the acts.