Sahitya-Kaumudi is one of four Gaudiya Vaisnava books on poetical theory. It is books on poetical theory. It is based on Kavya-prakasa.

Mammata wrote kavya-prakasa in Kashmir in the second half of the eleventh century.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu studied Kavya-prakasa. For instance, He recited the famous verse that begins yah kaumara-harah (that Person who stole my heart during my youth) (kavya-prakasa, verse 1) (padyavali 386). In response, Rupa Gosvami composed an outstanding verse, beginning priyah so yam (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 1.79).