Niti Saara, also known as Niti Sastra, is a renowned moral collection composed by Baddena, a Telugu poet. Baddena (1220–1280 AD) is the author of the well-known Sumathi Satakam and Niti Sastra. It is unknown where he came from. Some historians believe that he may have been born in India while others say he was born in China. In addition to being a poet, Baddena was also a philosopher. His work "Niti Sastra" or "Principles of Policy" is considered one of the earliest examples of political philosophy in India. The book consists of guidelines on how to conduct oneself in life and politics. It also includes quotes from famous poets, authors and musicians which reflect the intellectual atmosphere of its time. Baddena was probably influenced by other Indian thinkers such as Chanakya, Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. He used their ideas and put them into practice by writing down his observations about human behavior. Although not all scholars agree, some researchers believe that Niti Sastra was particularly popular among merchants and businessmen who wanted to know how to go about their business successfully. Others suggest that it might have been used by rulers as a guide for governance. No matter what reason someone had for learning about Niti Sastra, more people did so over time and it became a widely accepted principle for successful living.