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Bāṇabhaṭṭa, also known as Bāṇa, was a Sanskrit scholar of 7th century India. He was the "Asthana Kavi" --"Court Poet"-- in the court of King Harshavardhana, who reigned in the years c. 606-647 CE in north India. Bāna's works include a biography of Harsha, Harsha Charita, and one of the world's earliest novels, Kādambari. ("Kādambari" is the name of the heroine of the novel, "Kādambari".)

Bāna was born in the village of Preetikoot in a Maga Brahmin family of Vātsyāyana clan. Chitrabhānu and Rājdevi were the names of his father and mother, respectively. Chitrabhānu expired when Bana was 14, Rājdevi having expired even earlier.

There is a well-known, interesting statement in Sanskrit, involving a play on words: Kādambari rasajnānām āhāropi na rochate. It can be read to mean "While savoring (the contents of) 'Kādambari', readers do not find interest in (eating) food", or "Oh, Kādambari, while savoring liquor, people do not find interest in (eating) food".