Sanskrit sources of Kerala history
by Suma Parappattoli | 2010 | 88,327 words
This study deals with the history of Kerala based on ancient Sanskrit sources, such as the Keralamahatmyam. The modern state known as Keralam or Kerala is situated on the Malabar Coast of India. The first chapter of this study discusses the historical details from the inscriptions. The second chapter deals with the historical points from the Mahatm...
This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.
1.4. The 64 Villages in Kerala Mahatmya
The 14th and 15 chapter of Kerala Mahatmya mentions the establishment of the 64 gramas[1]. Parasurama did not build these villages at the same time but group by group. First of all he built 10 villages, then 20, and later 34. The first 10 formed a group in the extreme North of the newly reclaimed land. Another set of 10 was located to the South. Of the first group all lying in North Canera or Tulunad. The next 12 villages lay in South Canera or Tulunad. The next 9 are set to have formed as another group. The next 12 formed another set and next 10 still another. In later times, the 64 villages were reorganised in to four groups, namely Tulu, Kupa, Kerala and Musika. The first 32 were in the Tulu khandam and the second 32 are supposed to have belonged to Malabar and the states of Kochin and Travancore.
The 64 villages are:
- Gokarnam,
- Gomakutam,
- Karavalli,
- Mallur,
- Eppanur,
- Cheppanur,
- Katalur,
- Kalanur,
- Kariachira,
- Paiachira,
- Trkkani,
- Trkkata,
- Trkkampala,
- Trchola,
- Kellur,
- Gomayam,
- Vellar,
- Ventotu,
- Vencatam,
- Chengote,
- Kotisvaram,
- Manchisvaram,
- Utuppu,
- Sankaranarayanam,
- Kottam,
- Sivalli,
- Mora,
- Pancha,
- Vittal,
- Kumaramangalam,
- Ananthapuram,
- Karnapuram.
[The above 32 belongs to the Tulu division]
- Payyanur,
- Perinchellur,
- Karikkatu,
- Isanamangalam,
- Alattur,
- Karintolam,
- Trssivaperur,
- Panniyur,
- Sukapuram,
- Perumanam,
- Parappur,
- Airanikulam,
- Musikakulam,
- Iringalakuda,
- Atappur,
- Chengavotu,
- Uliyannur,
- Katattanadu,
- Katappur,
- Ilibhyam,
- Sivapuram,
- Avittattur,
- Vennanadu,
- Katumuri,
- Kitangur,
- Kumaranellur,
- Kaviur,
- Ettumanur,
- Anmeni,
- Anmelam,
- Tiruvalla,
- Chengannur.
These are the 64 villages described in Kerala Mahatmya
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Kerala Mahatmya, 14 Slokas 1-16; Kerala Mahatmya 18 Slokas 1-11—
evaṃ grāmāt catuṣṣaṣṭi devānapi catatsamān
tīrthānapi catattulyān kalpayāmāsa kerale |