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.
1.8. Mamankam Festival
Kerala Mahatmya contains reference to the famous festival Mamankam. The Mahamaghamagham festival appears to be celeberated at present not only in Kumbhakonam in South India, but also in Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain in North India in the Mahamagha year, in the month Magha (January-February), on the day of the full moon in the 10 asterism Magha.
māghayuktā paurṇamāsī māghī; māse tu yatra sā
nāmnā sa māghaḥ; pauṣādyāścaivamekādaśāpare ||
According to Kerala Mahatmya Parasurama himself the creator and the first king of Kerala ruled over the land with Navayogipuram (‘Tirunavay’) on the bank of Brhannadi (Nila, Bharatapuzha) as his capital. The 21 Samanta Kings (Perumals) who succeeded him were also installed at the same place at the Mahamagham Festival. Kerala Mahatmya seems to indicate some of the details about the position of the planets on the Mahamagham day.
The work has some importance as a source book of Kerala History. It throws some light on various historical topics such as the settlement of brahmins in Kerala, their naturalisation as Nambutiri brahmins, introduction of customs and manners, the formation of 64 villages, rural administration, administration of temples and religious institutions, festivals of national and regional importance, royal dynasties etc.
To a student of sociology also the work gives much historical data in grab of legend. It is true that too much importance should not be attached to legendary accounts and traditional stories. But in the absence of real historical material one has to depend on the information supplied by the work like Kerala Mahatmya. One cannot dismiss the whole of the work as baseless. There are some historical truths which can be verified with reference inscriptional sources. Thus the work is of real relevance to historian of Kerala. It has atleast reserved to prosperity various floating traditional accounts and stories of persons and institutions.
As a source of regional history also the work deserves serious study. The name of regional localities are often Sanskritised, especially when referring to temples. Most of the temples mentioned in the work are referred to several message poems produced in Kerala. In this regard the present work Kerala Mahatmya becomes useful[1]