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.
2. Kerala in the Puranas
The genealogies in the Puranas also of some historical importance, even though we have no correct insight into their identity of chronology. The Puranas not withstanding the mythological elements that dominate in them are valuable sources of historical tradition. The importance of the Puranas[1] as a source of history has been attested by great historian Kalhana.
This famous scholar Maxmuller had remarked this “The puranas are valuable to the historian and to the antiquarian as source of political history by reason of their genealogies. They afford us for greater insight into all aspects and phases of Hinduism its mythology, it idol worship, its theism and panttaism its love of gods, its philosophy and the superstition its festivals and ceremonies and the ethics than any other works[2].
The Puranas like Vayu-purana, Vishnu-purana, Markandeya-purana, Brahmandapurana, Padmapurana, Matsya-purana, Bhavisya-purana, Agni-purana etc. also make mention of Kerala.
The Brahmapurana mention the Anantasayana temple (Tvm) and also so may other Punyaksetras. In the Agnipurana it is said that the keralites originated from the Gandharva king of Thurvasavamsa[3]. In the Matsya Purana Kerala is referred, where description of the boundaries can be seen. In the Naradeeya Purana contain reference to Chera raja vamsas. (Kerala or Thiruvitamkur). The pratista of varahamurti in the Anandasayana temple is explaining in the Varshapurana.
The Bhavisya Purana composed in the form of Uma-Mahesvara-samvada (as narrated by Siva to Parvati) and purported to be the 11th chapter of the Bhavisyapurana. The work deals with the geneology of Kolathiris, it consists of eighteen and a half verses in the sloka metre.
Supposedly a part of the Bhavisya-purana it gives information of prophetic nature. Then the work prophecies that in the lunar race would be born a king called Sukumarakrama who would be get two daughters. Of these the senior daughter would give birth to Vikramarka and his line following patrilineal mode of succession would last upto Burkana of the junior lady a line of kings following the matrilineal order would rule over Kerala and Kolattiri [Kolathiri]. King would rule the country defeating enemies with the assistance of his cousin Vikramarka. From that time matrilineal system would be followed by the Kolathiris. The account goes on to say the Mlecchas and Hunas would attack their kingdom and that the kolattiris [kolathiri] would have to give tribute money and taxes to the adventures.
The narratives claims that the Kolattiri line would last upto 30000 years of the Kali age. Unlike the other association kolattiris the present work contain no allusion to the exploits of Udayavarma. Their connection with Ceraman Perumal also is not referred to. Thus it differs much from other traditional source like Keralolpatti. B.P. also mentions the Cera, Chola, Pandya Vamsas.
The Visnupurana speaks of the Musikas along with Strirajyas and several other kingdoms of the Vindhya region. Strongly another version of the same work mentions it is a southern country along with Draviras, Keralas, Pracyan and Vanavasikas[4]. It shows that there is some uncertainly with regard to its exact location.
The Vayupurana mentions the Musikas as a people of the South India. The southern kingdoms like pandyas and Keralas are referred to among other countries.
The reference is as follows[5] :—
athāpare janapadā dakṣiṇapathavāsinaḥ
pāṇḍyāśca keralāścaiva caulyāḥ kulyāstathaiva ca
setukā mūṣikāścaiva kumanā vānavāsikāḥ ||
The Markandeyapurana also speaks the Musikas as a southern people or country located to the south of the Vindya mountains.
The following is the reference[6].—
śailūṣā mūṣikāścaiva kumārā vānavāsikāḥ
The Brahmanda Purana refers to the country as located in the South while dealing with the geography of Bharatavarsa.
The reference is almost the same as found in the Vayupuranam it is as follows[7] :—
pāṃḍyāśca keralāścaiva colā kulyāstathaiva ca
setukā mūṣikāścaiva kṣapaṇā vānavāsikāḥ |
It contain the Parasurama’s legendary also.
The Padmapurana mention Eastern Musikas, Balamusikas and Musikas as distinct peoples[8].
It is quite possible that some of the minor puranas also may contain similar reference while dealing with the geographical features of the land[9]. A striking similarity can be noticed in there references. All of them speak about the region as located in the southern region in the neighbourhood of Cola, Pandya, and Kerala. Further, all these references seem to have originated from a common source since they appear almost alike.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
sargaśca pratisargaśca vaṃśo manvantarāṇi ca
vaṃśānucaritaṃ ceti purāṇaṃ pañcalakṣaṇam ||
This shows the stress laid for the historical facts in the Puranas.
[2]:
But scholar like A.B. Keith, are sceptical about the historical value of the puranas and is doubtful regarding the historicity any events there in.
[3]:
gāṇḍīrāccaiva gāndhārāḥ pañcajānapadāstataḥ
gāndhārāḥ keralāścolāḥ pāṇḍyāḥ kolā mahābalāḥ ||
[4]:
H.H. Hilson, the Visnupurana -A system of Hindu mythology and traditions, Culcutta 1972
[5]:
Vayupurana, Bibliotheca Indica, Culcutta, 1880, Chapter 45, P 125
[7]:
Ibid -Chapter XVI -Stanza 55 -56