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.
Introduction—The Sanskrit inscriptions of Kerala
History was only a commentary on the past, in olden ages. Now it is changed much, with the development of scientific approach in historiography of all the sources for writing about the history of ancient Kerala, namely numismatics, epigraphy, legends and folklore, the study of inscriptions or epigraphy is the most important. One as these epigraphy provide copious and authentic data about various aspects of life in the ancient Kerala. Inscriptions form an authentic source of information for the early history of Kerala.
They furnish valuable material for the reconstruction of the dynastic history of the various kingdoms and throw light on the political, social and cultural life of the people in different periods. The inscriptions discovered in different parts of India are found written in different languages, but a majority of them are composed in Sanskrit it was the court language of many of ruling dynasties of ancient India and was widely understood across the length and breadth of this subcontinent. According to A.A. Macdonell, ‘The inscriptions are important in connection with Sanskrit literature as illustrating both the early history of Indian writing and the state of the language at that time[1]. The inscription have enriched the history of India, particularly the early period, ranging from about the 4th C. BC to the 6th C. AD. of this vast period, we had no written records as in Greece and Rome, except the accounts in the Puranas. An in-depth analysis of these Sanskrit epigraphs, both lithic as well as those found inscribed on copper -plate charters reveals that they serve not only as sources for knowing about the administrative economic, social and cultural condition of there times, but also reveal the standard and style of this language in the different periods.
The Sanskrit inscriptions of Kerala are found scribed mostly in temples. A major portion of temple records, which shed light on the dark pages of the history of Kerala, are basic documents. Most of the Sanskrit inscriptions are situated in the earstwhile Tiruvitamkur region.