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.
5.1. Keralacara-dipika
[Full title: Works written in Puranic (Legendary) style: Keralacara-dipika]
Keralacara-dipika[1] as a work deals the legendary history and customs of Kerala composed at the request of one of the kings of Chirakkal. The style of the work is similar to that of Kerala Mahatmya. The author of this work is still supposed to be the great ascetic Vilvamangalattu Swamiyar[2] (1300 AD), from the following indications given at the end of the first and 68 Adhyayas of Keralacara-dipika.
iti vilvamaṃgalayogīśvara viracitāyāṃ keralācāradīpikāyāṃ |
The present work ascribed to him, there is another positive evidence to show that it is a very late work, for it contains reference to Rani Gauri Lakshmi Bhai, the queen of Travancore who ruled from 1810 -1815 AD[3].
In the preface to the work itself it is pointed out that it is a narration of the legendary history of Kerala by Villwamangalath Swamiyar in Sanskrit verses. The work is devided into three parts called Parasurama charitham, Sankara charitham and Kerala ksethra mahatmyam. The last section has 13 chapters and four appendices called Parisistas.
The first canto deals with the temple Vadakumnatha at Trichur, the second mentions the three temples of Chavara, Perumanam & Iringalakkuda. The temples described in the work are the same as those described in Kerala Mahatmya They are Vadakkumnatha at Trissur, Thirunavaya, Thirunelli, Gurvayoor, Kottiyoor, Thiruvilwamala, Thiruvanchikkulam, Kodungalloor, Trichambaram, Cherukunnu, Lakshmipuram etc. The verses used in Kerala Mahatmya to describe these temples are also the same as those in Keralacaradipika.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Njanasamgrama Book Dippo Trichur 1929. Kerala Sahithya Caritram part I -P -461, 1967
[2]:
Vide Kerala Sanskrit Literature -P -31 -48