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.
14. Other Sandesa Kavyas describing Kerala history
Sampatisandesa[1] of a Namputiri Brahmin of Puliyannur Tekkeppattu house in Ilavalli near Guruvayur incidently placed like Trippunitura Trichur and Ilavalli are mentioned. Syenasandesa[2] of Aryan Narayana Musatu of Vayaskara. The places on the route from Vayaskara in Kottayam to Ernakulam are described in the available portions.
Cakorasandesa(1)[3] of Vasudeva contains 190 stanzas. The poem contain much geographical informations, though its historical value is limited. The places referred to include many important regions of Kerala like Tvm, Quilon, Thiruvalla, Vaikkam etc.
Bhrngasandesa published in Sahrdaya[4] speaks of a minister of Kochi, while describing Natavarambu the place about for miles to the north of Irinjalakkuda thus
madhye madhye madhukarapati kṣetrapālīranekā
darśaṃ darśaṃ sapadi bhavato ḍīyamānasya bhūyaḥ
bhūyātbhūbhṛtsacivatilaka pauṭhabījaprarohaḥ
kṣetraṃ kṣetre mahati kuhacit seturāmodahetuḥ ||
He may be Kunhikrishna Menon of Natavarambu. Who was appointed as the chief Minister of Kochi state in 1809[5].
The foregoing survey will go long way in creating an awareness among historians about the hither to unrecognized magnitude of contribution of Sandesakavyas to the field of Kerala history.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -IV -P 572; Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram IV -610 -11
[3]:
Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur II -P 29 -30; Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram-I -444 -446
[5]:
AKSH -P 328