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...
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14. Keralabharana by Ramachandra Makhin
Keralabharana[1] by Ramachandra Makhin, A Tamil writer is written on the model of Visvagunadarsa campu by Venkatadhvarin. It may be briefly considered here since it refers to the customs and manners.
The customs of Kerala are vividly described by the author. He refers to the legend that Kerala was created by the mythological creator, Parasurama in the following words.—
bhagavatā bhārgaveṇa svadeśamarṇa vatsamakramiṣyantīti tattīra eva pratiṣṭhitānāṃ
The author deals with the famous city of Anantapura or Syanandurapura adorned with the deity of Padmanabha. The land is strewn with temples dedicated to all types of gods and Goddesses. The work gives realistic description of different parts of South India, besides Kerala.
The customs of Kerala[2] are discussed through a conversations between two pies, which taken place when Narada visits the hermitage of Agastya. In their discussion, they make some remarks about the women of Kerala which are not very sympathetic According to them the woman are of masculine nature and free-willed. They marry one but associate often with other men. It is said that in Kerala, a Brahmin making love to another wife is not considered to be the sin if she does not belong to the Brahmin caste. At the same time, men of other castes should not make advances to a Brahmin women, since Brahmins are considered to a superior to the other caste.
Further the author [Ramachandra Makhin] refers to the customs of Brahmin. A men should wear one sacred thread called Yanjopavita before marriage. But after marriage he should wear two threads according to the convention of the caste. People pass urine on the way side and they wash their face and mouth in the same tank where women are bathing. Above all after finishing their education instead of marrying and settling down they make love to other wives. Among the Nambutiri Brahmin only the oldest son was allowed to marry from their own caste. Others could only have Sambandha with women of other castes. K.M. mentions this practice and there may be more truth in it than on the other works dealing mainly with legendary.
According to the Keralabharana the climate and other features of Kerala are suitable for the performance of all types of sacrifices and hymns, and so Parasurama did penance and created the land by propitiating the sea-god Varuna[3].
Footnotes and references:
[2]: