SANSKRIT SOURCES OF THE kERALA hISTORY PART 7 3824 4824 1.4. The 64 Villages in Kerala Mahatmya: - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis
The 14th and 15 chapter of *Kerala Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/keralamahatmya#history> mentions the establishment of the 64 gramas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/grama#history> {32 AND 64 GRAMAMS ARE ORIGIN OF PARASURAMA SHETRA ENTRIESwHETHER SO MANY TEMPLE WERE IN THE NAME OF pARASURAMA IS A DEBATABLE POINT} . Parasurama did not build these villages <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/village#history> at the same time but group by group. First of all he built 10 villages, then 20, and later 34. The first 10 formed a group in the extreme North of the newly reclaimed land. Another set of 10 was located to the South. Of the first group all lying in North Canera or Tulunad. The next 12 villages lay in South Canera or Tulunad. The next 9 are set to have formed as another group. The next 12 formed another set and next 10 still another. In later times, the 64 villages were reorganised in to four groups, namely Tulu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tulu#history>, Kupa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kupa#history>, Kerala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kerala#history> and Musika. The first 32 were in the Tulu khandam and the second 32 are supposed to have belonged to Malabar and the states of Kochin and Travancore. The 64 villages are: 1. Gokarnam, 2. Gomakutam, 3. Karavalli, 4. Mallur, 5. Eppanur, 6. Cheppanur, 7. Katalur, 8. Kalanur, 9. Kariachira, 10. Paiachira, 11. Trkkani, 12. Trkkata, 13. Trkkampala, 14. Trchola, 15. Kellur, 16. Gomayam, 17. Vellar, 18. Ventotu, 19. Vencatam, 20. Chengote, 21. Kotisvaram, 22. Manchisvaram, 23. Utuppu, 24. Sankaranarayanam, 25. Kottam <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kottam#history>, 26. Sivalli, 27. Mora <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mora#history>, 28. Pancha, 29. Vittal, 30. Kumaramangalam <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kumaramangalam#history>, 31. Ananthapuram, 32. Karnapuram. [The above 32 belongs to the Tulu division] 1. Payyanur, 2. Perinchellur, 3. Karikkatu, 4. Isanamangalam, 5. Alattur, 6. Karintolam, 7. Trssivaperur, 8. Panniyur, 9. Sukapuram, 10. Perumanam, 11. Parappur, 12. Airanikulam, 13. Musikakulam, 14. Iringalakuda, 15. Atappur, 16. Chengavotu, 17. Uliyannur, 18. Katattanadu, 19. Katappur, 20. Ilibhyam, 21. Sivapuram <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/civapuram#history>, 22. Avittattur, 23. Vennanadu, 24. Katumuri, 25. Kitangur, 26. Kumaranellur, 27. Kaviur, 28. Ettumanur, 29. Anmeni, 30. Anmelam, 31. Tiruvalla, 32. Chengannur <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/chengannur#history>. These are the 64 villages described in *Kerala **Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahatmya#history> *Kerala Mahatmya*, 14 *Slokas* 1-16; *Kerala Mahatmya* 18 *Slokas* 1-11— *evaṃ grāmāt catuṣṣaṣṭi devānapi catatsamān* *tīrthānapi catattulyān kalpayāmāsa kerale |* -------------------------------------- 1.5. The settlements of Kerala with people - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis After the formation of the 64 villages <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/village#history> Parasurama peopled the land first of all with Brahmins <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahmin#history> from various regions out side Kerala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kerala#history>. *Kerala Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/keralamahatmya#history> mentions this point very clearly. According to the work the Brahmins in Kerala were not among the original inhabitants, but they were bought by Parasurama from various places outside Kerala. Most of them were brought from the Northern region. Parasurama is said to have, first of all, brought a poor <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pur#history> Brahmin <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahmin#history> and his family <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/family#history> is in the bank of river Krsna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/krishna#history>, a brahmin of great Sancity, well versed in Vedic <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/veda#history> love, and in the practice of Yoga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yoga#history>. His wife and 8 sons were also no less learned than the vernerable parents. The father was installed as Yogatripad Yogiar or perceptor of all the Namboodiri Brahmin and was authorised to pronounce final judjent on the religion questions referred to him. A house <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/house#history> was built for him at Vrsapuri ‘Trichur. The work further states that Parasurama next fetched more Brahmins from the families of Bharadvaja <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bharadvaja#history> and Kasyapa in the Chola <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/chola#history> country. Among those brahmins there was one, who was perceptor of the Vedas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/veda#history> at Madhyarjuna Mahakshetra of the Chola country <https://www.wisdomlib.org/history/essay/sanskrit-sources-of-kerala-history/d/doc1239661.html#note-e-243709>. Parasuram built a school in order to teach the Vedas. His next step was to bring more brahmin from the city of Madhura <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madhura#history> and locate them in twelve Illams <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/illam#history> in order to adopts laws of Mantras <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mantra#history> and Tantras <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tantra#history>. Finally he brought five families of brahmin who were well versed in Dharmaveda from the shores of the river Godavari <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/godavari#history>. Later ships <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ship#history> with all species <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/species#history> of seeds and animals <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/animal#history> came followed by 28 Samantas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samanta#history>, Vaisyas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vaishya#history> and Sudras <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shudra#history> and the low castes— *aṣṭāviṃśati sāmantān paṅktiyuktān saputrakān* * gṛhītvā bhārgavo rāmo nāvamāropayadvibhuḥ |* *vaṇijo **vaiśya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vaishya#history>* saṃbhūtān śūdrānapi ca nīcajān* * svarṇakārā nayaskārāṃ sūrucchedakarānapi |* *mūṣākāraścarmakārāṃstāmrakārānapi* * śilākārāṃścaṇḍālān kuḍumbasamanvitān* (*Kerala **Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahatmya#history> 16*, Slokas* 12-14) The families of the native chieftains were mostly, of the Samanta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samanta#history> castes, by they were classed as Sudras. According to the leagendary accounts <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/account#history> current in Kerala Parasurama is credited with the settlement of Brahmins and other castes in Kerala. :*ṛgvedine brāhmaṇāya dadau tasmai kuḍumbine |* *kāśyapānvaya saṃbhūtān bhāradvājasya gotrajān || *(*Kerala Mahatmya* -13-Sl 8) :*sarveṣāñca dvijātīnāṃ śreṣṭhāyūyaṃ hi kerale* * saṅkalpaivaṃ tato rāmaścoladeśe cacāraḥ ||* *madhyārjune mahākṣetre brāhmaṇo brahmavittamaḥ* * ṛgvedināmupādhyāyaḥ kaścidāsīdakiñcanaḥ* || (*Kerala Mahatmya* -13- *Slokas* 5-6) :*śrīmūlasthanamāgatya punaśca madhurāpurīṃ* * praviśya kāśyapān viprān tasmādānīya bhārgavaḥ |* *ālayān kārayitvātha tebhyastān pradadau **prabhuḥ* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/prabhu#history> * aṣṭaiśvaryañca hṛṣṭātmā viśeṣaṇa dadau punaḥ || *(*Kerala Mahatmya* -15- *Slokas* 1-2) :*godāvarīṃ* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/godavari#history>* tato gatvā vāyumārgeṇa bhārgavaḥ |* * dhanurveda vidastatra dadarśa ca mahīsurān |* *tasmācca pañcabhūdevān kuḍumbena samanvitān* * punaścānyān mahīdevānānayāmāsa bhārgavaḥ || *(*Kerala Mahatmya* -15 - *Slokas* 5-6) -------------------------------------------- 1.6. The Origin of Dynasties: - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis The *Kerala Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/keralamahatmya#history> gives an obscure account <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/account#history> of the early system of Government and the origin of Kings <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/king#history> in Kerala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kerala#history>. According to this legendary version, the origin of some of the early rulers and their achievement might be between the first and the eighth century AD. Kerala has not carefully preserved any valuable tradition as regards the origin of its ancient sovereings. This work states that Parasurama organised a brahmin <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahmin#history> theocratic government. The account is full of Anachronism absurdities, and contradictions or is an ill-digested and vague of collection of different versions without any arrangement <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/arrangement#history>. Besides the work the only other source of information about the Dynasties in Kerala is Keralolpatti <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/keralolpatti#history>. Both the works give different accounts <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/account#history> and the point of similarity are rather small. The *Kerala **Mahatmya* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahatmya#history> gives a different account of the origin of the four principal ruling dynasties of the land. Travancore and Kolatiri royal families are said to have derived their title from the brothers. Bhanuvikrama and Ranavikrama, whom Parasurama had appointed to rule in the South and in the North. These two royal homes namely those of Travancore and Kolathunadu still continue to have some family <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/family#history> relation and whenever the Travancore line <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/line#history> stood a chance of extinction adoptions used to be made from Kolathunadu family or its colleteral branches. The Kochin Raja <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/raja#history> said to be descended from Lavaputra, a descended of the Ksatrias of Ayodhya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ayodhya#history> who was placed by Parasurama at Balapuri (Kochin). Parasurama then proceeded to Gopakutapuri (Eranadu) and formed the Zamorin Dynasty (Tamutiri) by depositing the Samanta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samanta#history> virgin with the Brahmin chiefs. Her son ruled in Curupuri endowed with Parasurama’s sword. The sage then personally handed over sword to many rulers along with privileges styled them as kings of the land between Cape Comerin and Gokarnam. It is also stated that Parasurama took great interest in Udayavarma, the head of the Chola <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/chola#history> royal family who was called the Northern Perumal and made him the king <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/king#history> of North Kerala. Another form of traditional account in *Kerala Mahatmya* mentions the story of the Buddhist king Nasanga. Which fix in closely with that of Ceraman Perumal as related in the different versions of Keralolpatti. But the origin of kingship in Kerala according to *Kerala Mahatmya* is connected with an action of its legendary creator. Parasurama brought an efficient archer from the eastern part and placed him on his throne <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/throne#history>, when Parasurama became very old. The custom choosing a perumal from outside lasted for a long period. The Brahmins <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahmin#history> are supposed to have invited in all 24 Perumals from the neighbouring Chera, Chola and Pandya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pandya#history> countries. Some of them did not rule for the whole period of twelve years a few died pre-maturely, while others had to be replaced became of their tyranical government. The later kings of Kerala were probably known popularly by the generic title, Perumal or Ceraman Perumal which means ‘The big man of Cera of Kerala’ According to *Kerala Mahatmya* 21 Perumals ruled over Kerala but on this point scholars have different opinions. The first of the Perumal’s is said to have been brought from Coimbature in the year 216 AD. This year is mentioned in the Kalivakya. “Bhumam Bhupoyam Prapya” which corresponds to 216 AD. But then the exact dates of the period of the various perumals are not known. [2] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/history/essay/sanskrit-sources-of-kerala-history/d/doc1239662.html#note-t-243713> :*dvādaśe vatsarānte ca mahāmakhamahotsave* * taṃ vihāya yathāpūrvaṃ santaṃ sāmantamanyataḥ |* *ānīyāvarurodhātha dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ yathāpuraṃ* * evameva ciraṃkālaṃ rarakṣurdvijasattamaḥ |* (*Kerala Mahatmya* -52- *Slokas* 15-16) End of Part 7 3824 4824 KR IRS -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoorAeSarMuK9R6dHqep7PBTKOdW-oVLYx%2B%3Dr3eVY4erSw%40mail.gmail.com.
