Kerala Kingdom

2021-08-06T00:38:26Z

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{{about|the Kingdom of Kerala in Indian epic literature|the historical kingdom|Chera dynasty}}
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'''Keralas''' or '''Udra Keralas''' are a dynasty mentioned in [[Sanskrit]] [[epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]. In the [[Mahabharata]], the Keralas rule over a kingdom which took part in the [[Kurukshetra War]] on the side of the [[Pandavas]]. According to the [[Purana]]s, the navigators and survivors of the Yadavas of Dwaraka also settled in [[Kerala]] later, resulting in the cult of [[Krishna]] worship. And some remnants of the [[Sinhala Kingdom|Sinhalas]] of [[Lanka Kingdom|Sri Lanka]] and of the [[Naga Kingdom|Naga]] culture are also found here.

This ''Kerala Kingdom'' has been identified with the [[Chera dynasty|Chera kingdom]], which existed from the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE in present-day [[Kerala state]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[South India]]. The [[Pandya Kingdom|Pandyas]], [[Chera Dynasty|Cheras]] and the [[Chola Kingdom|Cholas]] were mentioned in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] literature (consisting of ''Silappatikaram'', ''Tirukkural'' etc.), complementing their mention in the existing [[Sanskrit]] literature (constituted by the [[Puranas]], [[Vedas]], [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]]).

== Legend of King Mahabali ==

=== Remembrance of King Mahabali ===
The modern people of [[Kerala]], [[Karnataka]] along with other southern state of [[India]], celebrate the King [[Mahabali]] who it is believed, was the Emperor of Bharatavarsha in pre-ancient times, several eons ago. The biggest festival of [[Kerala]] is [[Onam]], celebrated in the remembrance of King [[Mahabali]]. [[Mahabali]] was described in ancient [[India]]n texts as belonging to the [[Asura]] clan of Kings.

=== Relationship between the Asuras and Bhargavas ===
Small pockets of [[Asura]] regions existed in Northern [[India]] and regions beyond the [[Himalayas]] as well. ''Vrishaparvan'', was a famous [[Asura]] King. The founder of the ''Puru dynasty'' of kings (described in the epic [[Mahabharata]] as the forefather of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]), viz King [[King Porus|Puru]], was the son of [[Sarmishta]], the daughter of King Vrishaparvan. Vrishaparvan's priest was the sage [[Shukra|Sukra]], (alias Venus), who was a [[Bhargava]] (the son or a descendant of the sage [[Bhrigu]].) Often, the [[Asura]] Kings chose sages in the line of [[Bhrigu]] as their priest, whereas the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] chose sages in the line of [[Brihaspati]] or [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]], as their priests. [[Mahabali]] was yet another king whose priest also was named '''Sukra''', in the line of [[Bhrigu]].

=== The role of Vamana ===

The legend of [[Vamana]] coming and disrupting the sacrifice of [[Mahabali]] is as follows:- ''[[Vamana]] (meaning a dwarf-bodied man), who was a small [[Brahmin]] Boy, came and requested of the King [[Mahabali]], three feet of land as alms, for his daily use and for practicing his daily ceremonial customs. [[Mahabali]] agreed to it, in spite of the warning by the [[Bhargava]] '''Sukra''', his priest. [[Vamana]], after getting the consent of the King, started to measure the three feet of land he wanted. But prior to that, he grew in size to unimaginably large and seemingly infinite proportions, and then he measured the land he wanted in just two steps - the first covering all the Heavenly planets, and the second taking up all the Mortal planets, and therefore in effect, covered the whole of [[Mahabali]]'s Kingdom. Upon [[Mahabali]]'s own request, (so as to be able to fulfill his given promise of three feet of land), [[Vamana]] placed his third step on the head of [[Mahabali]] and sent him to the netherworld. [[Vamana]] also gave [[Mahabali]] a boon, that his subjects and everybody else in all the ages to come, would always remember him as a great, virtuous and true King forever, and that every year he would be able to come and see them. It is to supposedly commemorate his arrival every year that the festival of [[Onam]] is celebrated.''

In terms of modern scholarship, and according to the existing line of thinking with regard to recorded Indian History, this legend can be interpreted as follows. [[Vamana]] represents the arrival of a new foreign tribe into the Kingdom of [[Mahabali]]. Since [[Vamana]] was described as the son of Sage [[Kashyapa]] this new tribe could be the [[Kashyapa]] tribe. They asked the King for a small piece of land for their settling in his Kingdom. The King consented to it, in spite of the warning of his priest, the [[Bhargava]] [[Shukra|Sukra]]. The [[Bhargavas]] were already aware of the [[Kashyapas]] as another priest-class but as having adherence to the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]] group of beings. The consequence of this consent by [[Mahabali]] was that the [[Kashyapas]], starting from their small settlement permitted for occupation by the King, spread throughout the Kingdom of [[Mahabali]] and finally overthrew him or his Dynasty from his Kingship. [[Mahabali]] was later forgotten and existed only in the minds of his loyal subjects as a great King.

The transfer of power from the [[Bhargavas]] to the [[Kashyapas]] might also be interpreted from the legend of [[Bhargava Rama]], where it is described that [[Bhargava Rama]], after overthrowing the [[Kshatriya]] rulers of Central [[India]], took the lordship of their lands and transferred the lands and the wealth to the [[Kashyapas]], before retiring to the woods.

Thus the legend of [[Vamana]], can be interpreted in a way to signify the transfer of power from the [[Asura]] Kings and their [[Bhargava]] Priests, to the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]] worshiping rulers and their [[Kashyapa]] Priests.

== Roles of Sages Agastya and Vasistha ==

The Sage [[Agastya]] was very popular in the [[South India]]n Kingdoms including the Kerala Kingdom. Agastya was described as a brother of Sage [[Vasistha]]. Sage Vasistha is also linked with the story of the [[Kerala]] tribe as per the epic [[Mahabharata]]. (See Mbh 1.177 and the section named '''The Myth regarding the birth of Kerala Tribe''') This epic also says that Agastya and Vasistha were the sons of the ancient [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] and [[Varuna]]. Both were Gods common to the Deva and [[Asura]] groups of pre-ancient beings. But the Deva group demoted Varuna, who was one of the important deities of both the groups, to the status of the Sea-God while [[Indra]] took over the role of Varuna as the main God for them. But the Asura group maintained their reverence to both Varuna and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]].

Most conventional historians believe that Agastya and his kinsmen arrived in South India including [[Kerala]] by migration through land. Agastya is said to have opened a path across the [[Vindhya]] ranges in Central [[India]] into South India. It is believed, that there was a hermitage of Agastya near [[Panchavati]] or [[Nasik]], where [[Raghava Rama]] made his temporary abode. There are numerous places in [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], believed to be related to Agastya, like ''Agastyavata'', ''Agasteswara'', etc. The attribution of Sage Agastya, as a son of the Sea-God Varuna, could be due to his being good at sea-navigation and probably sea warfare as well. [[Indra]] and other Devas sought the help of Agastya, in defeating a clan of Asuras called ''[[Kalakeyas]]'', who were ferocious sea-warriors.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Thus Agastya's arrival in Kerala and South India could have been by sea as well.

==References of Keralas in the Mahabharata==

===The story about the origin of the Keralas===

*Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 177

When the sage [[Vasistha]] was attacked by king Viswamitra's army, Vasistha's cow, Kamadehnu, brought forth from her tail, an army of [[Pahlava Kingdom|Palhavas]], and from her udders, an army of [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]] and [[Scythians in the Mahabharata|Sakas]]; and from her womb, an army of [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], and from her dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of [[Kanchi Kingdom|Kanchis]]; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of [[Pundra Kingdom|Paundras]] and [[Kirata Kingdom|Kiratas]], [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]] and [[Sinhala Kingdom|Sinhalas]], and the barbarous tribes of [[Khasas (Mahabharata)|Khasas]] and Chivukas and Pulindas and [[China in the Mahābhārata|Chinas]] and [[Huna Kingdom|Hunas]] with '''Keralas''', and numerous other Mlechchhas.

===List of provinces of Bharata Varsha (Ancient India)===

Chapter (6:9) of [[Mahabharata]] mentions about the kingdoms and provinces of ancient India (Bharata Varsha). In this list we found mention of Keralas two times, on along with many north Indian kingdoms like [[Videha Kingdom|Videha]] and [[Magadha Kingdom|Magadha]] and the other along with South Indian kingdoms like the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]], the [[Mushika Kingdom|Mushikas]], [[Karnata Kingdom|Karanatakas]], the [[Mahisha Kingdom|Mahishakas]] the [[Chola Kingdom|Cholas]] etc.

'''Keralas in North India''':- .....the Aswakas, the Pansurashtras, the Goparashtras, and the Karityas; the Adhirjayas, the Kuladyas, the [[Malla Kingdom|Malla]]-Rashtras, the '''Keralas''', the Varatrasyas, the Apavahas, the Chakras, the Vakratapas, the [[Scythians in the Mahabharata|Sakas]]; the [[Videha Kingdom|Videhas]], the [[Magadha Kingdom|Magadhas]].

'''Keralas in South India''':- There are other kingdoms in the south. They are the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]], the '''Keralas''', the Prachyas, the [[Mushika Kingdom|Mushikas]], and the Vanavashikas; the [[Karnata Kingdom|Karanatakas]], the [[Mahisha Kingdom|Mahishakas]], the Vikalpas, and also the Mushakas; the Jhillikas, the Kuntalas, the Saunridas, and the Nalakananas; the Kankutakas, the [[Chola Kingdom|Cholas]], and the Malavayakas; the Samangas, the Kanakas, the Kukkuras, and the Angara-marishas; the Samangas, the Karakas, the Kukuras, the Angaras, the Marishas.

===Sahadevas military campaign===

*Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 30

[[Sahadeva]] vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the [[Mlechchha]] tribe living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who were a cross between human beings and [[Rakshasa Kingdom|Rakshasas]], and the whole of the Cole mountains, and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper island, and the mountain called Ramaka. He, having brought under subjection king Timingila, conquered a wild tribe known by the name of the '''Kerakas''' who were men with one leg (''probably mentioning about people living along with the trees with one trunk i.e. the coconut tree'').

He also conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas and the [[Karnata Kingdom|Karanatakas]] by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay tributes to him. The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas and the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]] along with the '''Udra-Keralas''' and the [[Andhra Kingdom|Andhras]] and the Talavanas (Telingas?), the [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]s and the Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas. Having arrived at the sea-shore, he then dispatched messengers unto the illustrious Vibhishana (of [[Lanka Kingdom|Lanka]]), the grandson of Pulastya.

===Keralas role in the Kurukshetra War===

*Mahabharata, Book 8, Chapter 12

The [[Pandavas]], headed by Vrikodara ([[Bhima]]), advanced against the [[Kauravas]]. They consisted of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Shikhandi]] and the five sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas, and [[Satyaki]] and [[Chekitana]] with the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravida]] forces, and the [[Pandya Kingdom|Pandyas]], the [[Chola Kingdom|Cholas]], and the '''Keralas''', surrounded by a mighty array, all possessed of broad chests, long arms, tall statures, and large eyes.

===Karna's opinion about the Keralas===
*Mahabharata, Book 8, Chapter 44

''[[Karna]], due to his enmity towards [[Shalya]], who was from the [[Bahlika Kingdom|Vahlika]] tribe of [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]], dislikes all these tribes that had culture similar to that of Shalya. Thus he rebuke many cultural traits of this group, including that of sister's son inheriting property rather than ones own son.''

There ([[Punjab region|Punjab]]) where the five rivers flow just after issuing from the mountains, there among the [[Aratta]]-[[Bahlika Kingdom|Vahikas]], no respectable person should dwell even for two days. There are two [[Pisacha Kingdom|Pishacas]] named Vahi and Hika in the river [[Vipasa]]. The [[Bahlika Kingdom|Vahikas]] are the offspring of those two Pishacas. The Karashakas, the [[Mahisha Kingdom|Mahishakas]], the [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]s, the '''Keralas''', the Karkotakas, the Virakas, and other peoples of no religion, one should always avoid.

==See also==

*[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
*Kerala Kingdom, [[Chera Dynasty|Cheras]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Odra Kingdom]], [[Konkana Kingdom]], [[Dwaraka Kingdom]], [[Sinhala Kingdom]], [[Lanka Kingdom]].

==References==
* Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated into English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

==External links==
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Kerala |volume=15 |page=753 |short=1}}

{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]

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Kerala Kingdom