1.1. Origin of Christianity in India- different view points: St. Thomas the Apostle, merchants and missionaries from East Syria/ Persia- Some affirm, some doubt, some deny the apostolic origin. Most ancient Christianity in Far East. (West, East, Middle East, Far East) Lacking documents: climate, lacking sense of history, Diamper Synod of 1599 destroyed all documents.
1.2. The early Indian situation - Invasion from northwest through Khyber, Gomal and Bolan passes. Invaders and immigrants came to India from time to time: (Dravidians?), Aryans (2000/1500 BC), Persians (6c.BC), Greeks 4c. BC), Scythians (Bactrians, Parthians, Sakas (1c.BC -1c.AD), Kushans (1c.AD), Hunas and Gujaras (5c.AD) and the Muslims (12-15c.AD). Later the British closed and fortified the passes.
C.1500 BC the Aryans appeared in India. There are no clear archeological traces of their advent. –expanded from Punjab over the whole of western Utter Pradesh. C.600 BC Vedic people spread further east to Kosala in UP and Videha in North Bihar. Numerous religious sects arose in the middle Gangetic plain. In the 6 c. BC there were 62 religious sects. Jainism and Budhism were the most important religious reform movements. In north-east India Magadhan empire (Bimbisara) emerged. In north-west India several small principalities fought one another. Iranian ruler Darius entered north-west India in 516 BC. Alexander the Great after conquering Iran marched to India through Khyber Pass in 326 BC. Later Chandragupta Maurya liberated India - Bindusara, Ashoka (273-232 BC). A series of invasions: Greek Bactrian Menander 180-160 BC; Sakas and Parthians (Saka-Pahlavas 1c.BC-1.cAD) –famous Parthian king Gondopernes. Kushans (Kadphises I about 48 AD - nomadic people from the neighbourhood of China) Kanishka 120-160AD greatest of Kushans.
1.3 The South Indian Situation: Southern end of Indian peninsula, south of the Krishna river, Tamil country was divided into to three kingdoms: Chola, Pandya and Chera or Kerala. Chola- Cholamandalam –Coromandal) northeast, Pandya south-southwest, Chera or Kerala west and north of the land of Pandyas. Cheras fought continuously with Cholas and Pandyas. All three were fairly rich kingdoms. Chera grew spices especially pepper which was of great demand in the western world. South Indian ivory was highly valued in the West. Roman writer Pliny’s natural History (Latin, AD 77). Rome was being drained of gold on account of her trade with India. Eventually steps were taken in Rome to ban its trade with India in pepper and steel goods. - Yavanapriya in Sanskrit =pepper. In c.30 BC Syria & Egypt part of Roman Empire. Pliny AD 23-79 From Alexandria to Muziris- First 250 years AD southern kingdoms carried on lucrative trade with the Romans. With decline of the trade these kingdoms began to decay. AD 520 Alexandrian Cosmos Indicopleustus-
Brahmins came to S.I. not as conquerors but as priests. Their coming was slow, imperceptible infiltration. At the beginning of Christian era, Chera (Kerala) was a small kingdom.- Chera king = Keralaputra at the time of the edicts of Ashoka (BC 257). Its capital- Kodungalloor also known as Vanchi, Thiruvanchikkulam, Muziris and Muziri pattanam. (Northern mouth of Periyar- Perhaps Karur was a second capital- Karoure of Ptolemy- Or chosen instead of Muziris. Karur near Kodungalloor? Or Thrikarur near Kothamangalam? There is also a Karur in Coimbatore district on the bank of Amaravathy, a tributary of Kavery
Sangham age: 1-5 centuries AD, Kerala formed part of Thamilakam- There were five geographical sections. Venad, Kuttanad, Kudanad, Poozhinad & Karkanad. Three powers ruled this area during this period. Ay rulers in the South, Ezhimala in the North and Chera in the middle. Arrival of Egyptian navigator Hippalos at Kodungalloor in AD 45/47, a turning point. Began trade with the Roman Empire.
AD 7-9 centuries growth of Hinduism, brahminic hegemony. Destroyed Budhism and Jainism. Built many temples. AD 825 Kollam era. AD 800-1102 II Chera period’ began by Kulasekharavarma. (1102 last of the Chera kings left Kerala to Mecca, Mailapore? Legend)
Whole of 11 century war between Chera and Chola. Divisions of the Chera Kingdom: Venad with Kollam as the capital, (Kollam Kottarakara, Chirayikeezhu Taluks and part of Thiruvananthapuram and Nedumangad Taluks); Odanad: (Karunagappilly, Mavelikara, Karthikappally Taluks with Eruva in Kayamkulam as capital); Nantuzhainadu: (Tiruvalla, Changanassery); Munjunadu: (Kottayam); Vembolinadu: (Vaikom, Meenachil); Keezhmalainadu: (Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha with Karikode as capital); Kalkarainadu: (Ernakulam and Trichur around Thrikakara); Nedumpuraiurnadu: (Thalappilly, Palaghatt, Chittoor); Valluvanadu: (Ponnany, perinthalmanna, Thirur); Eralnad: (Eranad) Polanad (Kozhikodu); Kurubranadu:Koilandy and South Vayanad); Kolathnad: (Kannoor, Kasagod); Puraikizhanadu: (Northvayanad, Gudalloor). Each nadu was divided into Desam with Desavazhi and further into Kara. Mahodayapuram was the capital. Manigramam, Anchuvannam & Valanciyar were trade organizations. Christian and Jewish traders were dominant at that time. (copperplates). 11th century 100 years war might have changed makkathayam to marumakkathayam. After this was many tiny principalities emerged in Kerala. By about 12th century Venad, Kochi (Perumbadappu) Kolathunad and Kozhikode became prominent.
Malayalam, name of the state – later also name of the language- probably from mala=hill and alam=dale >physical feature of the land. Malabar + practically Arabicized form of the word. Sanskrit influence on Tamil to form Malayalam which began in the 9th century.
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