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.
4. Other Mahatmyas
There are many other mahatmyas like Anantasayana-kshetra-mahatmya, Vyaghralaya-isvara-mahatmya[1], Villvadri-mahatmya, Sonadri-mahatmya, Guruvayu-puresa-mahatmya, Kanyakumari-kshetra-mahatmya, Sucindra-sthala-mahatmya[2], Mayuracala-mahatmya, Valkala-kshetra-mahatmya etc[3]. All these works throw light on the study of temples and holy places in Kerala.
The Sthala-mahatmyas gives the legendary history of a place according to the historiography, they cannot be considered as a reliable source of history. Vatakkumkur[4] points out that the Sthalamahatmyas are not considered as frame history neither by the authors nor by the readers. They are for attracting people to particular temples by describing the glory of their. In some cases the legends may contain some underlying historical facts.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
More details see -Suchindrasthalamahatmya -a study -PhD Thesis -Anand Dilip Raj -University of Kerala, 2000
[4]:
Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram Vol. 4 -P -348