Acts of Apostle Thomas

XII KALABHRA INTER-REGNUM : M. M. NINAN
__________________________________________________________________________
“In the year 1969, Dr. M. Deivanayagam the founder of the Dravidian Spiritual Movement published a book
titled 'Is Thiruvalluvar a Christian?' establishing in it Thirukkural as a book of Christian ethics and Thiruvalluvar
was a Christian. Later on, in an assembly of 36 Thirukkural Scholars, convened by the Christian Arts and
Communication Centre, Chennai. Dr. Deivanayagam convinced the assembly about his research findings.
Subsequently a scholar named T.S. Sathyam, was propped up by non-Christians to undertake a Ph.D. dissertation
to disprove the findings of Dr. Deivanayagam. But, after 3 years of research, the Ph.D. thesis of Dr. Sathyam
approved by the university of Madras also concluded and affirmed the findings of Dr. Deivanayagam. Also the
University of Madras conferred a Ph.D. degree on Dr. Deivanayagam for a thesis which established that Saivism
and Vaishnavism are the offshoots of St. Thomas Dravidian Christianity. This new finding was debated in a Saiva
mutt in the assembly of spiritual leaders and scholars like the Head of the Saiva Siddhanta Dept. of Madurai
Kamaraj University, heads of Saiva Mutts like Kunrakkudi Adigalar etc., where they all conceded to the research
findings, but pleaded for time to accept the same as they are altogether new to them. In 1975 Dr. M.
Deivanayakam and Dr. R. Arulappa co-authored the book Perinba Villakku in which Tiruvalluvar is represented as
being Christian. The book of Dr.Deivanayagam - based on his Ph, D. thesis – “Bible, Tirukural and Saiva
Siddantha, a comparison” (Vivliyam, Thirukkural, Saiva Siddantham – Oppu Ayvu) was published in 1985-86 by
Tamil Nadu Government, International Institute of Tamil Studies, Adayar, Madras (His Ph. D moderator was
highly regarded Scholar-S.V.Subramanian.). Dr.Deivanayagam conclude his book with a finding that
Thiruvalluvar was a Christian and a disciple of St.Thomas and most of the Shaiva Sidhantha and the vivid
knowledge found in Thirukkural were essentialy expressions of Christian experience and principles. This study was
followed by a series of Ph. D. level studies by Dr. Devakala (The Origin and Development of Tamil Bhakthi
Movement – in the Light of the Bible ), Dr. J.D. Baskara Das (Six Darsanas and Religions of the Tamils), Dr.
Moses Michael Farradey (The Songs of Tamil Sidhars and the Bible), Dr. Johnson Thankiah (Trinity in Tamil
Literature), Every Scholar who studied could not but express how parallel the Tirukural teachings are to the
teachings of Christianity. G.U.Pope who translated the Tirukural into English observes that much of its teaching is
an echo of the Sermon on the Mount.”
It is therefore certain that Kalabhras were the Christians who practically took over the entire Dravida. The
Christians were not known as Christians. That was the name given to the followers of Jesus cult in Antioch. The
religion was known as “The way”. In India they were known as “Margam koodyor”, which means “one who follow
the Way” and Isanuvadi (followers of Isa) and Nasranis (followers of the Nazarene)
Post Kalabhra Period
During the seventh century AD, Pallavas under Mahendravarman I and his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I drove
out Kalabhra Kingdom. The Pallavas were originally executive officers under the Satavahana Empire After the fall
of the Satavahanas, around 550 AD under King Simhavishnu they emerged into prominence. They subjugated the
Cholas and reigned as far south as the Kaveri River. Pallavas ruled a large portion of South India with
Kanchipuram as their capital. The Pallavas were replaced by the Pandyas in the 8th century C.E..
149