mahabali

PRESTOR JOHN, THE KALABHRAS AND MAHABALI ; WHAT IS ONAM ALL ABOUT? M. M. NINAN
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Even though history was blanked out, we still have the secular Tamil literature
created in Tamil by the association of poets called Sangam. They give some
insight of the period as a golden era.
Kalabhras, by invading the Tamil country, disturbed the prevailing order. The
Velvikudi inscriptions of the third regnal year of Pandya king Nedunjadaiyan
(c.765 - c. 815 C.E.) say that “Pandya king Mudukudumi Peruvaludi gave the
village of Velvikudi as brahmadeya (gift to a Brahmins). It was enjoyed for a
long time. Then a Kali king named Kalabhran took possession of the extensive
earth, driving away numberless great kings. “
The period of Kalabhras was marked by the ascendancy of Buddhism, and
Jainism. Because of this most historians consider them as either Buddhist or
Jain. But as I have mentioned earlier, these were non-violent religions and
could not have taken up war as a means of power. Almost all historians so far
seems to have mostly overlooked the possibility of them being followers of the
Way. These periods were not dark ages at all. There had been considerable
literary activity in Tamil. Most of the works grouped under the head, 'The
Eighteen Minor works' (Padhinenkeezhkanakku) might have been written during
this period as also the Cilappadhikaram, Manimekalai and other works. Many of
the authors were characterised as belonging to `heretical' sects . Thus who
ever Kalabhras were they were very tolerant to rational religious groups of the
period and actively encouraged people to righteous and harmonius living. This
is exactly what is reflected in the Onam songs of Mahabali period and also in
the letters of Prestor John.
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