Dravida Kingdom

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Dravida Kingdom" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Dravida is mentioned as one of the kingdoms in the southern part of present-day mainland India during the time of the Mahabharata.

Dravida in the Mahabharata

Dravida is listed among the ancient Indian (Bharata Varsha) kingdoms:

"In the south, are the Dravidas, the Keralas, the Mushikas, and the Vanavashikas; the Karanatakas, the Mahishakas, the Vikalpas, and also the Mushakas; the Jhillikas, the Kuntalas. (6,9)"

Origin

The

. Viswamitra, a king in the Chandravanshi Amavasu clan, attacked the cow of Vasistha. Then many armies emerged for the protection of that cow and they attacked the armies of Viswamitra.

Other kingdoms that were mentioned along with the Dravidas in this incident were

.

Sahadeva's conquests

Pandava Sahadeva reached the Dravida country during his southern military campaign.

Sahadeva brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas, the Dravidas along with the

, the Ustrakarnikas, the city of Atavi and the city of Yavanas. (2,30)

Yudhishthira's Rajasuya

Dravidas are mentioned along with other kings who attended Pandava king Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

The kings of the Dravidas and the

and Dravidas (3,51).

Pandavas visited Dravida land during their pilgrimage

. (3,118)

Arjuna's conquests

Arjuna in his military campaign after the Kurukshetra War, visited the Dravida country

Arjuna proceeded towards the southern ocean. In those regions battle took place between him and the Dravidas and Andhras and the fierce Mahishakas and the hillmen of Kolwa. (14,83)

Dravidas in Kurukshetra War

On the side of Pandavas

• Arjuna converted the people of the Dravida land to be a portion of his own army (5,22)
• The Kuntalas, the Andhras, and the Talacharas, and the Shuchupas, and the Venupas were described as allies of
  Pandavas
  (5,140)
• The Pandyas, the Cholas, the Keralas and the Andhras supported
  Sikhandi and Satyaki
  . (8,12)
• The Andhaka, and the Nishada foot-soldiers, urged on by Satyaki, once more rushed towards Karna in that battle (8,49)

On the side of Kauravas

• The Kamvojas, the Sakas, the Khasas, the Salwas, the Mlechchhas, the Pulindas, the Dravidas, the Andhras, and the Kanchis were described as allied to the
  Kauravas
  (5-161,162)
• The Kaikeyas, the Malavas, the Madrakas the Dravidas of fierce prowess, the Yaudheyas, the Lalittyas, the chander, the Usinaras, the Tundikeras, the Savitriputras who supported Karna were slain by Arjuna (8,5)

Dravida Kingdom in the Pallava Era

Dravida was conquered twice during the Pallava dynasty, first by Dhruvaniti around 400 CE, and again by Kongani-varma III in the late 6th and early 7th Century.^[1][2]

Jana Gana Mana

In Jana Gana Mana, the nation anthem of India, the line about Dravid is found:-

द्राविड़ उत्कल बंग

See also

• Kingdoms of Ancient India

References

• Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa
  , translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli