Keralolpathi

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The Keralolpathi (

Puranas
as an Upa Purana (or sub Purana) of the Bhoogola Purana.

The Keralolpathi covers the ancestry of the

Namboodiri Brahmins and other castes of Kerala and is sometimes called the "Kerala Ulpathy". While the "Kerala Mahatmayam" deals with the origin of Kerala and its people alone, the Keralolpathi gives a history of Kerala down to the modern age, including reference to the British in Kerala.[3]

Perumals mentioned in Keralolpathi

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Perumals of Keralolpathi

  • Keyapperumal
  • Cholapperumal
  • Pandipperumal
  • Banapperumal
  • Thulubanperumal
  • Indrapperumal
  • Aryapperumal
  • Kundranperumal
  • Kottipperumal
  • Madapperumal
  • Ezhipperumal
  • Kombanperumal
  • Vijayanperumal
  • Valabanperumal
  • Harichandranperumal
  • Mallapperumal
  • Kulasekharapperumal

Criticism

Historians doubt the reliability of this collection of legends as it contains many discrepancies. For instance it states that a certain

Vijayanagara empire appointed a Viceroy over Kerala in 428 AD. However the said king reigned between 1509 and 1529 AD.[5]

Likewise even the origins of most of the castes and clans of Kerala varies from the ancient Sanskrit Kerala Mahatmayam. Besides, by the 18th century modified versions of the work started appearing, varying from kingdom to kingdom and region to region in Kerala. Therefore, according to Shungunny Menon (a native historian of Travancore, Kerala) one cannot place, in the Keralolpathi, the value of a historical source. Shungunny Menon, stated that:

numerous discrepancies and glaring mistakes are visible for we find the authors in their anxiety to prove the correctness of their accounts confusing occurrences of the modern age with those of the ancient...it is obvious that on a work such as the Kerala Ulpathy little reliance can be placed

William Logan, who was the author of the Malabar Manual also refutes the validity of the Keralolpathi and describes it as:[6]

a farrago of legendary nonsense having for its definite aim the securing of the Brahmin caste of unbounded power and influence in the country

— William Logan

K. P. Padmanabha Menon, another native historian calls the Keralolpathi:[7]

an ill digested and uncollated collection of different versions huddled together in inextricable confusion

— K. P. Padmanabha Menon

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ History of Travancore by Shungunny Menon, page 28
  2. ^ Keralacharithram by A. Sreedhara Menon, page 13.
  3. ^ History of Travancore by Shungunny Menon, page 37
  4. ^ History of Travancore by Shungunny Menon, page 63
  5. ^ Travancore State Manual by V.Nagam Aiya, Volume I, page 223
  6. ISBN 8120604466
    .
  7. ISBN 9788126415786
    .
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