Kayavya Kerala
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KAYAVYA 403 KERALA Ghats a ancient Chapter 86, by taking a bath at this place the body west of Western had very history and would be purified. civilization of its own. KAYAVYA. A Candala. He was born to a Candala 2) Origin of Kerala. There are two statements, slightly woman as the son of a Ksatriya. But the Candalas different from each other, in the Puranas, about the who were impressed by Kayavya's moral conduct, origin of Kerala. 1 For the funeral of the sons made him the headman of the village. He taught ( ) performing ceremony others that all people should honour Brahmanas and of Sagara whose ashes wdre lying in Patala (Nether love their country. His political creed was that those world), Bhagiratha performed penance and brought who prospered by the ruin of a country were just like the heavenly river Ganga to the earth. (See under . river fell in the worms living on a dead body. (M.B. Santi Parva, Ganga) The North India and flowed in Chapter 135). torrents to the sea and the surrounding regions were KEDARA. A holy place in the interior of Kuruksetra. submerged in water. Among the places submerged, It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter there was the important holy place and Bath of 83, that those who bathe in this holy Bath would Gokarna also, lying on the west coast of India. Those obtain the fruits of good actions. One of the twelve hermits who lived in the vicinity of the temple at Lingas consecrated in important places, is in Gokarna, escaped from the flood and went to Mahendra- Kedara. giri and informed Parasurama of the calamity of the KEKARALOHITA. A great serpent which once took flood. Paras' urama went with them to the sea-shore. sage Cyavana to Patala. Cyavana, after worshipping Varuna did not make his appearance. The angry Siva at Nakulesvara tirtha got into river Narmada to ParaSurama stood in deep meditation for a little take his bath when the naga called Kekaralohita while. The weapons came to his hands. Varuna was caught hold of him, dragged him and bit him. As filled with fear and he instantly appeared before the sage meditated upon Visnu the poison did not Paras urama, who asked him to release the land affect him. The serpent released him from Patala as swallowed by the sea. Varuna agreed. Parasurama he was unaffected by poison. Cyavana went to the sent his bow and arrow back to the sky. Then he took palace of Prahlada accompanied by naga damsels. On a winnowing basket (Surpa) and threw it at the sea. the request of Prahlada Cyavana described to him the The sea retreated from the place up to the spot where holy places on earth, and without any delay Prahlada the winnowing basket fell, and the portion of land came to earth for hunting during which sojourn on including Gokarna which had been swallowed by sea was earth he visited Naimisaranya. (Vamana Purana, recovered. This land is called Kerala, which is known Chapter 8) . by the name 'Siirparaka' also. (Brahmanda Purana, KEKAYA. The Mahabharata mentions another Kekaya, Chapters 98 and 99). a King of the solar dynasty. He wedded two Malava (2) Parasurama went round the world eighteen princesses from the elder of whom were born Kicaka times and killed all the Ksatriya Kings. After that he and the sacrifice of Upakicaka, and from the younger was born performed Asvamedha (horse sacrifice) . Sudesna, also called Kaikeyi. This Sudesna married In the sacrifice he gave all the lands as alms to Matsya, the Virata King. (Virata Parva, Southern Brahmins. KaSyapa received all the lands for the text, Chapter 16). Brahmins. After that he requested Parasurama to KEKAYA(M). vacate the land. Accordingly Parasurama created 1 General. ) A Kingdom in ancient India. Kaikeyi, one new land by shooting an arrow at the sea, for of Dasaratha's wives, was a daughter of a Kekaya his own use. "At the words of Kasyapa, he made the King. sea retreat by shooting an arrow, thereby creating dry 2 The the it land was Kerala. ) Origin. country got name 'Kekaya' as land." This (M.B. Drona Parva, was ruled by King Kekaya. His genealogy is as follows. Chapter 70)' Descended from : Atri 3 Kerala and Patala . Visnu_thus Brahma Candra ) (Nether world) The ancient Budha Pururavas Ayus Nahusa Yayati Anud- sages of the Puranas have grouped the worlds into ruhyu Sabhanara Kalanara Srnjaya USInara three, the Svarga (heaven), Bhumi (the earth) and Sibi Sibi had called Patala the nether . Kekaya. four sons Bhadra, the ( world) The three worlds taken Suvlra, Kekaya and Vrsadarpa. (Bhagavata 9th as a whole were divided into fourteen worlds. It does Skandha) . not appear that this grouping was merely imaginary. Other details. of the (1 ) The King and the people of Kekaya A keen observation Puranas would lead one to were called the Kekayas. infer that the Himalayan plateau was considered as (2) Five heroic Kekaya princes met with their death Devaloka-Svarga (heaven), the planes between the in fighting Drona. (Strl Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 25) . Himalaya and the Vindhya as Bhuloka (the earth) (3) Two Kekaya Princes, Vinda and Anuvinda fought and the regions to the south of the Vindhya as Patala on the Kaurava side. (Kama Parva, Chapter 13). (the nether world), by the ancient people of India. KERAKA. People of an ancient country in South The seven worlds of Patala such as Atala, Vitala, India. It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Sabhaparva, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala might 3 1 that the of in this Chapter Sahadeva son Madri conquered have been seven countries region. The following the Kerakas and in Kerala. description which occurs Devi Bhagavata, Skandha 8, KERALA. would substantiate this inference. 1) General information. A small country lying in the "Patala is below the earth. This Patala is a group of south-west corner of India. From the Puranas it seven worlds one below the other, with names, Atala, could be understood that this country lying to the Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala and Mahatala. In south of Gokarna upto Cape Comorin and to the all those worlds, there are several beautiful cities and.