Consider the following assertions regarding the religious and cultural life of ancient Kerala during the pre-Pallava era: 1. Hero stones, known as 'Nadukkal', were erected to commemorate warriors who fell defending cattle or territory, reflecting an ancient martial ancestor worship. 2. Jainism and Buddhism exerted negligible influence in the ancient Malabar region, as Brahmanical Vedic rituals completely dominated all strata of society. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because Nadukkal worship is extensively documented in Sangam literature, where fallen heroes were deified and worshipped with sacred offerings. Statement 2 is incorrect because epigraphical and archaeological records confirm that Jainism and Buddhism had a strong presence in ancient Kerala, with numerous pallis and monastic centers established across the region before the consolidation of Brahmanical dominance. Hero stones form an integral part of early South Indian funerary traditions.