MasteryExams
History • Ancient IndiaHard

Which ancient Tamil literary genre provides the primary indigenous textual source for reconstructing the political and economic history of early historic Kerala, including the Chera monarchs and their patronage of poets?

A. Purananuru and Patirruppattu✓ Correct Answer
B. Silappatikaram and Manimekalai
C. Tolkappiyam and Nannul
D. Periya Puranam and Mushika Kavya

💡 Solution & Explanation

Patirruppattu specifically comprises ten decades of poems composed in praise of various Chera kings, making it the most vital indigenous source for early Kerala history, complemented by Purananuru. Silappatikaram and Manimekalai are later epic poems composed in the post-Sangam era. Tolkappiyam is a grammatical treatise. Periya Puranam and Mushika Kavya belong to the medieval period. These Sangam anthologies record royal genealogies, military victories, and generous gift-giving practices.

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