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In the south, during the Tamil Sangham period education was universal and there was a high level of Tamil literacy. No class or community was denied the right of education. Female education was also not neglected. 70 However, in the later sangam and post sangam period universal education received a set back. The progress of Aryanisation and principle of caturvarnya administered a new social order in which the aboriginal communities of the Tamil land gradually lost their high Brahmins came to

62 have the monopoly in the field. Sanskrit education also become more pronounced during this period. The actual history of the introduction of Sanskrit, the language of Aryans, to Kerala is not known, Naturally it corresponds to the arrival of Aryans from the North. Perhaps, even before their arrival in Kerala, then literature might have been propagated by travelers, story tellers and religious men. Jainism, and Buddhism, had reached here long before the commencement of the Christian Era. familiarity with them. 72 71 The old Tamil poetry shows much The mendicants of Jainism and Buddhism, built a number of Viharas called Pallis and propagated education through the schools 73 attached to them. It is probable that some among those ancient preachers were scholars in Sanskrit, the language of orthodox philosophy, and taught it also along wih Pali and Sauraseni, their religious languages. The Buddhist influence in the more or less clusters society of those ages probably occurred the percolation of the various sciences and also of 74 Sanskrit to the different strater of the society." The Buddhistic works in medicine and lexicon have been very popular in Kerala. Thus the Astanghrdaya of Vagbhata and the Dictionary of Amarasimha are still current among Kearalites. The Buddhistic influence is also evident in the architecture of Kerala temples and the various festivals connected with

63 them. 75 There is every reason to think that these Buddhist missionaries used the form of art including drama to preach their ideology. 76 It is generally assumed that the orgnised institution of Brahmanic religion to Kerala took place during the early centuries of the Christian 77 Era." According to traditions, sage Parasuram brought them to Kerala. The Namputiri Brahmins of Kerala are said to be their descendants. The Brahmins who settled in Kerala accepted the wise policy of mixing up with the local people, made matrimonial alliances with them and followed some of the local customs. It led to the completion of the synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures in which the Aryan elements established clear superiority over the Dravidian counterparts. There was a rapid growth of triumphant culture of Brahmanism in Kerala causing the consolidation of caste system and the downfull of Jainism and Buddhism. Gradually, at about 9th century AD. The Brahmins secured an unquestionable domination in the socio-political set up of Kerala. 78 By the time of the rigorous settlement of Aryans in Kerala, the classical Sanskrit literature had reached the peak of its growth through the poets like Bhasa, Kalidasa, Asvaghosa, Bharavi and others. The Aryans, especially, the Brahmins, might have brought their high tradition of literature with them. The transplantation of classical Sanskrit Drama and Theatre to Kerala also might have taken place in this period. Quite

64 naturally it might have been influenced by the local Dravidians form of dance and drama. Following the paths of the Buddhist, the Brahmins introduced this religion, literature and arts through the centres of worship. The rich cultured heritage of Sanskrit attracted scholars and thinkers towards it. The generous patronage extended by various kings and feudal chiefs encouraged the growth of Sanskrit in Kerala. Scholars and poets were welcomed everywhere and rulers vied with one another in patronizing art and literature. 79 Because of the constant efforts of the Brahmins the influence of Sanskrit began to spread in Kerala from about 7th century AD. At that time the evolution of Malayalam language from Tamil was not complete. The interactions between the developing Malayalam language and the flourishing Sanskrit literacy produced a mixed language called the Manipravalam. A considerable number of works styled as Manipravalam are available in the medieval literature. It helped the speedy evolution of modern Malayalam language which, among other things, accepted a massive vocabulary from Sanskrit. The earliest known Sanskrit writer from Kerala is Bhavadasa (2nd century AD), mentioned by Kumarilabhatta in Slokavartika. Vararuci the 80 astrologer (4th century AD.) and Prabhakara the Mimamsa philosopher (7 th century AD) are also regarded as Kerala Scholars. Dandin in his

65 Avantisundarikatha has mentioned three scholars from Kerala Bhavarata, Matrdatta and Ramasarma. But for the most outstanding figure from Kerala is Sankara, the greatest of philosophers (8th or 9th century AD.) About this time the great Kulasekhara Alvar of Kerala Movement by composing the Tamil work Perumaj Tirumoli and a Sanskrit devotional work Mukuntamala. 82