HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR DRAVIDIAN LANGUAGES

TIME PERIOD TAMIL TELUGU KANNADA MALAYALAM

2000 – 1750 BCE (Proto-Tamil Era) Pre-Malayalam Era: The first set of
The discovery of a Neolithic stone Celt, a hand-held axe, with the Indus script on it at people who left their footprints on
1750 – 1500 BCE Sembian-Kandiyur in TN is, according to Iravatham Mahadevan, "a major discovery the soil of Kerala can be identified
1500 – 1250 BCE because for the first time a text in the Indus script has been found in the State on a datable at present only with reference to
artefact, which is a polished Neolithic Celt." He added: "This confirms that the Neolithic their burial practices. Though
1250 – 1000 BCE people of Tamil Nadu shared the same language family of the Harappan group, which can Pre-Telugu ?!
records are lacking, a reasonable
only be Dravidian. The discovery provides the first evidence that the Neolithic people of assumption is that they spoke an
the Tamil country spoke a Dravidian language." Mr. Mahadevan, an eminent expert on
Archaic form of Tamil. They
the subject, estimated the date of the artefact with the Indus script between 2000 BCE -
constructed strange burial
1500 BCE. Not only do the Neolithic people of Tamil Nadu and the Harappans share the
same script but also the same language." monuments in granite, literate and
pottery, most of which are
strikingly similar to the megalithic
monuments of West Europe and
Asia. These monuments are,
however, younger than their
counterparts in the rest of Asia.
Historians have postulated a time
bracket between 8th century BCE
and 5th century CE for these
people. It is clear from the grave
relics, including iron tridents and
daggers, that the megalithic
builders had long emerged out of
the stone age into the iron age
without passing through a bronze
age. In fact, there is very little
evidence of the old and the new
stone ages in Kerala. It is quite
possible that the Mauryan
invaders who reached the Mysore
borders in their conquest
southwards, encountered the
megalith making tribes who lived
in hill forts and controlled the
surrounding countryside.
Fortunately, a whole corpus of
ancient Tamil literature known to
scholars by the name of Sangham
literature, has been preserved. It is
believed that during the period of
Asoka the Great, the southern
The earliest clear evidence of the presence of the megalithic urn burials are those dating most tribes were just emerging
from around 1500 - 1000 BCE, which have been discovered at various places in Tamil from the tribal status of
Nadu, notably at Adichanallur, 24 km to Tirunelveli, where archaeologists from the civilization. Contacts with the more
Archaeological Survey of India unearthed 157 urns, including 15 containing human advanced Mauryan world could
skulls, bones, plus husks, grains of rice, charred rice and Neolithic Celts.
10th Century BCE (Pre-Sangam Age- Old Tamil Age) Proto-Telugu
Recent Keezhadi Excavation sheds light to Tamiz’s Antiquity. Discovering an age old (Vikriti)
9th Century BCE urban site will highlight the brilliance of ancient Tamiz civilization, indicating the civilized The view, maintained by all
8th Century BCE lifestyle of Tamiz ancestors. The initial study suggests that the settlement must have Telugu grammarians and
been well established between early 8th Century BCE to 4th Century BCE. Sanskrit philologists, that
7th Century BCE Telugu is Vikriti — that is, a
6th Century BCE language formed by the
modification of Sanskrit and
Prakrit. An analysis of the
language as it has ...been for
centuries confirms this
traditional view....But the
information does not enable
to say whether they used
Telugu in any form. It is
probable that they spoke a
form of Prakrit, from which
Telugu has descended. Vikriti
is the Proto-Telugu/Pre-
Telugu spoken around 600
BCE–100 CE.
5th Century BCE The Oldest Stone Inscriptions (the Tamil Brahmi inscriptions found in Palani in Southern Prakrit Inscriptions with some
India scientifically dated to 540 BCE - the oldest known Brahmi inscriptions on the Indian Telugu words dating back to
sub-continent and `Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur dated to 400 BCE to 100 BCE have
490 BCE) ever found till date was only in Tamizh. Even the recent 20 plus epigraphic been discovered in
Bhattiprolu in the Guntur
findings of Palani, Poruntal, Mangulam and Adichanallur shows that Tamil was a well
district of Andhra Pradesh.
established language around between 800 BCE-600 BCE.
The English translation of one
4th Century BCE Sangam Age – Old Tamil Age: The Sangam literature, Canka ilakkiyam is the ancient
inscription reads, "gift of the
Tamil literature of the period in the history of ancient Tamilakam spanning from c. 400
3rd Century BCE BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems in Tamil composed by 473 poets,
slab by venerable
Midikilayakha". This is a
2nd Century BCE some 102 of whom remain anonymous. This period is known as the Sangam period,
Maharastri Prakrit Inscription
which referring to the prevalent Sangam legends claiming literary academies lasting
1st Century BCE thousands of years, giving the name to the corpus of literature. Sangam literature is
with some Telugu words !
Dated between 200 BCE and
1st Century CE primarily secular, dealing with everyday themes in a Tamilakam context. The poems
200 CE, a Prakrit work called
belonging to Sangam literature were composed by Tamil poets, both men and women,
2nd Century CE Gāthā Saptaśatī written by
from various professions and classes of society. Sangam literature deals with emotional
3rd Century CE and material topics such as love, war, governance, trade and bereavement. Some of the
Sathavahana King Hala, has
some 16 Telugu words.
greatest Tamil scholars, like Thiruvalluvar, who wrote on ethics, and on the various
Maharastri Prakrit and Old
issues of life like virtue, wealth and love, or the Tamil poet Mamulanar, who explored
Tamil Influence on Vikriti.
historical incidents that happened in India, lived during the Sangam period. The
Telugu was more influenced
literature currently available from this period is perhaps just a fraction of the wealth of
by Sanskrit and Prakrit during
material produced during this golden age of Tamil civilization. The available literature
this period, which
from this period has been broadly divided in antiquity into three categories based
corresponded to the advent
roughly on chronology. These are: the Major Eighteen Anthology Series comprising the
of Telugu literature. Because
Eight Anthologies and the Ten Idylls and the Five Great Epics. Tolkaappiyam, a
of the continuous political
commentary on grammar, phonetics, rhetoric and poetics is dated from this period.
dynamic empires like
Mauryan, Satavanna and
Pallavas have influenced their
Prakrit, Sanskrit and Old Tamil
Pre-Kannada ?! have accelerated the pace of
Similar to Malayalam, Scholarly political and social movement
assumption is that the Early among the Cheras and the minor
Historic Kannada People spoke chieftains of Kerala. Though the
an Archaic form of Tamil. Cheras had their capital at Vanchi
in the interior, they had the
famous harbour towns of Tyndis
and Muziris on the Arabian Sea
coast for trade. The Cheras ruled
over the central portion of the
present day Kerala. They seemed
to have attracted a good deal of
Roman trade. There are vivid
descriptions in Sangham literature
of Yavana ships coming to Muziris,
laden with gold and waiting for
pepper, the black gold of the
Romans, at some distance from
the shore. The hoards of Roman
gold coins unearthed from
Kottayam and Eyyal in Kerala
authenticity to such statements.
There were a number of other
minor chieftains who flourished in
different parts of Kerala. And The
entire social world of Kerala, as
part of Tamilakam (Tamil land) is
reflected in the rich collection of
Proto-Kannada Age: The
secular poems which form the
Ashoka rock edict found at
Brahmagiri (dated to 230 BCE)
characteristic legacy of the
Sangham age. Edakal-5 Tamil-
has been suggested to contain
Brahmi provides important
words in identifiable Kannada.
Dated between 200 BCE and
evidence that the common people
of Kerala were already expressing
200 CE, a Prakrit work called
themselves in Malayalam at about
Gāthā Saptaśatī written by
the end of the 4th century c.e.
Sathavahana King Hala,
Kannada words like tIr, tuppa,
Edakal-5 is by far the earliest
inscription in Malayalam and the
peTTu, poTTu have been used.
only one in Brahmi. However,
On the Pallava Prakrit
Tamil was also retained by the
inscription of 250 CE of Hire
elite as the literary idiom in which
Hadagali's Shivaskandavarman,
great works like Silappadikaram
the Kannada word kOTe
were composed. Eventually, of
transforms into koTTa. In the
course, the people’s language
350 CE Chandravalli Prakrit
prevailed in the region and
inscription, words of Kannada
Malayalam became the medium of
origin like punaaTa, puNaDa
communication for all purposes
have been used. In one more
from about the beginning of the
Prakrit inscription of 250 CE
Kollam Era (early 9th century c.e.).
found in Malavalli, Kannada
The Tamil Sangam works
towns like vEgooraM (bEgooru),
 on Vikriti, thus OLD TELUGU kundamuchchaMDi find a Puṟanāṉūṟu and Akanaṉūṟu have
was completely formed well reference. many lines which speak of the
4th Century CE Post-Sangam Age – Old Tamil Age: The three centuries after the Sangam age witnessed before 3rd century CE. Old Kannada Era: The written Roman vessels and the Roman
an increase in the mutual interaction of Sanskrit and Tamil. A number of words and tradition of Kannada begins in gold that used to come to the
5th Century CE concepts relating to ethics, philosophy and religion were mutually borrowed and the early centuries of common Kerala ports in search of pepper
exchanged between the languages. Around 300 CE, the Tamil land was under the era. The earliest examples of a and other spices, which had
influence of a group of people known as the Kalabhras. The Kalabhras were Buddhist full-length Kannada language enormous demand in the West.
and a number of Buddhist authors flourished during this period. Jainism and Buddhism stone inscription Especially, one of the earliest
saw rapid growth. These authors, perhaps reflecting the austere nature of their faiths, (shilaashaasana) containing surviving pieces of literature to
created works mainly on morality and ethics. A number of Jain and Buddhist poets Brahmi characters with have been composed in ancient
contributed to the creation of these didactic works as well as grammar and lexicography. characteristics attributed to Kerala, the pathiRRuppathu is an
The collection of the minor eighteen anthologies was of this period. Other famous works those of proto-Kannada in Hale important source that describes
of this period are Kalavali, Nalatiyar, Inna Narpathu and Iniyavai Narpathu. The Jain texts Kannada (lit Old Kannada) script the dynasties of Kerala kings
Nalatiyar and Pazhamozhi Nanuru each consist of four hundred poems, each of which can be found in the Halmidi (cheral kings) from the early
cites a proverb and then illustrates it with a story. The fall of the Kalabhras around 500 inscription, usually dated c. AD centuries CE. An important source
CE saw a reaction from the thus far suppressed Hindus. The Kalabhras were replaced by 450, indicating that Kannada to understand the ancient history
the Pandyas in the south and by the Pallavas in the north. Even with the exit of the had become an administrative of Kerala is the
Kalabhras, the Jain and Buddhist influence still remained in Tamil Nadu. The early language at that time. The pathinEnmERkanakku. Collections
Pandya and the Pallava kings were followers of these faiths. The Hindu reaction to this Halmidi inscription provides of poems like Purananuru,
apparent decline of their religion was growing and reached its peak during the later part invaluable information about Akananuru, Silappathikaram and
of the 7th century. There was a widespread Hindu revival during which a huge body of the history and culture of Manimekhalai by poets like
Saiva and Vaishnava literature was created. Many Saiva Nayanmars and Vaishnava Karnataka. The 5th century Paramer, Kapilar, Gautamanar,
Alvars provided a great stimulus to the growth of popular devotional literature. Karaikkal Tamatekallu inscription of mamulanar, and Avvaiyar. The
Ammaiyar who lived in the 6th century CE was the earliest of these Nayanmars. The Chitradurga and the Sangam poems were secular. The
celebrated Saiva hymnists Sundaramoorthy, Thirugnana Sambanthar and Chikkamagaluru inscription of poems give us information about
Thirunavukkarasar (also known as Appar) were of this period. Of Appar's verses 3066 the Chera kings like Utiyam,
500 AD are further examples.
have survived. Sambandar sang 4,169 verses. Together these form the first six books of Neducheralathan and
Recent reports indicate that the
the Saiva canon, collected by Nambi Andar Nambi in the 10th century. Sundarar wrote Chenkuttawan. Their capital was
Old Kannada Nishadi inscription
Tiruttondartokai which gives the list of sixty-two Nayanmars. This was later elaborated vanchi (muziris), which was an
discovered on the Chandragiri
by Sekkilar in his Periyapuranam(4,272 verses). Manikkavasagar, who lived around the important trading centre with
hill, Shravanabelagola, is older
8th century CE was a minister in the Pandya court. His Tiruvasakam consisting of over Rome.
than Halmidi inscription by
6th Century CE 600 verses is noted for its passionate devotion.. These Saivite Hymns collectively called Old Telugu Era: The period
about fifty to hundred years
Thirumurai is described as SIXTH VEDA next to Bhagavath Geetha in Hindu Tradition. from 575 AD to 1022 AD
7th Century CE Along with the Saiva Nayanmars, Vaishnava Alvars were also producing devotional corresponds to the second
and may belong to the period
AD 350–400. The noted
8th Century CE hymns and their songs were collected later into the Four Thousand Sacred Hymns phase of Telugu history, after
archaeologist and art historian
(Naalayira Divyap Prabhandham). The three earliest Alvars were Poygai, Pudam and Pey. the Andhra Ikshvaku period.
S. Shettar is of the opinion that
Each of these wrote one hundred Venpas. Tirumalisai Alwar who was a contemporary of This is evidenced by the first
an inscription of the Western
the Pallava Mahendravarman I wrote such works as Naanmugantiruvadiandadi. inscription that is entirely in
Ganga King Kongunivarma
Tirumangai Alvar who lived in the 8th century CE was a more prolific writer and his Telugu, dated 575 AD, which
Madhava (c. 350–370) found at
works constitute about a third of the Diyaprabhandam. Periyalvar and his adopted was found in the Rayalaseema
Tagarthi (Tyagarthi) in
daughter Andal contributed nearly 650 hymns to the Vaishnava canon. Andal symbolised region and is attributed to the
Shikaripura taluk of Shimoga
purity and love for the God and wrote her hymns addressing Vishnu as a lover. The Renati Cholas, who broke
district is of 350 CE and is also
hymn of Andal which starts with Vaaranam Aayiram (One Thousand Elephants) tells of with the prevailing custom of
older than the Halmidi
her dream wedding to Vishnu and is sung even today at Tamil Vaishnava weddings. using Sanskrit and began
Nammalvar, who lived in the 9th century, wrote Tiruvaimoli. It comprises 1,101 stanzas writing royal proclamations in inscription. The oldest existing
and is held in great esteem for its elucidation of the Upanishads. This corpus was the local language. During the record of Kannada poetry in
collected by Nathamuni, around 950 CE and formed the classical and vernacular basis for next fifty years, Telugu Tripadi metre is the Kappe
Sri Vaishnavism. These Hymns 'Naalayira Divya-p-Prabhandham' is respected at par with inscriptions appeared in Arabhatta record of AD 700.
Vedas by Sri Vaishnavites in sanctity and holiness and hence referred to as 'Dravida Anantapuram and other Kavirajamarga by King
Vedam'. neighboring regions. Telugu Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I (AD
9th Century CE Middle Tamil Period: The medieval period was the period of the Imperial Cholas when was more influenced by
the entire south India was under a single administration. The period between the 11th Sanskrit and Prakrit during
10th Century CE and the 13th centuries, during which the Chola power was at its peak, there were this period, which
11th Century CE relatively few foreign incursions and the life for the Tamil people was one of peace and corresponded to the advent
prosperity. It also provided the opportunity for the people to interact with cultures of Telugu literature. Telugu
beyond their own, as the Cholas ruled over most of the South India, Sri Lanka and traded literature was initially found
with the kingdoms in southeast Asia. The Cholas built numerous temples, mainly for in inscriptions and poetry in
their favourite god Siva, and these were celebrated in numerous hymns. The Prabhanda the courts of the rulers, and
became the dominant form of poetry. The religious canons of Saiva and Vaishnava sects later in written works such as
were beginning to be systematically collected and categorised. Nambi Andar Nambi, Nannayya's Mahabharatam
who was a contemporary of Rajaraja Chola I, collected and arranged the books on (1022 AD). During the time of
Saivism into eleven books called Tirumurais. The hagiology of Saivism was standardised Nannayya, the literary
in Periyapuranam (also known as Tiruttondar Puranam) by Sekkilar, who lived during the language diverged from the
reign of Kulothunga Chola II (1133–1150 CE). Religious books on the Vaishnava sect were popular language. It was also
mostly composed in Sanskrit during this period. The great Vaishnava leader Ramanuja a period of phonetic changes
lived during the reigns of Athirajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I, and had to face in the spoken language.
religious persecution from the Cholas who belonged to the Saiva sect. One of the best Prabandha Ratnavali[1](1918)
known Tamil works of this period is the Ramavatharam by Kamban who flourished & Pre-Nannayya Chandassu
during the reign of Kulottunga III. Ramavatharam is the greatest epic in Tamil Literature, (Raja Raja Narendra
and although the author states that he followed Valmiki, his work is not a mere Pattabhisekha Sanchika) by
translation or even an adaptation of the Sanskrit epic. Kamban imports into his narration Veturi Prabhakara Sastry talk
the colour and landscape of his own time. A contemporary of Kamban was the famous about the existence of Jain
poet Auvaiyar who found great happiness in writing for young children. Her works, Telugu literature during 850-
Athichoodi and Konraiventhan are even now generally read and taught in schools in 1000AD.A verse from Telugu
Tamil Nadu. Her two other works, Mooturai and Nalvali were written for slightly older Jinendra Puranam by Padma
children. All the four works are didactic in character. They explain the basic wisdom that Kavi(Pampa),a couple of
should govern mundane life. Of the books on the Buddhist and the Jain faiths, the most verses from Telugu Adi
noteworthy is the Jivaka-chintamani by the Jain ascetic Thirutakkadevar composed in Puranam by Sarvadeva and
the 10th century. Viruttam style of poetry was used for the first time for the verses in Kavijanasrayam's(a Telugu
this book. The five Tamil epics Jivaka-chintamani, Cilappatikaram, Manimekalai, Chandassu poetic guide for
Kundalakesi and Valayapathi are collectively known as The Five Great Epics of Tamil poets) affiliation to Jainism
Literature. There were a number of books written on Tamil grammar. Yapperungalam were discussed. Historically,
and Yapperungalakkarigai were two works on prosody by the Jain ascetic Amirtasagara. Vemulawada was a Jain
Buddamitra wrote Virasoliyam, another work on Tamil grammar, during the reign of knowledge hub and played a
Virarajendra Chola. Virasoliyam attempts to find synthesis between Sanskrit and Tamil significant role in patronizing
grammar. Other grammatical works of this period are Nannul by Pavanandi, Vaccanandi Jain literature and
Malai by Neminatha, and the annotations on the puram theme, Purapporul Venpamalai poets.1980s excavations
by Aiyanaridanar. There were biographical and political works such as Jayamkondar's around Vemulawada revealed
Kalingattuparani, a semi-historical account on the two invasion of Kalinga by Kulothunga and affirmed the existence of
Chola I. Jayamkondar was a poet-laureate in the Chola court and his work is a fine Telugu Jain literature. This is
example of the balance between fact and fiction the poets had to tread. Ottakuttan, a also the period of Kavi Trayam
close contemporary of Kambar, wrote three Ulas on Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II or Trinity of Poets. Nannayya,
and Rajaraja Chola II. Tikkana and Yerrapragada (or
Errana) are known as the Kavi
Trayam.
12th Century CE Middle Telugu Era: The third
phase is marked by further
stylization and sophistication
of the literary language.
850) is the earliest existing Old Malayalam: The next earliest
literary work in Kannada. It is a inscriptions in Malayalam occur
writing on literary criticism and much later from about the
poetics meant to standardise beginning of the 9th century c.e.
various written Kannada and are in the Vatteluttu script.
dialects used in literature in [The earliest written record
previous centuries. The book resembling Malayalam is the
makes reference to Kannada Vazhappalli inscription (ca. 830
works by early writers such as CE)]. Classical songs are known as
King Durvinita of the 6th Nadan Pattu;
century and Ravikirti, the Manipravalam of the Sanskrit
author of the Aihole record of tradition, which permitted a
636 AD. Since the earliest generous interspersing of Sanskrit
available Kannada work is one with Malayalam. The oldest
on grammar and a guide of examples of Pattu and
sorts to unify existing variants Manipravalam, respectively, are
of Kannada grammar and Ramacaritam and Vaishikatantram,
literary styles, it can be safely both from the 12th century. The
assumed that literature in earliest extant prose work in the
Kannada must have started language is a commentary in
several centuries earlier. An simple Malayalam,
early extant prose work, the Bhashakautalyam (12th century)
Vaddaradhane by on Chanakya's Arthashastra.
Shivakotiacharya of AD 900
provides an elaborate
description of the life of
Bhadrabahu of
Shravanabelagola. Tamil
Buddhist commentators of the
10th century AD (in the
commentary on Nemrinatham,
a Tamil grammatical work)
make references that show that
Kannada literature must have
flourished as early as the AD
4th century. Around the
beginning of the 9th century,
Old Kannada was spoken from
Kaveri to Godavari. The
Kannada spoken between the
rivers Varada and Malaprabha
was the pure well of Kannada
undefiled. The late classical
period gave birth to several
genres of Kannada literature,
with new forms of composition
coming into use, including
Ragale (a form of blank verse)
and meters like Sangatya and
Shatpadi. The works of this
 During this period the split of
the Telugu and Kannada
alphabets took place. Tikkana
wrote his works in this script.
The Vijayanagara Empire
gained dominance from 1336
to the late 17th century,
reaching its peak during the
rule of Krishnadevaraya in the
16th century, when Telugu
literature experienced what is
considered its Golden Age. A
distinct dialect developed in
the Telangana State and the
parts of Rayalaseema region
due to Persian/Arabic
influence: the Delhi Sultanate
of the Tughlaq dynasty was
established earlier in the
northern Deccan Plateau
during the 14th century CE.
The 16th-century Venetian
explorer Niccolò de' Conti,
who visited the Vijayanagara
Empire, found that the words
in Telugu language end with
vowels, just like those in
Italian, and hence referred it
as "The Italian of the East".
period are based on Jain and
Hindu principles. Emperor
Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I of
850 CE recognised that the
Sanskrit style of Kannada
literature was Margi (formal or
written form of language) and
Desi (folk or spoken form of
language) style was popular
and made his people aware of
the strength and beauty of their
native language Kannada. In
1112 CE, Jain poet Nayasena of
Mulugunda, Dharwad district,
in his Champu work
Dharmamrita, a book on
morals, warns writers from
mixing Kannada with Sanskrit
by comparing it with mixing of
clarified butter and oil. He has
written it using very limited
Sanskrit words which fit with
idiomatic Kannada. In 1235 CE,
Jain poet Andayya, wrote
Kabbigara Kava (Poet's
Defender), also called Sobagina
Suggi (Harvest of Beauty) or
Madana-Vijaya and Kavana-
Gella (Cupid's Conquest), a
Champu work in pure Kannada
using only indigenous (desya)
Kannada words and the derived
form of Sanskrit words –
tadbhavas, without the
admixture of Sanskrit words. He
succeeded in his challenge and
proved wrong those who had
advocated that it was
impossible to write a work in
Kannada without using Sanskrit
words. Andayya may be
considered as a protector of
Kannada poets who were
ridiculed by Sanskrit advocates.
Thus Kannada is the only
Dravidian language which is not
only capable of using only
native Kannada words and
grammar in its literature (like
Tamil), but also use Sanskrit
 grammar and vocabulary (like
Telugu, Malayalam, Tulu, etc.)
The Champu style of literature
of mixing poetry with prose
owes its origins to the Kannada
language which was later
incorporated by poets into
Sanskrit and other Indian
languages.
th Middle Kannada: During the
13 Century CE
period between the 14th and
14th Century CE 18th centuries, Hinduism had a
Middle Malayalam: Niranam
poets: Manipravalam Madhava
15th Century CE Modern Tamil Era: The period from 1400 to 1650 CE was a period of constant change in great influence on Middle
Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and
the political situation of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil country was invaded by the armies of the Kannada (Nadugannada)
16th Century CE Delhi Sultanate and defeated the Pandya kingdom. The collapse of the Delhi Sultanate language and literature.
Rama Panikkar wrote
Manipravalam poetry in the
triggered the rise of the Bahmani Sultans in the Deccan. Vijayanagar empire rose from Kumara Vyasa, who wrote the
beginning of 14th century. A form
the ashes of the kingdoms of Hoysalas and Chalukyas and eventually conquered the Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari,
of writing called Campu emerged
entire south India. The Vijayanagar kings appointed regional governors to rule various was arguably the most
from the 14th century onwards. It
territories of their kingdom and Tamil Nadu was ruled by the Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur influential Kannada writer of
mixed poetry with prose and used
Nayaks and Gingee Nayaks. This period saw a large output of philosophical works, this period. His work, entirely
a vocabulary strongly influenced
commentaries, epics and devotional poems. A number of monasteries (Mathas) were composed in the native
by Sanskrit, with themes from
established by the various Hindu sects and these began to play a prominent role in Bhamini Shatpadi (hexa-meter),
epics and Puranas. The most
educating the people. Numerous authors were of either the Saiva or the Vaishnava is a sublime adaptation of the
earliest wok, Rama-charitam,
sects. The Vijayanagar kings and their Nayak governors were ardent Hindus and they first ten books of the
which was composed in the 14th
patronised these mathas. Although the kings and the governors of the Vijayanagar Mahabharata. During this
century A.D., may be said to have
empire spoke Kannada and Telugu they encouraged the growth of Tamil literature as we period, the Sanskritic influence
inaugurated Malayalam literature
find no slowing down in the literary output during this period. There was a large output is present in most abstract,
just as Naniah's Mahabharatam
of works of philosophical and religious in nature, such as the Sivananabodam by religious, scientific and
did for Telugu. The Malayalam
Meykandar. At the end of the 14th century Svarupananda Desikar wrote two rhetorical terms. During this
language, with the introduction of
anthologies on the philosophy os Advaita, the Sivaprakasapperundirattu. period, several Hindi and
a new type of devotional
Arunagirinathar who lived in Tiruvannamalai in the 14th century wrote Tiruppugal. Marathi words came into
literature, underwent a
Around 1360 verses of unique lilt and set to unique metres these poems are on the god Kannada, chiefly relating to
metamorphosis, both in form and
Muruga. Madai Tiruvengadunathar, an official in the court of the Madurai Nayak, wrote feudalism and militia. Hindu
content, and it is generally held
Meynanavilakkam on the Advaita Vedanta. Siva prakasar, in the early 17th century saints of the Vaishnava sect
that modernity in Malayalam
wrote a number of works on the Saiva philosophy. Notable among these is the Nanneri such as Kanakadasa,
language and literature
which deals with moral instructions. A considerable par to the religious and Purandaradasa, Naraharitirtha,
commenced at this period. This
philosophical literature of the age took the form of Puranas or narrative epics. A number Vyasatirtha, Sripadaraya,
change was brought about by
of these were written on the various deities of the temples in Tamil Nadu and are known Vadirajatirtha, Vijaya Dasa,
Thunchathu Ezhuthachan (16th
as Sthala Puranas, based on legend and folklore. One of the most important of the epics Jagannatha Dasa, Prasanna
century) who is known as the
was the Mahabharatam by Villiputturar. He translated Vyasa's epic into Tamil and Venkatadasa produced
father of modern Malayalam. Till
named it Villibharatam. Kanthapuranam on the god Murugan was written by Kacchiappa devotional poems in this
this time Malayalam indicated two
Sivachariyar who lived in the 15th century. This work was based broadly on the Sanskrit period. Kanakadasa's
different courses of development
Skandapurana. Varatungarama Pandya, a Pandya king of the period was a littérateur of Ramadhanya Charite is a rare
depending on its relationship with
merit and wrote Paditrruppattanthathi. He also translated into Tamil the erotic book work, concerning with the issue
either Sanskrit or Tamil. The
known as Kokkoha from Sanskrit. This period also an age of many commentaries of of class struggle. This period
Malayalam language, with the
ancient Tamil works. Adiyarkunallar wrote an annotation on Cilappatikaram. saw the advent of Haridasa
introduction of a new type of
Senavaraiyar wrote a commentary on the Tolkappiyam. Then came the famous Sahitya (lit Dasa literature)
devotional literature, underwent a
Parimelalagar whose commentary on the Tirukkural is still considered one of the best which made rich contributions
metamorphosis, both in form and
available. Other famous annotators such as Perasiriyar and Naccinarikiniyar wrote to Bhakti literature and sowed
content, and it is generally held
 commentaries on the various work of Sangam literature. The first Tamil dictionary was the seeds of Carnatic music. that modernity in Malayalam
attempted by Mandalapurusha who compiled the lexicon Nigandu Cudamani. Purandara Dasa is widely language and literature
Thayumanavar, who lived in the early 18th century, is famous for a number of short considered the Father of commenced at this period. This
poems of philosophical nature. The 17th century also saw for the first time literary Carnatic music. change was brought about by
works by Muslim and Christian authors. The population of Muslims and Christians were Thunchathu Ezhuthachan (16th
growing in Tamil Nadu with the influences of the Delhi Sultanate and the growing century) who is known as the
European missionaries. Syed Khader known in Tamil as Sithaakkathi, lived in the 17th father of modern Malayalam. Till
century and was a great patron of all Tamil poets. He commissioned the creation of a this time Malayalam indicated two
biography on the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Omar known in Tamil as UmaruPulavar, different courses of development
wrote Seerapuranam on the life of Muhammad.[10] Costanzo Giuseppe Beschi (1680– depending on its relationship with
1746), better known as Veeramamunivar, compiled the first dictionary in Tamil. His either Sanskrit or Tamil. The
Chathurakarathi was the first to list the Tamil words in alphabetical order. earliest literary work in Malayalam
Veeramamunivar is also remembered for his Christian theological epic Thembavani on now available is a prose
the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. During the 18th and the 19th century Tamil Nadu commentary on Chanakya's
witnessed some of the most profound changes in the political scene. The traditional Arthashastra, ascribed to the 13th
Tamil ruling clans were superseded by European colonists and their sympathisers. The century. The poetical works called
Tamil society underwent a deep cultural shock with the imposition of western cultural Vaisikatantram are also believed to
influences. The Hindu religious establishments attempted to stem the tide of change and belong to the early 14th century.
to safeguard the Tamil cultural values. Notable among these were the Saiva monasteries These works come under a special
at Tiruvavaduthurai, Dharmapuram, Thiruppananthal and Kundrakudi. Meenakshi category known as Manipravalam,
Sundaram Pillai(1815–1876) was a Tamil scholar who taught Tamil at one of these literally the combination of two
monasteries. He wrote more than eighty books consisting of over 200,000 languages, the language of Kerala
poems.[citation needed] He is more famous however for encouraging U.V.Swaminatha and Sanskrit. A grammar and
Iyer to go search for Tamil books that have been lost for centuries. Gopalakrishna rhetoric in this hybrid style was
Bharathi lived during the early 19th century. He wrote numerous poems and lyrics set to written sometime in the 14th
tune in Carnatic music. His most famous work is the Nandan Charitam on the life of century in Sanskrit and the work,
Nandanar who having been born in a sociologically lower caste, faces and overcomes the called the Lilatikalam, is the main
social obstacles in achieving his dream of visiting the Chidambaram temple. This work is source of information for a student
a revolutionary social commentary considering the period in which it was written, of literary and linguistic history.
although Gopalakrishna Bharati expanded on the story in Periyapuranam. Ramalinga According to this book, the
Adigal (Vallalar) (1823–1874) wrote the devotional poem Tiruvarutpa is considered to be Manipravalam and Pattu styles of
a work of great beauty and simplicity. Maraimalai Adigal (1876–1950) advocated for the literary compositions were in
purity of Tamil and wanted to clean it of words with Sanskrit influences. One of the great vogue during this period. "Pattu"
Tamil poets of this period was Subramanya Bharathi. His works are stimulating in their means "song" and more or less
progressive themes like freedom and feminism. Bharathy introduced a new poetic style represents the pure Malayalam
into the somewhat rigid style of Tamil poetry writing, which had followed the rules set school of poetry. From the
down in the Tolkaappiyam. His puthukkavithai (Lit.:new poetry) broke the rules and gave definition of the Pattu style given
poets the freedom to express themselves. He also wrote Tamil prose in the form of in the Lilatikalam, it can be
commentaries, editorials, short stories and novels. Some of these were published in the surmised that the language of
Tamil daily Swadesamitran and in his Tamil weekly India. Inspired by Bharathi, many Kerala during this period was more
poets resorted to poetry as a means of reform. Bharathidasan was one such poet. or less in line with Tamil, but this
U.V.Swaminatha Iyer, was instrumental in the revival of interest in the Sangam age has misled many people to believe
literature in Tamil Nadu. He travelled all over the Tamil country, collecting, deciphering incorrectly that Malayalam was
and publishing ancient books such as Cilappatikaram, Kuruntokai, etc. He published over itself Tamil during this period and
90 books and wrote En caritham, an autobiography. Since the 1900s, what was before. The latest research shows
considered an elite literary form of the Tamil language, has now spread to the common that Malayalam as a separate
people with the introduction of mass media like movies, television, radio and spoken language in Kerala began
newspapers. This form of the language is also taught in schools and colleges as a showing independent lines of
standard. development from its parental
tongue Proto-Tamil-Malayalam
 (which is not modern Tamil),
preserving the features of the
earliest Dravidian tongue, which
only in due course gave birth to
the literary form of Tamil, namely
Sen Tamil and Malayalam, the
spoken form of which is prevalent
in Kerala. However, till the 13th
century there is no hard evidence
to show that the language of
Kerala had a literary tradition.
Some of them like Ramacharitam
have a close resemblance to the
Tamil language during this period.
This is to be attributed to the
influence of Tamil works on native
poets belonging to areas that lie
close to the Tamil country.
It was during the 16th and 17th
centuries that later Champu
kavyas were written. Their
specialty was that they contained
both Sanskritic and indigenous
elements of poetry to an equal
degree, and in that manner were
unique.
17th Century CE Modern Telugu Era: In the Modern Malayalam: The Modern
latter half of the 17th century, period of Malayalam literature
18th Century CE the Mughal Empire extended
Modern Kannada: The Kannada
commences with Thunjath
works produced from the 18th
19th Century CE further south, culminating in
century make a gradual
Ezhuthachan’s Kilippaṭṭu
the establishment of the Unnayi Varyar, whose Nalacharitan
20th Century CE princely state of Hyderabad
transition and are classified as
Attakkatha is popular even today,
Hosagannada or Modern
THE PRESENT AGE State by the dynasty of the
Kannada. Most notable among
was the most prominent poet of
Nizam of Hyderabad in 1724. the 18th century among not only
the modernists was the poet
This heralded an era of the Kathakali writers, but also
Nandalike Muddana whose
Persian influence on the among the classical poets of
writing may be described as the
Telugu language, especially Kerala. He is often referred to as
"Dawn of Modern Kannada",
Hyderabad State. The effect is the Kalidasa of Kerala. Devotional
though generally, linguists treat
also evident in the prose of literature in Malayalam found its
Indira Bai or Saddharma
the early 19th century, as in heyday during the early phase of
Vijayavu by Gulvadi Venkata
the Kaifiyats. In the princely this period. Ezhuthachan referred
Raya as the first literary works
Hyderabad State, the Andhra to above gave emphasis to the
in Modern Kannada. The first
Mahasabha was started in Bhakti cult. The Jnanappana by
modern movable type printing
1921 with the main intention Puntanam Nambudiri is a unique
of "Canarese" appears to be the
of promoting Telugu work in the branch of philosophical
Canarese Grammar of Carey
language, literature, its books poetry. As regards literature, the
printed at Serampore in 1817,
and historical research led by leading figures were Irayimman
and the "Bible in Canarese" of
Madapati Hanumantha Rao Thampi and Vidwan
John Hands in 1820. The first
(the founder of the Andhra Koithampuran, both poets of the
novel printed was John
Mahasabha), Komarraju royal court.
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress,
 Venkata Lakshmana Rao
(Founder of Library
Movement in Hyderabad
State), Suravaram
Pratapareddy and others. In
the period of the late 19th
and the early 20th centuries
saw the influence of the
English language and modern
communication/printing press
as an effect of the British rule,
especially in the areas that
were part of the Madras
Presidency. Literature from
this time had a mix of classical
and modern traditions and
included works by scholars
like Gidugu Venkata
Ramamoorty, Kandukuri
Veeresalingam, Gurazada
Apparao, Gidugu Sitapati and
Panuganti Lakshminarasimha
Rao. Since the 1930s, what
was considered an elite
literary form of the Telugu
language, has now spread to
the common people with the
introduction of mass media
like movies, television, radio,
newspapers and education.
along with other texts including Since 1900s, what was considered
Canarese Proverbs, The History an elite literary form of the
of Little Henry and his Bearer by Malayalam language, has now
Mary Martha Sherwood, spread to the common people with
Christian Gottlob Barth's Bible the introduction of mass media
Stories and "a Canarese hymn like movies, television, radio and
book." Modern Kannada in the newspapers. This form of the
20th century has been language is also taught in schools
influenced by many and colleges as a standard.
movements, notably Navodaya,
Navya, Navyottara, Dalita and
Bandaya. Contemporary
Kannada literature has been
highly successful in reaching
people of all classes in society.
Further, Kannada has produced
a number of prolific and
renowned poets and writers
such as Kuvempu, Bendre, and
V K Gokak. Works of Kannada
literature have received eight
Jnanpith awards, the highest
number awarded to any Indian
language.