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8. AGE OF REASON
300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 LBC
AD LOCAL DRAVIDIC RELIGIONS 300 BC - 500 AD JAINISM 200 BC-800 AD BUDDHISM 52 AD ----- CHRISTIANITY
800 AD HINDUISM VEDIC
K.R. Vaidyanathan observes:
"Like Jainism, Buddhism also held sway in ancient Kerala during the reign of Asoka in the 3rd century B.C. Coming by sea, Buddhism was popular in coastal districts, Karumati, Mavelikkara, Bharanikkavu, Pallikkal, Karunagappalli, Idappalli, Dharmapattabnam, Matayi and Pallikkunny being its chief centers... Many prominent Hindu Temples of today like the Vadakkunnathan temple, Trichur and the Kurumga Bhagwati Temple, Kondugallur, and even the famous Ayyappa shrine atop Sabarimala are believed to have been at one time Buddhist shrines. ... While Jainism did hardly leave any impress on Kerala society, Buddhism was absorbed in Hinduism in respect of some of its ceremonies and forms of worship. The images, processions and utsavam, etc. associated with popular worship in present day Hindu temples in Kerala are said to be a legacy of Buddhism. Even the chakiyar kuttu conducted in temples is said to be an adaptation of the Buddhist monk's religious expositions."
[Vaidyanathan: 1982]
There is no trace of Vedism or Hinduism before 800 AD certainly in Kerala. It was totally wiped out by the beginning of Christian Era. If they existed, it was as a weak minority group. Even the present day Brahmins cannot trace their lineage before 8C AD. Instead, another religion grew out of Christianity, which came to be known as Hinduism. This eventually was taken over by the Brahmins and was revamped as modern Hinduism.
It is also to be noted that today there is no trace of Buddhism or Jainism in Kerala. Hinduism absorbed them. Hinduism took over the Jain and Buddhist temples. The Vadakkunnathan Temple of Trichur, the Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple of Cannanore, and the Durga Temple at Paruvasseri near Trichur were all originally Buddhist temples.
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