Kerala - Kollam   

From Kolam to Deshinganad, and then finally Kollam

Staff Reporter

Historian delves into a city's past from the Buddhist times

KOLLAM: M.S. Jayaprakash, historian, says that Kollam was earlier called Kolam, and when it came under the rule of Jayashimhan Perumal, the land came to be called Deshinganad.

Dr. Jayaprakash was speaking on "The history of Deshinganad: a study of Buddhist traditions of Kollam" at a seminar on "Kollam through the centuries," organised by the Government College, Chavara, near here, recently.

Different names

Kollam also came to be known under different names with similar pronunciation. Quoting from historical records, he said that in AD 851, the Arab traveller Sulaiman called the place `Kaulam.' In 1166, the Jewish traveller Rabbi Benjamin called it `Chulam.' John Monte Carvino, the first Roman Catholic missionary to China, who touched Kollam en route China at the end of the 13th century, called the place `Kiyulan.'

The first Bishop of Kollam (1324), Friar Jordanus Catalani, called the place `Caulam,' the Italian traveller Nicolo Conti called it `Colyon' and the Portuguese officer Barbosa (1516) called the place `Kaulam.'

Dr. Jayaprakash said that though these terms were pronounced differently, they were of the same origin. A close study of the term in the Buddhist background had proved that `Kolam' was in Pali language. He said Kerala had 1,200 years of Buddhist tradition between 300 BC and AD 900, and during this period, Malayalam was deeply influenced by Pali.

Centre of Buddhism

Kollam was the most important centre of Buddhism in Kerala. The term `Palli' means Buddha Vihara. Therefore, places with names having `palli' in them, such as Karunagapally, Paripalli, Pallipuram, Pallikkal and Thevalli, were all Buddhist centres. Terms such as `pallikettu' and `pallikoodam' were part of the Buddhist culture. Sastha meant Buddha and in Tamil, Ayyan also had that meaning. Hence, the Sabarimala temple also had Buddhist traditions, he added.

"We take pallikettu to Sabarimala and the chanting of Saranam indicates a Buddhist religious tradition," and irrespective or caste or creed, all were permitted to enter the temple, Dr. Jayaprakash said.

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