KTS3.0 : Profound Cultural and Literary Legacy of Kashi and Dravidian Tradition
Shashikant Mishra
India’s cultural and literary heritage has deep roots in Kashi and the Dravidian region. Kashi, also known as Varanasi, is considered the cultural capital of ancient India. It has not only been a center of Sanatan Dharma and spiritual discourse but has also made unparalleled contributions to literature, music, art, and philosophy. On the other hand, the Dravidian culture preserves the oldest traditions of South India, linked with the rich linguistic and literary heritage of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Historical evidence suggests that Tamils have held deep reverence for Kashi and Baba Vishwanath for centuries. Not only the common people but also Tamil rulers and the intellectual class frequently undertook pilgrimages to Kashi. Records indicate that around 2,300 years ago, the streets of Tamil Nadu’s towns and villages resonated with hymns singing the glory of Kashi. By 2,000 years ago, the tradition of undertaking a pilgrimage to Kashi had already become widespread in Tamil society.
The Tamil language has always been highly sophisticated, as evident from the ancient grammatical text Agattiyam (Agastiyam), which is believed to have been composed before the Common Era. Just as Sanskrit grammar was shaped by Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Tamil grammar is also believed to have originated from Lord Shiva’s damaru (drum). This historical linguistic connection between Sanskrit and Tamil likely took shape during the Sangam era.
It is believed that the first Tamil Sangam was organized in Madurai, the then capital of the Pandya kings. This assembly saw the participation of scholars like Agastya, Shiva, and Murugavel. The second Sangam was held in Kapatapuram and is considered the largest in history. According to Dr. Vishuddhananda Pathak, a former professor at Banaras Hindu University, scholars from North and South India engaged in intellectual discourse at this event.
Although opinions differ regarding the first two Sangams, the Tolkappiyam text from that period still exists. Its author, Tolkappiyar, wrote the second grammatical treatise in Tamil. Every piece of Tamil literature reflects a strong Tamil identity.
Over time, linguistic disputes emerged. Scholars believe that the Pandya kings of Tamil Nadu played a crucial role in the development of Sangam literature. However, conflicts between the Pallavas and Pandyas led to a distancing of Tamil from Sanskrit. The Pallava rulers promoted Sanskrit and were patrons of Vedic traditions, while the Pandya rulers upheld Shaivism and Vaishnavism, prioritizing the Tamil language. However, the Pandya kings were not opposed to Sanskrit but rather advocated equal promotion of Tamil.
Tamil Connection with Kashi and the Birth of Tenkasi
During the 16th century, Mughal invasions disrupted Kashi pilgrimage for the Tamil community. The destruction of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the restrictions on rituals performed by temple priests forced Tamilians to look for alternative pilgrimage sites. Consequently, the Pandya king Jatila Varman Parakrama Pandyan established Tenkasi, meaning “Southern Kashi,” on the banks of the Tamraparni River, which is also mentioned in the Ramayana.
In the 17th century, a saint named Tirunelveli Kumaraguru Para composed a literary work called Kashi Kalambakam, dedicated to Kashi and established the Kumaraswamy Math in Varanasi.
Kashi’s Scholar Tradition and Tamil Literary Heritage
While Kashi fostered the tradition of Sanskrit scholars, Tamil Nadu flourished with the Tamil Ilakkiya Parambarai (Tamil literary tradition). At the foundation ceremony of Banaras Hindu University, renowned scientist C.V. Raman was present, and the former President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, later served as its Vice-Chancellor.
According to Subramaniam Mani, the manager of the Sri Kanchi Shankaracharya Math and a pilgrimage priest, Tamil folk literature from the seventh century is filled with references to Kashi’s grandeur. The Shaiva tradition in Tamil Nadu was thriving at that time, with 63 Shaiva sects and 63 spiritual leaders. One of them, Appar Swami, stayed in Kashi for several months during his pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar.
Sangam Literature and the Enduring Legacy of Kashi-Tamil Cultural Exchange
The Sangam literature, compiled by institutions like the All India Council for Technical Education, National Book Trust, Indian Language Institute, and Central Institute of Classical Tamil, includes Tamil classics such as Tirukkural, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai and Pattupattu.
Rabindranath Tagore once said: “If it were God’s will, all Indians would speak the same language… India’s strength has always been its unity in diversity, and it will always remain so.”
India is home to *more than 19,500 languages and dialects, with Kashi and Tamil Nadu serving as the hubs of two of the world’s most ancient languages—Sanskrit and Tamil. The great Tamil poet Subramania Bharati lived in Kashi, where he learned Sanskrit and Hindi, contributing immensely to local cultural exchange. This harmonious blend of cultures has enabled India to preserve a rich and diverse heritage.
Despite their distinctive characteristics, Kashi and Dravidian culture together embody India’s unity in diversity. Kashi, the center of Sanskrit and Hindi literature and Dravidian culture, which enriched Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam literature, demonstrate the depth of India’s cultural and literary wealth.
The profound interconnection between these two traditions proves that India’s soul lies in its diverse languages, traditions, and philosophies. The literary and cultural heritage of Kashi and Dravidian culture will continue to inspire future generations.
(The author is a political analyst and senior journalist.)
