FASCINATING CULTURE OF KERALA

The EVERGREEN paradise Land that sprung from the oceans!

Kerala is believed to have sprung up from the depth of the Arabian sea when lord PARASURAMA, the incarnation of Vishnu heaved his axe in remorse to the wanton destruction and cruelty he had wrought upon the KSHATRIYA's in a war. The Brahmin had offered severe penance atop the mountains of the Western Ghats.

Man has inhabited this land from time immemorial. Like many other civilizations, the origin of culture of in Kerala is shrouded in the mist of time. Many theories exist as to its development but none have confirmed with any substantial merits the anthropology of the state. But what is most distinct is the fact that Kerala has been the most cosmopolitan and peace loving state in India. It has served as a melting pot for the cultures from the orient and the occident.

A flourishing market of spices, she was called upon by the ships from all continents to collect the valuables and riches that made them. Ancient roman statesmen even chided their citizens for the extravaganza they showed in procuring luxuries from Kerala. Nowhere else in the world, not even in the most urban centers of the developed world would you find people with such divers cultural and religious background living together in friendly and peaceful manner. When the Jews were driven out of central Asia during the BC's, they came to Kerala.

When St.Thomas came here, he was amazed at the religious liberty given by the state to all its people. He established a church in Kerala in the year 52 AD when even Constantinople did not have a church. When prophet Muhammad founded Islam, Keralites embraced it and the kings here invited Arabic architects to raise mosques out of the sand.

This tolerance of cultural values have persisted through the ages precisely for the reasons of antiquity, unity, continuity and universality of its nature. In its widest sense it embraces the highest achievements of the human spirit in every sphere of life. Thus, in its totality, it represents the quintessence of the collective achievements of a people in the fields of religion and philosophy, language and literature, art and architecture, education and learning and economic and social organization.

In fact, all through its history the genius of Kerala has blossomed forth in all its vigor and vitality and has helped its people to reach the peak of excellence in all their endeavors.

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