Kalabhra Interregnum of Tamilnadu
The Kalabhra interregnum marked the end of the rule of the Three crowned kings Chera, Chola and Pandya — of ancient Thamizhagam (TN)
The Kalabhra rule brought an end to what was known as the Sangam age (600BCE- 300AD)
Kalabhra interregnum: (300 AD — 600AD)
We don’t know much about the Kalabhras or their origins. Most scholars speculate that they are either Vadukars (a sangam age term used to denote the people of present Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka ) or Local chieftains like Thiraiyar. We have very scarce resources about Kalabhras owing to lack of literary or Epigraphical evidences from their times.
Kalabhras were most certainly not Tamil tribes judging from the fact that they used mostly Prakrit in their coins.
Literary mentions from Bhakti literature and copper plates :
The Kalabhras are mentioned in medieval Tamil literature as Kalapirar. They are mainly seen as patrons of Jainism and Buddhism.
The Tamil literature from Bhakti era paints a not so rosy picture of the Kalabhra rule.
Periyapuranam — a Bhakti literature, mentions that the ‘Vadugar Karunadar’ king came and conquered ‘Tamil Nadu’ and started ruling from…
