The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.6

c7.6

‘The earliest invaders or settlers about whom anything at all definite is known,’ write Vincent Smith in his *Oxford History of India*, ‘were the people of the *Rigveda* hymns, who called themselves Āryans, and are conveniently designated as Indo-Āryans. . . They were akin to Iranians or Persians, who also called themselves Āryans.’ But Southern India remained for a long time free of their influence, their appearance in the South being the result of peaceful penetration by missionaries or small colonies. These introduced a new religion into that country; the ancient Dravidian rites were gradually abandoned, and their place was taken by Vedic Brahmanism.