The Personality of India: Pre- and Proto-historic Foundation of India and Pakistan c14.s1.t7.50

c14.s1.t7.50

We have already discussed the material culture of the Megalithic folk. But there seem to have been a strong additional stimulus, provided by the rapidly expanding kingdoms of the Gangetic basin, immediately succeeding the first impacts of Hinduism and the Sanskrit language (symbolized in the early Tamil literature by traditions of Agastya and Parasurama). In the wake of the proselytizing Buddhism and Jainism, the Mauryans carried their imperial sceptre to the borders of Mysore. These must have provided a great stimulus and impulse towards literary pursuits into the completely free and independent kingdoms in the south.¹ Another important factor was the discovery of monsoons and the Roman trade. The concentration of the hoards of Roman coins in the south (Fig. 41) and the ware houses at Arikamedu are too well-known to need a repetition. It is no wonder that this great era of prosperity coincides with the historic third Sangam, whose extant works are dated to the early centuries of the Christian era.²