[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955) › c19.s5.2 # A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s5.2 A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s5.2 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5.2) The Uṇṇunīli Sandeśam, an anonymous poem of the fourteenth century, is the earliest extant literary work in the language. Its model was the Meghasandeśa of Kālidāsa, and it purports to be a message sent by a lover in Trivandrum to his lady love at Koḍungallūr and a detailed description of the route to be followed, the messenger in this case being a prince, Ādityavarma by name, and not a cloud or a bird as in other \*sandeśa\* poems. On his way the messenger is required to pay his respects to Ravivarman (Kulaśekhara), the great ruler of Quilon, and other contemporary rulers are also mentioned in the poem. The style of the work shows a large admixture of Sanskrit, and is in fact \*maṇipravāḷam\*, like most works of Malayāḷam literature. It is universally accepted as one of the most exquisite poems in the language. The \*Chan-drotsava\* is another poem of the same period in Sanskrit metres, while the \*Līlātilakam\* (15th century) is a grammar of \*maṇipravāḷam\* style. - [Previous: c19.s5.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5.1) - [Next: c19.s5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5.3) - [Up: c19.s5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5) ## Linked texts (3) - [Uṇṇunīlisandēśam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vernacular.malayalam.manipravalam.unnunilisandesam) — Malayalam - [Meghadūta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.duta.meghaduta) — Kālidāsa, Sanskrit - [Candrōtsavam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vernacular.malayalam.manipravalam.candrotsavam) — Malayalam --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s5.2) · Pramāṇa