War in Ancient India c10.85

c10.85

Turning to the history of South India, we have evidence to show that the country had trade and culture contacts with foreign countries like Rome in the west and the Malay Archipelago and Indo-China in the east. Yavana ships laden with articles of merchandise visited the west coast of India very frequently. There was active foreign trade between Tamil India and the outer world at least from about the time of Solomon, i.e. about 1000 B.C. Roman historians refer to the commercial intercourse that existed between Rome and South India.⁵⁵ In the first century before Christ we hear of a Pāṇḍyan embassy to Augustus Caesar.⁵⁶ The Sangam classics point to the profession of pearl-diving and sea-fisheries on a large scale. We hear of shipwrecks of the early Tamils saved now and then by Maṇimekhalai, the goddess of the sea. These instances are illustrative of the commercial relations between South India and foreign countries. We have the account of a Cēra king conquering the Kaḍamba in the midst of sea waters.⁵⁷ The Cēra king Senguṭṭuvan had a fleet with which he defeated the Yavanas who were punished with their hands being tied behind their back and the pouring of ghee and oil on their heads.⁵⁸