Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.990

c5.990

DRAVIḌA(M). (DRĀVIḌA). In ancient days the whole of South India was known by the name Tamilaka, as Tamil was the language used throughout South India. Strictly speaking, all the languages used in South India were given the name Tamil. The word ‘Tamil’ underwent changes in the language of North India and took the form ‘Drāviḍa’. Etymologists are of opinion that the changes that took place in the word Tamil were follows :- Tamil — Damil — Damid-Dramiḍ — Draviḍ — Drāviḍ. Reference to the Drāviḍa country occurs in most of the Purāṇas. Mahābhārata states that Sahadeva, one of the Pāṇḍavas, sent a note for collecting taxes from the people of Drāviḍa. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Stanza 71.