Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.384

c7.384

3) Gokarṇa and the origin of Kerala. Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa gives a story associating Gokarṇa with the origin of Kerala. By the request of Bhagiratha the river Gaṅgā fell on earth and flowing as different brooks emptied its waters in the ocean. The level of the water in the ocean went up and the temple of Gokarṇa and the land of Kerala were submerged in waters. The sages who were in the temple somehow escaped and took refuge on the mountain Sahya. Paraśurāma was doing penance there then and the sages went to him and told him of their plight. Paraśurāma went and stood in Gokarṇa and threw an axe to the south. All the land from Gokarṇa up to the place where the axe fell rose up from the ocean to piece of land which was named Kerala. (Chapter 97 of Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa).