By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik - Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist
The mention of Southern States is conspicuously absent in Vedic literature. Hymns of the Rig Veda date back to 1500 BCE. They refer to the Saptasindhu or Indus Valley region. Shatapatha Brahmana, dated to 800 BCE refers to a movement towards what is now Bihar. In the Aitreya Brahmana, we come across references to the Andhras, Pulindhas, Sabaras and the Pundhras. These are regions associated with Bengal, today known as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and even the Godavari delta. It does not refer to Tamil Nadu. Even Panini’s book on grammar, in 6th century BCE refers to Kalinga and nothing beyond.
