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For other uses of Dravida, see Dravidian (disambiguation)

Dravida is a term that represented various identities throughout the history of India.^{[citation needed]} The ambiguity of the term has continued even today as sometimes it denotes people of South India,^{[citation needed]} sometimes speakers of Dravidian languages.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Association with South 3 Pancha Dravida Brahmins 4 Manu Smriti and Dravida 5 Trivia 5.1 Dravida sisu 6 References

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This Sanskrit word is believed to be an equivalent of Prakrit form of the word in Tamil.^{[citation needed]}

• Tamil to Prakrit
• Thamizha(r)->Damila->Damida^{[citation needed]}

• Prakrit to Sanskrit
• Damida ->Dramida->Dravida^{[citation needed]}

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In South India, Tamils were the first Dravidian speakers to build native empires around 300 BCE.^{[citation needed]} Other major Dravidian speakers like Kannadigas and Telugus were at that time ruled by great empires whose official language was Prakrit with capitals in central India (Shatavahana empire).^{[citation needed]}

Although around 350 CE. the first native Kannada empires, the Kadambas of Banavasi and Gangas of Talakad rose to power in northern and southern Karnataka respectively, the term Dravida came to denote not just Tamil or Tamil region but the entire South India^{[citation needed]} because of the early political prominence and independence of the South region.^{[citation needed]}

However, the identity with South India in classical texts denote to Brahmins of southern states couple of which are not linguistically related to Dravidian states.^{[citation needed]}

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Brahmins in old days were classified as Northern and Southern Brahmins. Northern Brahmins were called Pancha Gauda Brahmana and Southern Brahmins were known as Pancha Dravida Brahmana. The Dravida(Southern) regions included, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Dravida(Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and Andhra Pradesh.

Mention of the word "Dravida" is found in the Manu Smriti. It records that all Dravidas are Shudras^[1] degraded from their Kshatriya position for not following Vedic rituals. The Dravidas are said to have shared this position along with Sakas, Yavanas, Pahlavas.

However, the meaning of this term as used in the Manu Smriti remains unknown. There is no conclusive evidence linking the 'Dravidas' of the Manu Smriti to any ethnic, linguistic or geographic group living today.

Another tribe, "Andhra", also finds a mention in the book^[2]. Andhra incidentally is a region in present day Andhra Pradesh where the Dravidian tongue of Telugu is spoken by a majority of the population.

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Adi Shankaracharya who was born in Kaladi, Kerala, in his devotional poem 'Soundarya Lahari' talks of 'Dravida sisu' i.e. Dravida child. Kanchi Shankaracharya thinks he is referring to himself. There is another school of thought which says by Dravida Sisu he meant Thirugnana Sambanthar, a Tamil Saivite poet, who incidentally was a brahmin. Either way, this is the first historical record of someone referring to himself or someone socially similar as Dravida.

• ^  | Manusmriti Chapter 10 - 43,44
• ^  | Various tribes mentioned in Manusmriti