1. Dravidian India" by T.R. Sesha Iyengar, Madras, 1925, Asian Educational Services, 31 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016, 1995 reprint, Rs. 265 ISBN: 81-206-0135-1.

2. He describes the Dravidian origin of Brahmanism and the major Indian gods. Of course, mainstream scholarship has now come around to the view that Shiva, Vishnu and his incarnations, are of Dravidian origin. But in the early 20th century, that was not the case.

3. Prakrit Origin of Mahabharata Iyengar was one of the earliest to realize that the legends in the Vaishnava and Shaiva literature were originally composed in Prakrit and only much later translated into Sanskrit

4. "J.Kirste in his article on the Mahabharata question contributed to the Indian Antiquary, Vol.31, expresses the view that, when Pushyamitra killed the last of the Maurya kings, Brihadratha, in 183 BC, the Brahmanas re-established their ancient ascendancy, and the deline of the Buddhist religion followed.

5. During this period, the Brahmanas collected all the legends of Vaishnavitic and Saivitic stamp into one large work, translating them, at the same time, from Prakrit into {p.6} Sanskrit. This was handed down orally till the second century AD, and then reduced to writing.

6. Mahabalipuram, India - 1997

7. Megalithic Structures Iyengar was fascinated with the constructors of the Megalithic structures so universal throughout India. He notes, "A large mound near Chingleput is surrounded by a number of megalithic graves, and believed to have been inhabited by a bearded race of `Pandayar'.

8. Regarding the Araikandanallur pagoda, he writes, "The Araikandanallur [ftn. see Indian Antiquary Vol.5] pagoda near Tirukoilur is a striking object built on a rock, and is remarkable on account of the existence five singular cells cut in the solid rock, where local traditions say the five Pandavas lived during their exile. In one of the structures were found some fragments of bones and some scraps of iron. There is ground for presuming that these structures were used as burial places." (Iyengar 1925, p.50)

10. ANCIENT remains of a sunken city first discovered by a team of Dorset- based explorers have been revealed by the force of the Asian tsunami, say archaeologists. Bournemouth's Daily Echo reports that divers and scientists, led by explorer Monty Halls, made the spectacular find of a lost civilisation off the coast of southern India three years ago.

12. Two giant granite lions carved from a single block, and a rock elephant, are among the structures revealed after the water blasted away huge amounts of sand from the coast at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.

14. Dravidian Basis of Sanskrit Iyengar fully accepted the immense contribution of Dravidian languages to Sanskrit. Thus, he notes, "The non-Sanskrit portion of the Dravidian languages exceeds the Sanskrit portion." (Iyengar 1925, p.70) He continues, "Tamil is not dependant on Sanskrit for the full expression of thought. The ancient or classical dialect of this language, the Sen Tamil, is almost entirely free from Sanskrit words and idioms. The finest works in Tamil, such as the Kural, are original in design and execution, and also almost independant of Sanskrit." (Iyengar 1925, p.71)

15. Divers from India and England made the discovery based on the statements of local fishermen and the old Indian legend of the Seven Pagodas.

16. "That our view of South India being the probable home of civilization is not entirely a baseless fabric of a dream receives support from Dr. Chatterji who says, `It would be established,' provided Hall's theory of Sumerian origins be true, `that civilization first arose in India, and was associated probably with the primitive Dravidians. Then it was taken to Mesopotamia to become the source of the Babylonian and other ancient cultures which form the basis of modern civilization." (Iyengar 1925, p.59 )

18. According to Sir John Evans [ftn. Presidential Address of the British Association, 1897- Science of Man, Aug. 1901], Southern India was probably the cradle of the human race.... The people who have for many ages occupied this portion of the peninsula are a great people influencing the world, not much perhaps by moral and intellectual attributes, but to a much greater extent by superior physical qualities. [ftn. Dr. C. Macleane's Manual of Administration of the Madras Presidency] " (Iyengar 1925, p.60)

19. Shift from brickwork to granite slabs indicates different periods "The discovery of this Sangam temple will lead us to other geological sites along the coast and teach us more about the pre-Pallavan period."

20. An examination of the Sumerian language in the texts transliterated and translated within the last few years reveals such close correspondences in the lexical structure and grammar that in all likelihood Sumerian is the PSDr. Furthermore on the basis of some linguistic and literary evidences it can be argued that Sumerian is in fact the Tamil of the First Cankam and that Sumeru, the cradle of human civilisation is none other than Kumari, the cradle of Dravidian civilisation." (Loganathan 1975, p.40)

21. Excavation Site of The Atiranachandesvara Cave Temple, popularly known as the Tiger Cave and which is located 2 km ahead of the Shore Temple.

22. "It was proved years ago by Dr. Taylor that a Tamiloid language, now represented by its most cultivated branch in the South, constituted the original staple of all the languages of India. The existence of a Tamilian substratum in all the modern dialects of India and of the profound influence, which the classical Tamil has exercised on the formation and development of both the Vedic and the classical Sanskrit, is gradually coming to be recognised by students of Indian philology. [ftn. Origin of the word Arya - Tamby Pillai, Tamilian Antiquary, Vol.II, No.2 ]" (Iyengar 1925, p.78)

24. "Agastya is said to have learnt Tamil, the language of the South, from Siva. From this it may be inferred that Siva was a Dravidian deity. [ftn. The Dravidian Element in Indian Culture,' by Dr. Glibert Slater, see p.108 ] Dr. Gilbert Slater {p.101} says that the fact that the Rig Veda refers to phallic worship with disapproval, seems to point to the establishment of the worship of Siva among the Dravidians before the Vedic period. To the Tamil every hill-top is sacred to the gods. Siva, the lord of the Dravidians, was Malai-Arasan (Mountain Chief) according to Dr. Oppert. Siva came to be known in later times as Dakshinamurthy, ie the God of the South." (Iyengar 1925, p.100-101)

25. 1 Km from Māmallapuram, Tamil Nādu (India) by Reino AlmarsundReino Almarsund

26. ARCHAEOLOGY Another surprise in Mamallapuram T.S. SUBRAMANIAN The discovery of a late Tamil Sangam age temple 50 km from Chennai strengthens the view that a string of Seven Pagodas existed along the Mamallapuram coast. The Atiranachandesvara Cave Temple, popularly known as the Tiger Cave and which is located 2 km ahead of the Shore Temple, has two temples: the one on the southern side resembles a tiger's head and has bas relief of elephants, and the one on the northern side has a Sivalingam.

27. The inscription on the second pillar, belonging to the reign of Nandivarman III, spoke about a Kirarpiriyan of Mamallapuram, who donated 10 kazhanchu of gold to that temple. The interest that accrued from the gifted gold was to be used by the ooraar (residents of the village) and sabaiyar to celebrate a festival during the Tamil month of Kaarthigai. This pillar has a carving of a trishul (trident) on one side.

28. Another important evidence is noted: "Dr. Stevenson [2.Siddhanta Dipika, Vol.IV, p.108 ] was the first to point out that Siva is not named at all in the ancient hymns of the Vedas." (Iyengar 1925, p.105)

30. This Slide Show This Slideshow is presented by Santokh Singh Ilumvadhi of Kuala Lumpur In search of the Truth. Send your comments to : Email: namjap@yahoo.co.uk