Kerala is believed to have sprung up from the depth of the Arabian sea when lord Parasurama, the incarnation of Vishnu heaved his axe in remorse to the wanton destruction and cruelty he had wrought upon the kshatriyas in a war. The brahmin is said to have offered severe penance atop the mountains of the Western Ghats.The culture of the people of Kerala is deeply entwined with the states history and tradition.Kerala has been one of the most cosmopolitan and peace loving states in India. It has served as a melting pot for the cultures from the orient and the occident.
A flourishing market of spices, Kerala was called upon by the ships from all continents to collect the valuables and riches that made them. Ancient roman statesmen are believed to have even chided their citizens for the extravaganza they showed in procuring luxuries from Kerala.Kerala has a distinct,diverse cultural and religious background.
When the Jews were driven out of central Asia during the BCs, they came to Kerala. When St.Thomas came here, he was amazed at the religious liberty given by the state to all its people. He established a church in Kerala in the year 52 AD when even Constantinople did not have a church. When prophet Muhammad founded Islam, Keralites embraced it and the kings here invited Arabic architects to raise mosques out of the sand.
This tolerance of cultural values have persisted through the ages precisely for the reasons of antiquity, unity, continuity and universality of its nature. In its widest sense, it embraces the highest achievements of the human spirit in every sphere of life. Thus, in its totality, it represents the quintessence of the collective achievements of a people in the fields of religion and philosophy, language and literature, art and architecture, education and learning, and economic and social organisation. In fact, all through its history, the genius of Kerala has blossomed forth in all its vigour and vitality and has helped its people to reach the peak of excellence in all their endeavours.
