Except Brahmins in Kerala, everybody in Kerala has Buddhist root, starting from the time of Ayyappa of Sabarimala. During severe religious prosecution in Kerala thousands of Buddhists had been converted to Islam or Christianity; the non-practicing Buddhists had been been evolved as Ezhavas, Pulayas and Malayarays.

1. THE BUDDHIST ROOT OF EZHAVAS,
PULAYAS, MALAYARAYS, CHRISTIANS &
MUSLIMS IN KERALA
DR. RAJU MUNJANAD MATHEW

2. Re-emergence of Buddhism in Kerala
• History tells that Buddhism was totally wiped out
from Kerala during eighth century AD for the
missionary zeal of Sankara and Ramanjua with
the help of Prince Rama of Mavuriya Dynasty,
known as Parasurama. However, Buddhism had
re-emerged in Kerala by the end of thirteenth
century AD during the time of the Buddhist monk
Sabari and her disciple Ayyappa known as
Dharma Sasthave at Sabarimala under the
patronage of the Munjanad kingdom with its
capital at Nilakkal.

3. Destruction of Sabarimala &
Cleansing of Buddhism
• When the Munjanad Kingdom and its subjects embraced
Buddhism for the missionary zeal of Sabari and Ayyappa, it,
including Sabarimala, was attacked and destroyed by the joint
forces of the Hindu Pandalam, Pandinad and Andharanad
Kingdoms. Buddhists were brutally looted, raped and
murdered and a total cleansing of Buddhism had been taken
place.
• A large number of Buddhists had converted either to Islam or
Christianity and those who had not converted remained
inactive Buddhists who later evolved as Ezhavas and Pulayas.
Some other Buddhists who found refugee in the deep forests
later came to be known as Malayaryas and Pandarams.

4. Lasting Legacy of Buddhism in Kerala
• Lasting legacy of Buddhism in Kerala can be found
in Ayyappa of Sabarimala , Sabarimala Pilgrims
and Ayyappa devotees who are free from any
caste and religion and known as ‘Swamies’
seeking ‘Thathawamasi’.
• Legacy of Buddhism can be found in thousands of
Family or Place names ending with ‘pally’ or ‘oor’.
• Details are given in :
https://www.slideshare.net/DrrajuMathew1/hist
ory-of-sabarimala-ayyappa-a-comprehensive-
study