Drāvida
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Sometimes transliterated as: Dravida, DrAvida, Draavida
The word Drāvida has been used in the dharmaśāstra literature in several senses.
Drāvida as Brāhmaṇa
The brāhmaṇas of India have been divided into two groups:
- Pañca-drāvida
- Pañca-gauda
The karṇāṭas, the tailaṅgas, the guṛjaris, the mahārāṣṭrians and the drāvidas belong to pañca-drāvida group.
Drāvida as Temple Architecture
There are three well-known styles of temple architecture:
- Drāvida
- Nāgara
- Vesara
The drāvida style is in the form of truncated pyramids and is more common in the region to the south of the river Kṛṣṇā.
Drāvida as Jati
‘Drāvida’ is the name of a Jati classed among the śudras. Persons of this caste are supposed to have sprung from the kṣattriyas who had not undergone the Vedic sacraments like upanayana.
References
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore