Old Malayalam (original) (raw)

Old Malayalam, inscriptional language found in Kerala from c. 9th to c. 13th century AD, is the earliest attested form of Malayalam. The language was employed in several official records and transactions (at the level of the Chera Perumal kings as well as the upper-caste village temples). Old Malayalam was mostly written in Vatteluttu script (with Pallava/Southern Grantha characters). Most of the inscriptions were found from the northern districts of Kerala, those lie adjacent to Tulu Nadu. The origin of Malayalam calendar dates back to year 825 CE.