Quote Originally Posted by P_R View Post
PersonalA pazhakkamillai, padichchavaraikkum thamizh dhaan nu ninaikkuREn.

CilappatikAram is dated somewhere in the 6th century. The story was probably older. That kind of coincides with the earliest available dates for the Kannada language (around 5th-6th century). Whether a distinct Kannada linguistic identity existed at that time, I am not sure.

And the dancing forms she is shown to be an expert of are all distinctly Tamil (are they ?). In fact those portions are basic references for Tamil dance culture. So I guess it is as Tamil as it gets.

Regarding Kaveri, are you suggesting it was her adaimozhi ? I don't remember reading so. Even then, kAveri is very much part of Tamil culture, isn't it/
If the language existed, the identity existed. Remember, in those days there were no nation-states. Rather Kings ruled over a large part of the territory. Kannadigas must have lived under Tamil kings, so that does not mean the identity did not exist.