The earliest historical references to the region of Kerala can be found in the Vedic texts. The Vedas are a collection of ancient Hindu texts that are considered to be the oldest scriptures in the world. They are written in Sanskrit and are divided into four parts: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda. The Rig Veda is the oldest and most important of the Vedas. It contains hymns to the Vedic gods, as well as prayers and rituals. The Yajur Veda is a collection of sacrificial formulas. The Sama Veda is a collection of melodies used in Vedic rituals. The Atharva Veda is a collection of spells and incantations.
The Vedas mention Kerala several times. In the Rig Veda, Kerala is called “Keralaputra”. In the Yajur Veda, Kerala is called “Keraladesa”. In the Sama Veda, Kerala is called “Keralavarta”. In the Atharva Veda, Kerala is called “Keralabhuvana”.
The Vedas provide valuable information about the history of Kerala. They mention the names of several ancient kingdoms that existed in Kerala, such as the Chera kingdom, the Chola kingdom, and the Pandya kingdom. They also mention the names of several ancient cities that existed in Kerala, such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode.
The Vedas are an important source of information about the history of Kerala. They provide valuable insights into the culture, religion, and society of ancient Kerala.
The other options are incorrect because they do not provide the earliest historical references to the region of Kerala. Sangam literature is a collection of Tamil poems that were written between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. Mauryan inscriptions are a collection of stone inscriptions that were written by the Mauryan Empire, which ruled over much of India from the 4th century BCE to the 2nd century BCE. Roman travel accounts are a collection of writings by Roman travelers who visited India in the 1st century CE.