kerala m. pl. N. of the inhabitants of Malabar, MBh. (once keraka , ii, 1173 ), Hariv. ; R. ; VarBṛS.
kerala The strip of land between the Western Ghats and the sea north of the Kāverī. The principal rivers in this tract are the Netravatī, the Śarāvatī and the Kālī-Nadī, which is considered to be the ( pb ) same as the Muralā referred to in R. 4. 55 , and in U. 3 , and forms the principal river of Kerala. Kerala corresponds to modern Kānarā, and probably included Malabar also, and extended beyond the kāverī.