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Abstract
The Deccan (Dakshinapatha or South land) was the latest part of India to be overrun by the Indo-Aryans. In epics this part is described as covered by dense forests and haunted by “demons” and aboriginal tribes, Rakshasas and the Dasyus. To the early Aryans the Vindhyas seemed so lofty as to “shut out the sun”. A legend states that the vedic sage Agastya was the first to introduce the Ramayana that Rama when banished from Ayodhya went to Dandakaranya forest where he fought with many demons. He is supposed to have spent some time at Panchavati near Nasik on the river Godavari. We may roughly conclude that the penetration of the south began by about the 7th century B.C.