The name Kerala is widely explained as the "the land of coconuts", derived from Malayalam word "kera" which means coconut. However, pre historic edits of Emperor Asoka period dating back to 273-236 BC had etymological reference of Keralaputra,meaning the land of Cheras (of Chera dynasty) sons. The present State of Kerala, a 560-km long narrow stretch of land, having not more than 15,000 square miles and at its widest a mere 120-km from the sea, was created on the 1st of November 1956, with the political merging of three earlier distinct areas; the North Malabar region, as far up the coast covering Tellicherry, Cannanore and Kasargode and excluding the tiny pocket of French possession, Mahe , the princely State of Cochin forming the middle section and the third region comprised Travancore, another princely State, covering the southern area. Origin There is a persistent legend which says that Parasuram, the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hin...