Question

What was Vattezhuthu?
A. It was a very popular alphabetic system in Kerala from the 9th to 14th centuries.
B. It was a very popular mathematical system in Kerala from the 9th to 14th centuries.
C. It was a very popular geometrical system in Kerala from the 9th to 14th centuries.
D. It was a very popular drink in Kerala from the 9th to 14th centuries.

Answer 1

Hint: The ancient most Malayalam script, widely used in 8th century AD to 15th century AD.

Complete answer:
Vattezhuthu was the earliest known Malayalam alphabet. It is said that this script is transformed from the Brahma script which is also the most ancient Indian script. During older times, the language, as well as the trade language in Kerala, was Tamil and hence the Vattezhuthu script was very popularly used. Nevertheless, the script was used in the southern region, occasionally it was used in other parts of ancient India as well.
Quoting words of some popular Indian linguists: In the words of famous Indian linguist, L.A. Ravi Verma says that its origins from the Malayalam word “Vettu” meaning cut as the letters were written by cutting into rocks or copper sheets using tools like the chisel & A. R. Raja Raja Varma describes in his writings that it was a script used in Malayalam till the time of Thunchath Ezhuthachan. The script has some other names as well which are Naanam Monam ( derived from the Mantra Om Namo Narayana), Tekken Malayalam, Nanamona, Vattam. Looking at the other options:
> Mathematics: Ancient mathematics comprises of Calculus and Celestial Mechanics in Medieval Kerala
> Geometry: Ancient geometry dealt with building blocks which were normally taught in Greek schools such as tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron & icosahedron
> Drinks: Kera used to be an ancient Malayalam drink during the concerning times

So, the correct option is Option A.

Note Vattezhuthu was an ancient Malayalam alphabetical system, specifically popular in the 13th century. It was also known from certain other names which are described above.