[5] In the years that immediately followed the Sangam age (from third to sixth century CE), the Tamil lands were ruled by a dynasty called Kalabhras.
[10][11] According to tradition, the Karkathar migrated from the Gangetic plains and over time spread over the entire macro region of present-day Tamil Nadu.
[12] Historian Usha R. Vijailakshmi observes that Verse 34 of the fake Karmandala Satakam written in the year 1936, connects the origin of the Gangas to the origin of the Karakatha Vellalas of southern Karnataka, as follows:[13] Gangeya Murthaka pala was born to Lord Shiva and he had two wives; the first wife had 54 sons & the second wife had 52 sons.
But with the beginning of the Chola era, there is strong evidence of increasing agrarian settlement, the growth of villages, institutions, the construction and expansion of temples.
The manuscript goes on to describe the decline in the position of the Karkathar after the initial golden age due to the fighting between the two branches over various issues such as land, rights to the water of the river Vellar, temples etc.