Part of Karnataka ‘along the coast lies the region consisting of Mangalore , Udipi <manipal..This coastal belt lies north of Kerala> Very little information is available regarding their antiquity. For a common man, Udipi area is associated with Udupi Vegetarian Cuisine and Udupi Krishna Temple, Mangalore and Manipal. Common refrain seems to be that the Language and people are not of ancient origin. It is also felt that their language is not ancient..

Facts convey something else..Ancient Tamil Sangam Literature speaks of Tulu thus.

• Tulu land was situated Northwest of Chera and Konga Kingdom.Chera is present Kerala and Konga , Coimbatore Region..
• Tulus were ruled by Kosars, one of the ancient tribes of Dravidian Origins.
• These Kosars were Linguists and can speak many languages fluently.
• People of Tulu Nadu were known for Hospitality,feeding people, who pass through, with good food..
• Tulu Nadu abounds in Peacocks.( poem from Ahanaanuru , Sangam Literature is provied towards the close of the Post
• They worshiped Murugan.One may note the Famous Subrahmanya Temple at Subrahmanya. is in this Area.
• The Kosars and People of Tulu Nadu were the Personal Commando Units of Tamil Knigs, including Rajaraja Cchozhan.These Commando Units were called Kaikkolar, who took a Personal oath of Loyalty unto Death for the King.
• They were classified as Kosars from Kodagu( Kudagu Kosar and those from Kongu,( Kongilaik Kosar) that is from Coimbatore Region
• Thirteenth century Tamil Grammar lists Tulu land as one of the lands where Tamil is not spoken
• The kosars traveled towards North India too.
• Bittergouds abounds(Haagal Kaai in Kannada, Paakal Kai in Tamil.

• In Tamil literature, Kosars were mentioned as west Vadukas with their origin as Kolhapur near Goa. Erattar were a branch of Kosars who became Maha Rattirar (Prakrit) or Maharashtrans (Sanskrit). Historian Burnell confirms this.
• Kosars were called Nar Kosar or Nanmozhi Kosar in the third Sangam literature. Nannul or Tholkappiam notes them as Kannadam (Kannadigas), Vaduku (Tulu), Kalingam (Oriya) and Telugu people. Kamba-ramayanam Payiram says Kosars were Vadakalai (Prakrit), Thenkalai (Tamil), Vaduku and Kannada people. Kosars were truthful to their kings and were called ‘Vai-mozhi Kosar’ (truthful in keeping their words).
• The Mathurai Kanchi 508-09 & 771-74 records them as:

“Poyya Nallisai Niruththa punaithar, Perum peyar Maaran Thalaivan Aka, Kadanthadu vai val Elampal Kosar, Eyaneri Marabin Vai mozhi ketpa” and “Pazhayan Mokoor Avayakam vilanka Nanmozhi Kosar Thontri yanna”.

• The Pandyan dynasty’s Nedunchezhian’s army head was Mohoor Pazhayan Maaran. Kosars were present in his army. They followed Maran’s words in battle and were honored for their job in his court.
• Elampal Kosar (young Kosars) were present in the armies of the Cheras.
• Silappatikaram says Kon kilam Kosar were present in the Kongu Army (Kongu Nadu).
• As Poomuhar, the port city of Chozhas and the setting place for Silappadikaram , Tamil Epic is dated around 16,000 years, Tulu People may be dated as such.
• The Prakrit form of Vai-mozhi Kosar is Saththiya Putthirar and Asokan inscriptions call the Vadukus by this name. This might refer to the children born out of the Marumakkathayam system.
• The Akananooru 15, 2-7 records:

“Thokai Kavin Thulu nattu anna Varunkai Vampalaith Thankum panpin Cherintha Seri Chemmal Moothur”. (Then captured Kudaku Nadu and Erumai Nadu and settled in Tulu Nadu with Moothur as their capital).

மெயம்மலி பெரும்பூண் செம்மற் கோசர் கொம்மையம் பசுங்காய்க் குடுமி விளைந்த பாகல் ஆர்கைம் பறைக்கண் பீலித் தோகைக்காவின் துளுநாடு அன்ன வறுங்கை வம்பலர்த் தாங்கும் பண்பின் செறிந்த சேரிச் செம்மல் மூதூர் – மாமூலனார் பாடல் அகநானூறு 15

https://ta.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%81_%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81

• Aiyangar, S. Krishnaswami. (1995). Some Contributions of South India to Indian Culture.
• Akananooru 386.
• Nannul Noortpa, Page 272.
• Akananooru 205
• buntsmathrsangha.net
• Kosar by R. Raghava Iyengar

Information found in the following Information in Tamil is very compressive. I shall translate and post..

https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D