 Early writings in Dravidian culture such as "Manimekalai" and the "Cilappatikaram" present Krishna, his brother, and favourite female companions in the similar terms.Hardy argues that the Sanskrit Bhagavata Purana is essentially a Sanskrit "translation" of the bhakti of the Tamil alvars.Devotion to southern Indian Mal (Tirumal) may be an early form of Krishnaism, since Mal appears as a divine figure, largely like Krishna with some elements of Vishnu.