MELPATTUR- NARAYANA
BHATTATHIRI-& NARAYANEEYAM
Sri. Bhattathiri was borne in
Melpattur Illam-Kurumbathoor Village in Malappuram Dist, in Kerala. Borne in
1560 Sri. Melpattur Narayana Bhattathiri’s father was Mathru Dattan Namboodiri.
His birth place is near famous Thirunavaya Temple. He had an elder brother by
name Sri. Damodaran and a younger brother by name Sri. Mathru
Dattan.
Bhattathiri learned VEDA and Sanskrit from Guru Sri. Madhavan
Oothikkan. He learnt Tarka Sastra from his elder brother Sri. Damodaran. For
Mimamsa , father was his Guru. In his younger days Bhattathiri has his formal
education in every field. He later married the niece of one Thrikandiyur Sri.
Achutha Pisharodi- from out side his community- as was the custom then. In olden
days - Namboodiri family’s only the eldest son can marry within their community.
Others would marry ladies from Royal families, Ambala Vaasis etc from outside
their community. Probably this system was followed to preserve the family
treasures /tradition and values.
Sri. Bhattathiri after marriage
became very lazy and ignored even his Nithya Anushtana etc. It was really
surprising to his wife’s uncle Sri. Pisharodi- who was a good Sanskrit /
Vyakarana /Grammar teacher. Sri. Bhattathiri would be sleeping when Sri.
Pisharodi’s classes were going on . One day Sri. Pisharodi out of compassion and
sadness told Sri. Bhattathiri thus
“ EVEN AFTER
GETTING A GOOD MAASUSHA/BRAHMANA JANMA AND HAVING LEARNT VEDAS YOU ARE WAISTING
YOUR TIME ONLY IN WORLDLY PLEASURES. WHY DON’T YOU REALISE THAT.”
These words uttered by Sri. Pisharodi before his students had a telling effect
on him. Then onwards he took Sri. Pisharodi as his Guru and learnt
Vyakaranam/Grammar from him.
After passage of time Sri. Achuta
Pisharodi was suffering from Vaatha Roga. Sri. Bhattathiri could not see his
Guru’s suffering. He started praying to God fervently to cure his guru’s
disease. Finding no relief from the disease, Sri. Narayana Bhattathiri consulted
many learned people for cure. After learning about “ ‘
KARMA VIPAKA DHANA’ by which the sins of
one person is taken over and the donor is freed from his sufferings. He accepted
the above Dhana praying for his Guru’s cure. As destined it happened. The Vaatha
Roga was transferred from Guru to Sishya and Sri. Bhattathiri became sick and
crippled by the same disease.
Later SRI TUNCHAT EZUTHACHAN one of the
famous Malayalam Poets of Kerala, advised Sri. Bhattathiri to do Bhajanam and
asked him to sing the glory of Lord Narayana starting from the “ Matsya
Avatara”. Accepting his valuable suggestions, he decided to do Bhajanam at
Guruvayur Temple for some period. He chose to write poetry eulogizing the Glory
of the Lord Narayana. His Sankalpam was to write in brief the entire Vyasa’s Sri
mad Bhagavatham which contained 18000 slokas. As he was a scholar in Rig Veda he
chose to write his poetry with different chandas/swara / meters and with each
block containing 10 slokas in general.
Though with enthusiasm he
completed the first two dasakams, his crippling disease prevented him from
continuing. It is reported that his young brother- Sri. Matru Dattan Namboodiri
who was nursing him, helped him in writing/copying the slokas. From the third
Dasakam onwards in each of the Dasakam Sri. Bhattathiri’s prayer to God to cure
his disease can be seen. As per his sankalpam in first 36 dasakams he covered
the first IXth chapters of the Srimad Bhagavatham. From 37 onwards up to 90
Dasakams he covered the Dasama Skandam ( Krishna Avatara Katha). From the 91
Dasakams he covered XIth Skandam of the epic which contain Uddava Tatwa Upadesa,
Jnana/Bakthi/Karma Yogas/Vaishnava Mahatwam/ Brahmopasanam etc etc. In fact he
has covered the entire XI th chapter so nicely, precisely in a condensed form
without omitting any of the important explanations, this Chapter XI of
Bhagavatham and the last 10 dasakams of the Narayaneeyam are worth reading and
emulating in once life as far as possible.
Sri. Bhattathiri, completed
condensed version of the Srimad Bhagavatham in 100 days in 1034 slokas. As soon
as he completed this beautiful Sanskrit literary work with all the ingredients
such as Sthoola/Sooshma meanings, Roopa, Bhava, different Chandas and Sabdha
Silpams etc. and submitted to the Lord of Guruvayur -- Sri. Guruvayurappan- it
is reported that Sri. Narayana Bhattathiri had a vision of the Lord. Seeing the
Lord before him he chanted the last 10 slokas glorifying His each and every part
of body which is called
KESADI PAADA
VARNANA. We understand that he got cured of his disease after
completion of this Kavya. He named this as Naarayaneeyam as it was written by
him and second as it is about the Lord Narayana. This Great Kavya of
Naarayaneeyam was completed by him in 100 days at the age of 27, in the year
1587. That day was 27th day of Vruchikam month corresponding to ( Karthika Masa)
. In rememberance of this great Scholar Guruvayur Devaswam has taken possession
of 17 cents of his family land in Chandana Kavu,to construct a memorial. Each
year on 27th of Vruchika Masa Guruvayur Devaswam is arranging for chanting of
Sampoorna Naarayaneeya Parayanam at this place.
Sri. Bhattathiri was
reported to be very learned man in Rig Veda, Vedantha, Saiva Agamas, Mantra
Sastras, Vyakaranam etc. etc. He has thanked his acquired Vaatha Roga for his
spiritual upliftment. Gratitude towards his guru Sri. Pisharodi for the turning
point in his life is reflected in the Naarayaneeyam 93 dasakam’s last
sloka.
Aaswalayana Soothra Kriya Kramam ( Rig Veda Mantra Prayoga) Sri
Krishna Geethi for Dance Drama relating to Lord Krishna, Sripada Sapathathi,
Prakriya Sarvaswam, Sooktha Slokas relating to Rig Vedas Vyakarana Grantha etc.
etc are some of this great scholars creations and achievements.
During
the period of Sri. Bhattathiri, there was another Guruvayurappa Bhaktha by name
Sri. Poonthanam. He wrote a poetry in Malayalam depicting human values and
philosophical out look in one’s life. The name of the poetry is
Gnana paana. Though requested by Sri. Poonthanam Sri
Bhattathiri refused to look into the contents of that poetry. Then after hearing
the divine voice that “ I like Sri. Poonthanam's Bhakthi rather than your
vibhakthi’ Sri. Bhattathiri took apology from Sri. Poonthanam. Thus Lord
Guruvayurappan removed the Scholarly Ego from Sri. Bhattathiri.
Sri.
Bhattathiri’s end came in the year 1646 at the age of 86. while praying at
Mukkola Bagavathi Temple. Chanting of the hymn Naarayaneeyam regularly would
surely give the devotee to attain ayu arogya souwkyam . Hence it recommended to
practice chanting of Naarayaneeyam regularly by understanding the meaning of the
slokas.
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Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare
Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare(
Kali Santhrana Upanishad says that by chanting of the above Mantra regularly one
can achieve Mukthi in Kaliyuga)
Subham Bhavathu.
--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God