Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri Biography

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was an astrologer and scholar of mathematics. Yet he is remembered most for his masterpiece literal work, Narayaneeyam (1586), a devotional composition in praise of Guruvayoorappan (Sri Krishna). Narayaneeyam, a summary study in poetic form of the Bhagavata Purana is written in Sanskrit and recited in all Vishnu/Krishna temples of Kerala during auspicious occasions. He was the third student of Achyuta Pisharati, of Madhava of Sangamagrama's Kerala School of astronomy and mathematics. Bhattathiri was born in the year 1559 and died in 1645. He was one of the last mathematicians of the Sangamagrama school and celebrated Sanskrit poets of Kerala.

He was born in a Namboodiri Brahmin family of Melpathur, on the north banks of Bharathapuzha River. It was near Thirunavaya, the place famous for Mamankam festival in the ancient times. Bhattathiri started learning from his father Mathrudattan at a younger age. He learned Vedas and Sanskrit grammar at a younger age becoming pandit at the age of 16. He got married and settled at Thrikandiyur in Tirur. Melpathur wrote Narayaneeyam at the age of only 27. It was completed in 1586. It condenses the Bhagavata Purana into 1036 verses, divided into one hundred cantos.

There is a story behind Narayaneeyam. Once his sanskrit grammar Guru, Achyuta Pisharati, was struck with paralysis. It’s said that through yogic power Bhattathri is said to have taken the disease upon himself and relieved his guru. Ezhuthachan (Father of Malayalam language) suggested him to "meen thottu koottuka", literal meaning - start with the fish. He could easily identify its hidden meaning that Ezhuthachan has asked him to start with the first incarnation of Vishnu – Malsya (Fish). He moved to Guruvayur temple and wrote one dasaka a day in the presence of the Lord. Also he sang 10 shlokas on Sri Guruvayoorappan every day. When he completed the task, his ailments were healed. Narayana Bhattathiri got mukthi from Goddess Vana Durga at Mookuthala, 30 kms away from Guruvayur.

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Updated: January 21, 2014