Narayaneeyam

Narayaneeyam

• "Narayaneeyam" is the masterly work of Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri - a great devotee-poet who lived in Kerala during the 16th century AD. As a Namboodiri Brahmin of Kerala born 442 years ago in AD 1560.
• It is the condensed form of the famous Bhagavata Purana where the subject matter of the extensive Bhagavata is epitomized and recast in Narayaneeyam.
• This immortal composition, Narayaneeyam, is so named for 2 reasons as mentioned by the poet himself in the 100th canto. 

1. It is about Lord Narayana, and secondly because 
2. it was composed by Narayana Bhattatiri.

• The Bhagavata consisting of 18,000 verses has been summarized in this work in 1034 verses. divided into 100  Dasakas  (cantos), both as a poem  (Kavya) and as a devotional hymn,
• Narayaneeyam occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature as unlike other hymns, it also exposes great truths of Vedanta.
• It is a rare literary masterpiece in Sanskrit using as many as 18 meters and using poetic devices for creating sound effects through Anuprasa, Yamaka etc and using effective use of figures of speech, puns, witticism, etc.
• It is also a rare hymn of devotion--probably the longest hymn in Sanskrit.
• The young Narayana, after marriage led a profligate life of sensual enjoyments for some time. The turning point in Bhattatiri's life came one day the great grammarian, Achyuta Pisharadi, scolded him in the presence of his students for his irreligious life.
• It touched his heart very much and as a result, he then and there accepted Achyuta Pisharadi as his Guru to learn Sanskrit Grammar and this changed his outlook completely as he became a serious student and never cared for his physical comforts.
• During this time Achyuta Pisharadi fell a victim to a severe attack of paralysis and suffered unbearable pain.
• Bhattatiri, the devoted disciple could not bear the suffering of his Guru. He, therefore, fervently prayed that the disease may be transferred to him and his Guru freed of suffering.
• Bhattatiri accepted the “Karmavipaka Dana" by which the sins of his Guru were transferred to him.
• It happened as he wanted and soon while Pisharadi recovered, the disease made Bhattatiri a cripple.
• A "Bhajanam" in the temple of Guruvayoor was considered as a sure cure for paralysis and so Bhattatiri went to Guruvayoor for 100 days of "Bhajanam"
• Here, he wrote the famous hymn "Narayaneeyam" describing the Avatars of Vishnu starting with "fish", i.e. Matsya Avatar.
• During the 100 days of his Bhajanam at the temple of Guruvayoor, he summarized the entire Bhagavata Purana in 1034 verses at the rate of one Dasaka (canto) consisting generally of 10 verses every day.
• Each Dasaka ended with a prayer to the Lord of Guruvayoor to cure him of his illness.
• On the hundredth day he had a vision of the Lord in the form of Venugopala.
• The 100th canto composed on that day gives a graphic description of this form of the Lord from the head to the foot. On that day he became completely cured of his disease. Bhattatiri completed Narayaneeyam on the 27th of November 1587

O Lord of Guruvayoor! You are an ocean of kindness!

Let those who read these episodes with devotion be freed

from all diseases, mental and physical!

Let them have longevity, health,

and everlasting happiness --"Ayurarogyasoukhyam"!

Know what is unique about Narayaneeyam?

The unique features of Narayananeeyam, which endear it to all are – 

1. Firstly it has been written in great pain and agony and so echoes the poet’s heart felt prayer and high devotion. 
2. Secondly it is written in first person singular as a direct conversation with the Lord. So anybody reading it would also be addressing the Lord directly in person. This has a magnetic effect of the devotee’s nearness to the Lord. 
3. Thirdly, since this hymn has practically demonstrated the cure of the poet’s disease, tonic for – Aayu, Aarogya, Sauchyam – longevity, health and happiness, for all those who approach it with sincerity of faith and devotion.