I SSN 0975-4067

KIRAVAL
Journal of Sanskrit Research Foundation
The New Trivandrum Sanskrit Series
Vol.V. Book.I & II
January-June
2013
SANSKRIT RESEARCH FOUNDATION
T.C 39/37
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-36
KIRAVAL
Journal of Sanskrit Research Foundation
Editor
Dr.M. Manimohanan
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
dr.m.manimohanan@gmail.com
Executive Editor
Dr.C.S.Sasikumar
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
drsasikumarcs@yahoo.co.in
Managing Editor
Dr.G.Narayanan
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
dr.g.narayanan@gmail.com
Editorial Board
Dr.V.Sisupalapanikkar,Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd.) Uty. of Kerala
Dr.R.Vijayakumar, Professor of Vyakarana, S.S.U.S.Kalady
Dr.K.Muthulakshmi, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.
Kalady
Dr.K.K.Sundaresan, Registrar, Kalamandalam
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.T.Devarajan, Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd), University of Kerala
Dr.P.Chithambaran, Rtd.Professor of Vedanta,S.S.U.S. Kalady
Dr.P.K.Dharmarajan, Professor of Sahitya, S.S.U.S. Kalady
Dr..S.Sobhana, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.Kalady
Dr.K.Sekharan, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Calicut
Associate Editor
Prof.R.Jinu
jichelnu@yahoo.co.in
Views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of the publishers
Contents
Ia Upaniad and Rmyaa Dr.V.Vasudevan- 7
Bhadrakalikalam- a Reminiscence of
Dhuli Chitra: A study Babu.K -15
Modern and Vedantic Views
on Mental Health Dr.H.Sylaja -38
Cultivation and related income
in the Arthastra Pushpadasan Kuniyil -44
Rmyaa Plays of
Bhsa Dr. N. Vijayamohanan Pillai - 49
The Creative Genius
in Sree Narayana Guru Dr.Asaletha.V -56
Eco Feminism Shamshad Begum.R - 62
Ajitamahtantra:
Treatise on Vstuvidya Soumya. K -70
Historical and Cultural Aspects Reflected In
Ashtamimahotsava Prabandha Krishnaveni -79
Influence of Buddhism in the Social Health
Environment of Kerala Soumya.c.s -84
-.... .|...... :...-. ...+ -
.... .....|.-...
.....-...... .|-.+-. :..-..|.-..+-..|
E&- Ehi M & .E .E -104
-.|.. :... -. +. ... ..|- :. . |.. -. . |.-..+ -..|
+ . -..-..||.. .......-. .|.. . -.|.
Historical and Cultural Aspects Reflected In
Ashtamimahotsava Prabandha
Krishnaveni
Ashtamimahotsava prabandha is a narration of
Ashtamimahotsava celebrated in Vaikom Sri Mahadeva
Temple. This prabandha is one of the most beautiful Champu
Kavya among the Kerala Champu literature. The name of this
Prabandha is somewhere denoted as Ashtami prabandha and
somewhere as Ashtamimahotsava prabandha.As the definition
of Champu kavya, this one is also in Champu style ie; in the
order of a mixture of prose and verse.(Dandin 94)
The Ashtamimahotsava prabandha contains 41 verses and some
prose parts. The Vyakhyanas of this grandha is very rare. One
of these is written by Sri.Chunakkara Unnikrishna varrior in
Malayalam language. Another one is written by Sri Punnaseri
Nilakanta Sarma in Grantha lipi. And another one is written
by Harippad Chemprol Ambadevithampuratti.
The author of this Prabandha is Sri Melputtur Narayana Bhatta
[1560 A.D to 1666A.D]. He was a Nampootiri Brahmin
belonging to the family of Melputtur near the temple
Chandanakavu,about two miles to the north of the Thirunavaya
temple, on the northern banks of the river Bharathapuzha. His
father was Matrudutta and teacher Trikkandiyoor
Achuthapisharoti.
Most of the plots of the Prabandhas of Narayana Bhatta is based
upon the Purana or Epics. But the Ashtamimahotsava
80 Kiraval
prabandha and Kotiviraha are the exceptional cases of that. At
the temples, Chakyars used most of the Prabandhas to perform
Koothu. But Ashtamimahotsava prabandha is probably not
used for performing arts.
Vaikom Mahadeva temple
Vaikom Mahadeva temple is cituated at Vaikom in Kottayam
district. And the temple is near by the Kottayam - Ernakulam
rout. The temple is looking to east and is pervading at an eight
acre land. Here Lord Siva gives his blessings to the devotees
in three bhavas or forms. In the morning he assumes the form
of Dakshinamoorthi, the Guru of gurus. in the noontime he
assumes the form of Kiratamoorthi, who gave Pasupathastra
to his noble devotee Arjuna. In the evening Lord Siva assumes
the bhava of Sambasiva with his wife Parvathy and sons
Ganapathy and Karthikeya.
The important festival that exists here is Vaikkathashtami,
celebrated at the Krishnapaksha Ashtami day of Vrischikom
month. And the main coustoms of this festival is
Kopputhookkal, Sandhyavela, Rushabhavahana procession,
Ashtami darsana, Valiyakanikka, Despatch of
Udayanapurathappan, Koodippuja etc.(Nampootiri 18)
Origin of the name Vaikom
In olden times this place was a thick forest inhabited by wild
animals. The ancient Sanskrit books Bhargavapurana and
Sanalkumarasamhitha mention this place as Vaiyaghrageham
and Vaiyaghrapuram. As per legands Vyaghrapadamaharshi got
Sivadarsana here, so it was fittingly called Vyaghrapadapuram.
Later,when Tamil spread, the word Vaiyaghra got transformed
as Vaikom(18).
The content of Astami Mahotsava Prabanda
The Astami Mahotsava Prabanda is described as in the form
of a travalouge. A Vidyadhara named as Sangeethadesika share
his travel experience to Devendra. Through the first verse the
Kiraval 81
poet salute Lord Siva and through another one he describes
the greatness of festival and his inexpertness to narrate it.
-t +tt-tt tt -t-t-t|+-tt-t|-t-tt +tt-tt -t-t -tr-t -trt--ttt.|-t+
-t-t -t+t -t|rt-t-t-tt -tt -ttt|-tt+-tt-tt -t-tu-tt --t(1)
Here the humbleness of the poet becomes clear. After that the
story begins. Sangeethadesika is gone to Indrasabha with his
wife. Then Devendra wants to narrate the incident which creates
astonishment in him. Then he begins to tell about the Astami
Mahotsava celebrated in Vyaghrapadapuri. Sangeethadesika
narrate it in a very interesting manner. He says that the man
who did not see the Astami Mahotsava is not a man.
-t -t-tt-t |+ -t t--t-t tt-t-tt-tr-t +
Then he told about the temple named as the
Mahavyaghrapuram. Here always reverberate the Vedic chants
of Brahmins. At the courtyard of the temple, the golden flagstaff
is shining as a ladder to enter the Heaven for devotees. The
residence of Kailasa is only like a skyflower for Lord Siva,
when he resides here. At the southern part of the temple,
Bhagavathy Bhadrakali is situated with showering her blessings
on devotees. And here an excellent picturization of Bhagavathy
is done by Melputtur.
Then he begins to describe the celebration. The Utsava begins
from the day of Sukladvadasi in Vrischika month. At the
afternoon of that day, the maid servants cleaned the base floor
of the flagstaff as a shining mirror. They decorate there with
flowers, hang the garlands and placed the auspicious objects
like Nirakudam, Nilavilakku, Nirapara etc. At that time, the
priest was came from the temple and offered some special
worships there. After that the flag was raised indicate the
beginning of Utsava.
In the evening of that day there reverberating the sound of
kettle drum. Hearing that, all people were coming to the temple.
Large numbers of lights are shining around the temple as the
burning of wild fire around a mountain. Then there occur the
82 Kiraval
procession of Lord Siva for the Deepotsava with the escort of
colorful umbrellas and venchamaras. After the three
pradakshinas they reenter to the temple. Ten days was finished
following the seeveli at morning, Brahmin feast at mid-day
and at the night Deepotsava. After these ten days there comes
the day Astami.
Here the author creates a vast and interesting narration of a
festival place. We can see a beautiful and vivid explanation of
the people assembled, transactions occur there etc. People use
this time to sale and buy the precious stones, the ornaments
such as necklace, bangles etc. fragrant substance like sandal
wood, akil, devatharu etc. grocery items like rice, fruits, coconut
etc. The author narrates interestingly the deceptive manner of
businessmen and their tricks to attract people to them. And
also narrate other sights from there - the preceptors who abuse
other religions, the noble women who came to see the festival
with their husbands etc.
At the dawn a drum was beaten and people assembled for the
procession. There came various types of people who wear
variety dresses, ornaments, speaks various languages and had
various cultures. There came the prostitutes who contain the
essence of the theory of Kamadeva, the people who came from
Kalinga, Neppal, Turki, Chola, Bengal, Andhra etc and the
scholarly Brahmins etc. Wearing a turban made by red silk
cloth and a shining sword in hand, the Sastra nampoori
sangham enter to every houses.
Then two handsome men came from the temple with a rattan
cane. According to the customs of that time, may be these are
the people who escort the procession. Then the image of Lord
Siva being placed on an elephant named as Chandrasekhara,
escorted by a king who look like the J upiter who came to earth
to see the Utsava and the devotees. After the pradakshina the
procession went to the northern side of the temple, where a
procession of Skanda joined it. And Lord Skanda is reached
Kiraval 83
near to Lord Siva with the harmonious sounds of musical
instruments. Latter together with the Skanda, Lord Siva
occupied the bottom of the two Asvattha on the eastern side of
the temple. Dances and songs were provided to honour the
deities. People worshipped Siva under the tree in various ways.
A Dandaka was addressed to Him. Then Skanda left Siva. And
the procession of Lord Siva was ended at the door of the temple.
He vanished from elephants back and entered in to the
sanctuary. The next day He took bath at dawn in a lake on
northern side of the temple.
On hearing this account Indra was pleased with the Vidyadhara
Sangeethedesika.
Conclusion
The Ashtamimahotsava prabandha of Melputtur Narayana
Bhatta is the narration of the Astami festival celebrated at
Vaikom Mahadeva temple. Splendid and fresh thought of
substance, most brilliant and majestic vocabulary, beautiful
narration, naturality, rhetorical embellishment etc. are perfectly
shining in the Ashtamimahotsava prabandha. It is not only a
narration of a festival but an outstanding description of the
society also. Customs, culture, lifestyle etc also reflected in
this Champu. Historically it is priceless. This prabandha is one
of the everlasting, ever shining jewel of the Prabandha
Samuccaya of Melputtur.
Works Cited
Kvydara of Mahkavi Da,. Ed. Rmacandra Mira. Varanasi:
Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 1972. Print.
Nampootiri, Narayanan T.D. Vaikom Mahadevatemple History
and Legend. Vaikom: Malayalarajyam Book Depot. Print.
Unni, Dr N.P, ed. Prabandhamanjari (Selected Prabandhas of
Melputhur Narayana Bhatta). New Delhi: Rashtriya Sanskrit
Sansthan, 1998. Print.