Poonthanam Nambudiri (1547–1640AD) was a famous poet and a devotee of Guruvayurappan, who lived in Keezhattoor in what is now Malappuram district, Kerala, India. He is remembered for his masterpiece, Jnanappana which means "the song of divine wisdom" in Malayalam. His other chief poems in Malayalam are Bhasha Karnamritam and Kumaraharanam or Santanagopalam Pana. His other works include Raghaviyam, Vishnuvilasam and Sitaraghavam in Sanskrit and Vishnugeeta and Panchatantram in modern Malayalam.
Poonthanam was born in 1547 in the month of masi on the day of Aswini, at Keezhattoor, near Perinthalmanna in Malapuram district, into a NamboodiriBrahmin family.[1] He married at 20, but for a long time, they had no children. He began to propitiate the Lord of Guruvayur by reciting the ‘[Santhana Gopalam]’ and a son was born. He called for a celebration and everybody known was invited, but the child died an hour before the Annaprasanam ceremony.[2] Grief-stricken, Poonthanam sought refuge at Guruvayur and started praying with the puranic story of Kumaraharanam. The heartbroken Poonthanam, it is said, was consoled by Guruvayurappan himself, who lay down on his lap, for a moment, as a child. He considered Lord Krishna as his son and achieved enlightenment. In the Jnanappana he writes: "While little Krishna is dancing in our hearts, do we need little ones of our own?". Poonthanam spent the rest of his life reading the Bhagavatham and singing the Lord's glories in simple Malayalam. His magnum opus, the Jnanappana, was composed during this period.[3] His house, the Poonthanam Illam is now under the Guruvayur Devaswom.[4]
Poonthanam and Melpathur
He was a contemporary of Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, another famous poet from Athavanad. Melpathur, the author of the Sanskrit work Narayaneeyam, was a famed scholar who out of pride refused Poonthanam's request to read his Jnanappana, a work in Malayalam.[5] Legend has it that Guruvayurappan, impressed by Poonthanam's humility and devotion preferred his works to those of Bhattathiri's and once even rebuked Bhattathiri for ignoring Poonthanam's Santhanagopala Paana saying he preferred Poonthanam’s genuine bhakti to Bhattathiri’s vibhakti.[6]
Works
The chief poems of Poonthanam are Jnanappana, Bhasha Karnamritam and Kumaraharanam or Santanagopalam Pana. Jnanappana (transliteration: The Song of Divine Wisdom) is a veritable storehouse of transcendental knowledge which is firmly rooted in the experiences of this world. In a language, absolutely free from regionalism and dialectal influences, unadorned with excessive rhetorical features, through a series of concrete pictures taken from contemporary life, the poet is able to drive home his perception of the short lived nature of the ephemeral aspects of life. His religious meditations flow uncluttered and unencumbered with irrelevant matter. Jnanappana has been transcreated into English by poet cum writer Dr Gopi Kottoor, the book "Poonthanam's Hymns - The Fountain Of God" is published by Writer's Workshop, Calcutta.[7]
Bhasha Karnamritam is a devotional work intended to create devotion to Lord Krishna in the readers. Santanagopalam Pana tells the story of a Brahmin father who lost all his children and sought the help of the Pandava prince Arjuna. Arjuna proudly offered to help him preserve his next child alive, but he was unable to keep his word. The Brahmin abuses Arjuna to his great anguish and in his wounded pride he decides to commit suicide by leaping into flames. Krishna out of love for Arjuna, intervenes at the last moment and takes him to Vaikuntha from where they recover all the lost children of the Brahmin. Krishna's infinite love for his devotees is thus the central theme, but the poem also makes its appeal because of its down-to-earth realism and unmistakable touch of authenticity.
Bhakti
Poonthanam preached Namasmaranam, or the constant remembrance of the Lord's name, as the only way to reach Him. He emphasised the futility of material existence and advocated instead service to the Lord through the Nama japa, or recitation of the names of the Lord, as the path to moksha. At the end of each verse of the Jnanappana, the nama japa of ‘Krishna Krishna Mukunda Janardhana,’ stresses Poonthanam's emphasis on nama sankeerthanam.[8] Jnanappana has been transcreated into English by poet cum writer Dr Gopi Kottoor, the book "Poonthanam's Hymns - The Fountain Of God" is published by Writer's Workshop, Calcutta.[7]
Over a period of time , Poonthaanam has acquired the status of most sought after commentator of the scriptures in Guruvaayoor Temple. He was also like a VIP in any of the Forums. In the regular feast held in the temple, Poonthaanam was accorded the most prominent seat meant for the VIP. One day certain other important dignitary had arrived in the temple. The authorities concerned asked Poonthaanam to vacate the main seat for accommodating the guest. Hesitatingly, Poonthaanam made way. However, thereupon happened one more incorporeal proclamation from the sanctum sanctorum:" Poonthaanam need not stay in the temple any more with unfriendly people as I have decided to come to your house. I will visit your house (on such and such date) and stay there for ever".[citation needed]
Poonthaanam obeyed the divine command and proceeded to his house. On the destined day he was seen extending hospitality to the invisible guest at his house- apparently the visit by God. He constructed a temple to install the lord on the "left" side of the house and it had come to be known as the left side temple during his times.This temple is now known by the name Edathupuram Poonthanam Sree Krishna temple.The main deity here is believed to be the representation of Guruvayurappan. For those who could not visit Guruvayur temple due to health or personal reasons can visit this temple instead.[citation needed]
Death
According to legend, Poonthanam left this world in his body in 1640. When he announced his departure for his Lord's abode, he invited anyone who wanted to join him, which all the villagers declined. Ultimately, only a maid who had been nursing his ailing wife joined him on this journey.[2][6]
^I K K Menon (1995). Folk Tales of Kerala. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Government of India. pp. 194–. ISBN978-81-230-2188-1.
^ ab"Devotee the Lord loved". The Hindu. 20 July 2012.
^. www.guruvayurdevaswom.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2005.
^. The Hindu. 14 July 2006. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
^"Stage for Bhakti". The Hindu. 17 September 2010.
^ ab"To lovers of Krishna, in Tamil". The Hindu. 19 July 2012.
^ ab. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
poonthanam, nambudiri, 1547, 1640ad, famous, poet, devotee, guruvayurappan, lived, keezhattoor, what, malappuram, district, kerala, india, remembered, masterpiece, jnanappana, which, means, song, divine, wisdom, malayalam, other, chief, poems, malayalam, bhash. Poonthanam Nambudiri 1547 1640AD was a famous poet and a devotee of Guruvayurappan who lived in Keezhattoor in what is now Malappuram district Kerala India He is remembered for his masterpiece Jnanappana which means the song of divine wisdom in Malayalam His other chief poems in Malayalam are Bhasha Karnamritam and Kumaraharanam or Santanagopalam Pana His other works include Raghaviyam Vishnuvilasam and Sitaraghavam in Sanskrit and Vishnugeeta and Panchatantram in modern Malayalam Poonthanam NambudiriStatue of Poonthanam Namboothiri Guruvayur KeralaPersonalBorn1547 CEKeezhattoor near Perinthalamanna in present day Malapuram district KeralaDied1640 CEReligionHinduismKnown forPoet Vaishnavism Krishna Many hymns and prayer songs which are still popular in Kerala have been attributed to Poonthanam Contents 1 Early life 2 Poonthanam and Melpathur 3 Works 4 Bhakti 5 Death 6 See also 7 ReferencesEarly life EditPoonthanam was born in 1547 in the month of masi on the day of Aswini at Keezhattoor near Perinthalmanna in Malapuram district into a Namboodiri Brahmin family 1 He married at 20 but for a long time they had no children He began to propitiate the Lord of Guruvayur by reciting the Santhana Gopalam and a son was born He called for a celebration and everybody known was invited but the child died an hour before the Annaprasanam ceremony 2 Grief stricken Poonthanam sought refuge at Guruvayur and started praying with the puranic story of Kumaraharanam The heartbroken Poonthanam it is said was consoled by Guruvayurappan himself who lay down on his lap for a moment as a child He considered Lord Krishna as his son and achieved enlightenment In the Jnanappana he writes While little Krishna is dancing in our hearts do we need little ones of our own Poonthanam spent the rest of his life reading the Bhagavatham and singing the Lord s glories in simple Malayalam His magnum opus the Jnanappana was composed during this period 3 His house the Poonthanam Illam is now under the Guruvayur Devaswom 4 Poonthanam and Melpathur EditHe was a contemporary of Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri another famous poet from Athavanad Melpathur the author of the Sanskrit work Narayaneeyam was a famed scholar who out of pride refused Poonthanam s request to read his Jnanappana a work in Malayalam 5 Legend has it that Guruvayurappan impressed by Poonthanam s humility and devotion preferred his works to those of Bhattathiri s and once even rebuked Bhattathiri for ignoring Poonthanam s Santhanagopala Paana saying he preferred Poonthanam s genuine bhakti to Bhattathiri s vibhakti 6 Works EditThe chief poems of Poonthanam are Jnanappana Bhasha Karnamritam and Kumaraharanam or Santanagopalam Pana Jnanappana transliteration The Song of Divine Wisdom is a veritable storehouse of transcendental knowledge which is firmly rooted in the experiences of this world In a language absolutely free from regionalism and dialectal influences unadorned with excessive rhetorical features through a series of concrete pictures taken from contemporary life the poet is able to drive home his perception of the short lived nature of the ephemeral aspects of life His religious meditations flow uncluttered and unencumbered with irrelevant matter Jnanappana has been transcreated into English by poet cum writer Dr Gopi Kottoor the book Poonthanam s Hymns The Fountain Of God is published by Writer s Workshop Calcutta 7 Bhasha Karnamritam is a devotional work intended to create devotion to Lord Krishna in the readers Santanagopalam Pana tells the story of a Brahmin father who lost all his children and sought the help of the Pandava prince Arjuna Arjuna proudly offered to help him preserve his next child alive but he was unable to keep his word The Brahmin abuses Arjuna to his great anguish and in his wounded pride he decides to commit suicide by leaping into flames Krishna out of love for Arjuna intervenes at the last moment and takes him to Vaikuntha from where they recover all the lost children of the Brahmin Krishna s infinite love for his devotees is thus the central theme but the poem also makes its appeal because of its down to earth realism and unmistakable touch of authenticity Bhakti EditPoonthanam preached Namasmaranam or the constant remembrance of the Lord s name as the only way to reach Him He emphasised the futility of material existence and advocated instead service to the Lord through the Nama japa or recitation of the names of the Lord as the path to moksha At the end of each verse of the Jnanappana the nama japa of Krishna Krishna Mukunda Janardhana stresses Poonthanam s emphasis on nama sankeerthanam 8 Jnanappana has been transcreated into English by poet cum writer Dr Gopi Kottoor the book Poonthanam s Hymns The Fountain Of God is published by Writer s Workshop Calcutta 7 Over a period of time Poonthaanam has acquired the status of most sought after commentator of the scriptures in Guruvaayoor Temple He was also like a VIP in any of the Forums In the regular feast held in the temple Poonthaanam was accorded the most prominent seat meant for the VIP One day certain other important dignitary had arrived in the temple The authorities concerned asked Poonthaanam to vacate the main seat for accommodating the guest Hesitatingly Poonthaanam made way However thereupon happened one more incorporeal proclamation from the sanctum sanctorum Poonthaanam need not stay in the temple any more with unfriendly people as I have decided to come to your house I will visit your house on such and such date and stay there for ever citation needed Poonthaanam obeyed the divine command and proceeded to his house On the destined day he was seen extending hospitality to the invisible guest at his house apparently the visit by God He constructed a temple to install the lord on the left side of the house and it had come to be known as the left side temple during his times This temple is now known by the name Edathupuram Poonthanam Sree Krishna temple The main deity here is believed to be the representation of Guruvayurappan For those who could not visit Guruvayur temple due to health or personal reasons can visit this temple instead citation needed Death EditAccording to legend Poonthanam left this world in his body in 1640 When he announced his departure for his Lord s abode he invited anyone who wanted to join him which all the villagers declined Ultimately only a maid who had been nursing his ailing wife joined him on this journey 2 6 See also EditGuruvayurappan Melpathur Narayana BhattathiriReferences Edit I K K Menon 1995 Folk Tales of Kerala Publications Division Ministry of Information amp Broadcasting Government of India pp 194 ISBN 978 81 230 2188 1 a b Devotee the Lord loved The Hindu 20 July 2012 Guruvayur Devaswom www guruvayurdevaswom org Archived from the original on 18 February 2005 Steps to develop Poonthanam Illam The Hindu 14 July 2006 Archived from the original on 30 December 2013 Stage for Bhakti The Hindu 17 September 2010 a b To lovers of Krishna in Tamil The Hindu 19 July 2012 a b Transcreating Poonthanam The Hindu Archived from the original on 6 March 2014 Retrieved 25 August 2007 Rendered with devotion 13 March 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poonthanam Nambudiri amp oldid 1129888689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
