Guruvayurappan - Narayaneeyam and Bhattathiri

Part 9

Narayaneeyam and Bhattathiri

Narayaneeyam is the story of Lord Narayana written by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri. It is a work consisting of 1034 slokas or verses, divided into 100 dashakams or chapters, each dashakam consisting of approximately 10 slokas. It is a condensed version of the Bhagavata Purana, which consists of 18,000 slokas authored by Veda Vyasa. It is said that the work has the blessings of Lord Krishna or Guruvayurappan, the presiding Deity of Guruvayur.

Narayaneeyam narrates a series of episodes from the Bhagavata Purana, choosing the most pious of the lot. The incarnations of Vishnu are traced with piety, Bhattathiri transforms the episodes into solemn prayers, pouring out his soul in total supplication before the Lord. The final dashaka describes top-to-toe picture of little Krishna in all grace and glory.

Afflicted by acute rheumatism, Bhattathiri somehow reached the temple of Guruvayur and fully surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord. He prostrated in deep devotion and started to pray, singing His glory and worshipping him every day. He composed and rendered one dashakam each day to the Lord. Thus, in 100 days of sincere worship, Narayaneeyam consisting of 100 dashakams was composed.

In the vathil madam near the entrance of the temple, he struggled to sit erect facing the idol, being stricken with rheumatism. Oblivious of the physical disabilities the devotee, in blissful concentration, suddenly stiffened when he had a divine vision from the sanctum sanctorum and soon thereafter words flowed incessantly commencing with, "Saandranandaavabodhathmakam…"

In the first stanza he says, "asphashtam drushtamathre” meaning the vision of the god was not clear. After that he was no longer looking at the idol, but the God himself was appearing in all his splendour, goading him and guiding him to compose on and on.

Bhattathiri imagined the child Krishna sitting in front of him, listening avidly to the stories of his own incarnations. Hence many of the stories sound as if they are being told to a child. At times the pain would be too intense for him and he would stop in the middle of a story and throw his stylus down and refuse to go any further even though the child was anxious to hear the end of the story. At this time, it is said that the child Krishna would come close and stroke his limbs and make him fit to carry on with the tale further.

These verses written in pain and agony invoked the sympathy and grace of the Lord. At the end of each dashakam each day, he would pray for the mercy and kindness of the Lord to cure his disease. Soon the Lord showered His grace on him and on the 100th day the Lord blessed him with His vision after listening to Narayaneeyam to the fullest and cured his disease and finally came in front of him. He was standing not with four hands as seen by Vasudeva but in the form of a beautiful Krishna with two arms holding a flute. Bhattathiri was overwhelmed with ecstasy and in the 100th dashakam he cries out – ‘Agre Pashyami’ – Here I see him in front of me – and he gives a vivid description of the most enchanting form of the Lord he saw – from head to foot – Keshaadi Paadam.

When the Lord come in front of Mahans, they normally perform a “Padadi kaesha Varnanam” or “KeshAdi pAda varnanam”, where the former means a stuthi starting from the feet all the way to the head of the Lord while, the latter means a stuthi starting from the head of the Lord all the way to the Lord’s feet. Here Bhattathiri starts from the head. The reason why Mahans do not start from the feet is because the Lord’s feet are so beautiful and alluring that they cannot go beyond the holy feet.  Bhattathiri described the form of the Lord just as how he saw the Lord in front of him and he finally prostrated unto to the holy feet of the Lord which was so soft and tender. He ended Narayaneeyam with a very auspicious word, Lakshmi Sandoha Lakshmi. When one reads Narayaneeyam, will be bestowed with devotion to the Lord [Bhakti] which is verily the greatest of all Lakshmis!

When Narayaneeyam was being composed, the poet is said to have had quite a few memorable and, at times, anxious moments rendering him perplexed. For instance, when the dashakam on the Avatara of Narasimha was being composed, the narration came to a stage when the terrible demon King Hiranyakashipu hit the pillar with his bare arm breaking it at once.  At this point the poet was tongue tied, which made him cry out, "O Vishnu! O Lord! I am unable to describe that great form in which you appeared nor the events that followed immediately. O All Merciful! O All-pervading One! O resident of Guruvayur! Be gracious to help me and save me.”  (24th dashaka 10th verse)

The story is that at this point Guruvayurappan once again took up the form of Narasimha, emerged from the pillar in front of the poet and revealed himself before him, inspiring him to describe the celestial sight! The description of Narasimha Avataram was then composed in a separate dashakam.

He was unable to imagine that the little innocent Guruvayurappan came down in the form of a half human and half lion form and tore Hiranyakashipu apart and so he questioned the Lord – “Oh Guruvayurappa, were you the one who came down as Lord Narasimha who tore Hiranyakashipu’s intestines apart and wore them as a garland around your neck?” Guruvayurappan then enacted the whole Prahalada charitra in front of Bhattathiri. Such is the greatness of Narayaneeyam!

"All that has been written is of you and is yours only Lord Krishna, to that Lord Krishna is all this surrendered."

Narayana Bhattathiri composed Narayaneeyam at the age of 27. With the Lord's grace showering on him, he lived as a respected philosopher, poet and saint to the age of 96 years. He has to his credit many masterly compositions of poetry, essays and books on philosophy and Sanskrit grammar.

The unique features of Narayananeeyam, which endears it to all devotees are many:

Firstly, it has been written when in great pain and agony and hence echoes the poet’s heartfelt sincere prayer and high devotion.

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 first person. This has a magnetic effect on the devotees in terms of nearness to the Lord.

Thirdly, since this hymn has practically cured the poet’s disease, it is a tonic for – Aayu, Aarogya, Saukhyam – longevity, health and happiness, for all those who approach it with sincerity of faith and devotion.