Srimad Narayaneeyam

[Guest guest]

Srimad Narayaneeyam

 

 

SRIMAD NARAYANEEYAM is the story of Lord

Narayana. It is a work consisting of

1036 slokas or verses, divided into 100 dasakams or chapters, each dasakam

consisting of approximately 10 slokas. Composed by Melpathur Narayana

Bhattatiri, it is a condensed version of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam, which

consists of 18,000 slokas authored by Veda Vyasa (Bhagavata-artha-sangraha). It

is said that the work has the blessings

of Lord Krishna or Guruvayoorappan, the presiding Deity of the

shrine of Guruvayoor.

 

As the story goes, the author, Melpathur Narayana

Bhattatiri voluntarily transferred onto himself, the ailment of

paralysis from his Guru and relative, Trikandiyur Achuta Pisharoti

ritualistically, in order to save him.

In the process, he himself became a paralytic. He then got himself carried to the shrine at Guruvayoor where he

could take shelter at the feet of Lord Krishna and get divine

intervention.

 

As he was continuing to suffer from

excruciating pain due to his malady, he sought advice from the celebrated

contemporary poet, Thunjath Ezhuthatchan, who suggested that Bhattatiri should

"start with the fish". Bhattatiri,

being quick to understand the implication of this suggestion, viz., that he

should compose a hymn in praise of Lord Guruvayoorappan giving an account of

all His sportive incarnations beginning with the incarnation as fish

(Matsya-avatara), he sat at the feet of the Lord and composed this great work,

a dasakam a day, with ardent devotion.

At the end of the hundredth day, when he had completed all the one

hundred dasakams, it is said that he had a glorious vision of the Lord and he

was completely cured of his ailment. Bhattatiri composed Narayaneeyam when he

was twenty-seven, completing it on November 27, 1587.

 

This work, composed in praise of Lord Krishna, and

which is said to have received divine intervention at different stages, is

considered to be a short and sweet substitute for Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam

and is recited by devotees all over the world as a general prayer and also as a

panacea for all ailments causing impairment or loss of motor function of

nerves. Innumerable devotees flock to

the Guruvayoor temple and offer worship to the Lord, reciting this hymn of

prayer in the firm hope, belief and trust that they would be cured of their

ailments.

 

To Be Continued......