*Krishnanattam* , Bhagavan Krishna's favorite dance drama !!!!

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

*Krishnanattam* is a sacred temple art, now performed at Guruvayur Temple as a votive offering by a troupe under the management of Guruvayur Devaswom . Bhagavan Sri Krishna's story as described in detail in the Tenth and Eleventh Cantos of Srimad Bhagavata, Mahabharata and Harivamsa is presented as song, dance and acting in a cycle of eight plays in eight days . The plays are Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam (Akaraka Swabhaviswa is the mnemonic to remember the names in order).

History of *Krishnanattam*

*Krishnagiti* was written between 1655 A.D. and 1658 A.D. by the then Zamorin Raja of Calicut, Manavedan. During this period, the renowned Vaishnava Sage Vilwamangalam Swamiyar and the Manavedan were staying at Guruvayur. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar was such an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Guruvayurappan that he could see Bhagavan in flesh and blood whenever he wanted. One day Manavedan requested the Swamiyar to help him and show him Bhagavan. Swamiyar replied that before committing anything he will have to consult Bhagavan Guruvayurappan and get his consent. The next day the Swamiyar told him that Guruvayurappan has given his consent and Manavedan can see Guruvayurappan playing in the early hours of the morning at the platform of the *Elanji* tree. When as per this agreement, Manavedan saw the real Guruvayurappan in the form of little child Sri Krishna, he was so excited that he forgot all the environment and decorum, rushed to the *Elanji* tree and embraced Bhagavan.

Guruvayoorappan immediately disappeared saying, "Vilwamangalam did not tell me that this will happen ". However, during the melee, Manavedan got one peacock feather from the head gear of Bhagavan Krishna.

King Manavedan became sad for the inadvertent discourtesy shown by him to Bhagavan Sri Krishna . As advised by Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, , he immediately went to the sanctum sanctorum of Bhagavan Guruvayurappan and pledged that with that feather of peacock, he will make a headgear , compose *Krishnagiti* in the form of a dance drama and dedicate it to Bhagavan.

A Moorthy of Sri Krishna was made using the wood of the `Eanji' tree. (The `Elanji' tree stood at the place where now, the Kuttambalam stands, on the south-east side of the sanctum sanctorum of the Guruvayur Temple). According to the advice of Vilwamangalam, Manavedan composed *Krishnagiti* sitting before that Moorthy with single minded devotion.

The peacock feather was incorporated in the headgear for the character of Sri Krishna. The headgear was found to suit the heads of all actors performing as Bhagavan Krishna. The actor also used to get 'possessed' on wearing this headgear.

Manavedan wrote *Krishnagiti* in eight cantos, and without any assistance did the choreography, all the costume make up including Krishna's headgear, facial make up, details of instruments for the background music and prepared the list of all and sundry articles required for staging the dance drama. He himself selected the artists for the *Arangetam* ( inaugural performance) and trained them to perform the dance drama. It is to be noted that the Arangetam of all the eight plays viz., Avatharam, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham , Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam were performed near the sanctum sanctorum of the Guruvayur Temple. On the ninth day, Avatharam was repeated as the Zamorin felt that it was not auspicious to end the series with the demise of Lord Krishna. This practice of performing Avatharam after Swargarohanam is being continued to this day.

Originally the performance of *Krishnattam* was not restricted to the Guruvayur Temple alone . Once, the King of Cochin ordered the Krishnanattam troupe to play Kamsavadham at his Thrippunithura palace. An elephant was brought to the stage to enact the role of Kuvalayapeedam. The actor performing as Sri Krishna killed the elephant and went after the King. The King managed to escape somehow. After this incident, *Krishnanattam* was never performed South of Guruvayur.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!!!

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev