! Apadi Kim Karaneeyam ! - Kakasseri Bhattathiri

[Guest guest]

!! Sri Rama jayam !!

The story of Kakkasseri Bhattathiri happens around 17th Century north kerala,

where Samoothirippadu is the ruler. Every year there used to be a debate contest

on Vedas, Shaastras and Puranas at samoothiri's court. The subjects were divided

into 108 topics and debates used to be conducted on each of them. The winners

can claim the prize money, and the ensuing fame. All learned namboothiris from

all over kerala used to assemble there for the debates. One year a tamil brahmin

by name of Uddhanda Shaasthrikal comes to compete. He is renowned for his scorn

for namboothiris, to the extent that, as soon as he enters kerala region, he

says a couplet.

!! Palaayadhwam palaayadhwam, re re dushkavi kunjara...vedaanta vanasanchaaree,

hyayaathyuddanda kesari !!

It means - " Run and hide, run and hide, ye elephants of bad poetry ....the

roamer of vedanta forest, Uddanda the lion is coming. "

Needless to say, he defeats the namboothiris in the debates and gets all the

prizemoney for himself. The king becomes happy with him and appoints him as a

chief courtier. This happens consecutively for few more years at which the

namboothiris get upset. They think of ways to defeat Uddanda shaasthrikal.

Unfortunately, they are aware that no one in their midst can do that

immediately. During that period they come to know that one namboothiri lady is

pregnent. The prominent namboothiris assemble there and do the requsite

incantations and prayers to beget a child who will be able to dislodge Uddanda

shaastrikal.

In that illam, Bhattathiri is born. When he is three years old, his father dies.

As part of the tradition he has to do one year of deeksha. One of the ceremonies

for the departed involve making rice balls and invoking the deprated anscestores

to feast on it. The belief is that the anscestors will take the form of crows

and eat it. Normally the crows come down and eat the rice balls completing their

part of the ritual. This is done for over a period of days, where the crows are

invoked to have the rice balls. Its said that Bhattathiri used to identify each

crow from other and could tell, which crow came the previous day and which

didnt. Due to his remarkable power of observation, which became evident with

identification crows, his name is kept as Kakkasseri. " Kaakka " meaning crow in

malayalam.

As expected of him he becomes a scholar soon and he excels in all the fields.

Legend is that he is trained by none other than the great Uddanda shastri

himself. Eventually he is ready for the debate with Uddanda shaastrikal and

defeats him in the debate. He is acknowledged by one and all including the King

himself. There have been several debates later also between Uddanda shaastrikal

and Kakkasseri, but Kakkasseri wins all of them. Most of the anecdotes relating

to Kakkasseri are a bit on the vulgar side that even the author of Aithihyamala

just mentions that and leaves it there.

During his life, Kakkasseri is unlike the practice of the day, crosses the rigid

lines of casteism to the dismay of the namboothiris. He does not hesitate to

dine with even the people of lowest caste. Namboothiris dislike the facts, but

no one takes up the issue with Kakkasseri, as they know that they cannot win

with him by arguments or by debate. Eventually they decide that they must take

the advise of Kakkasseri who is the most knowledgeable. They approach him and

ask,

" Aapathey kim karaneeyam? "

" what needs to be done when faced with danger? "

Kakksasseri Bhattathiri knew why this question was posed to him. Reply came

without any hesitation.

" smaraneeyam charanayugalamambaayam "

" remember the lotus feet of Amba - mother godess "

Just to confirm, the namboothiris ask again,

" talsmaranam kim kurute? "

" what will happen by remembering so? "

Kakkasseri replies,

" brahmaadeenapi cha kinkareekuruthe "

" it will make brahma and other celestial beings your servants. "

The happy namboothiris take leave of him and do to appease devi - the mother

godess, along with incantations and prayers for the removal of danger. On the

41st day of the sacrifice, Kakkasseri comes there and asks for a glass of water,

after drinking which he tells the namboothiris that he has become impure and

takes leave. After that day Kakkasseri is not seen anywhere and becomes a legend

himself.

Source Link: http://www.neoalchemist.com/20040601/kakkassery-bhattathiri

 

Hare Krishna

Hare Rama

[Guest guest]

-Dear Shri Vinod,

 

Thank u for reproducing the story of Kakasseri, the court artist and

poet of Manavikrama Shaktan Tampuran of Calicut (17th Cent.) and the

conversation, that said to be exchanged between, other contemporary

scholars and poets, Udanda SastrikaL in particular.

 

There were, in all, 18 and half, scholar/poets, adorned the court of

this particular Samoothiri Raja viz. 9 from Payyur Bhattathiri; 5

from Thiruvegapuzha; Udandan; Kakasseri; Chennas; Poonam etc.

 

Keep on posting such informative articles in future also.

 

Om Namo Narayana:

 

 

NR Pillai

(Raju-Dombivli).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T-- In guruvayur , " PS, Vinod K \(GE Energy\) "

<vinod.ps@g...> wrote:

> !! Sri Rama jayam !!

> The story of Kakkasseri Bhattathiri happens around 17th Century

north kerala, where Samoothirippadu is the ruler. Every year there

used to be a debate contest on Vedas, Shaastras and Puranas at

samoothiri's court. The subjects were divided into 108 topics and

debates used to be conducted on each of them. The winners can claim

the prize money, and the ensuing fame. All learned namboothiris from

all over kerala used to assemble there for the debates. One year a

tamil brahmin by name of Uddhanda Shaasthrikal comes to compete. He

is renowned for his scorn for namboothiris, to the extent that, as

soon as he enters kerala region, he says a couplet.

> !! Palaayadhwam palaayadhwam, re re dushkavi kunjara...vedaanta

vanasanchaaree, hyayaathyuddanda kesari !!

> It means - " Run and hide, run and hide, ye elephants of bad

poetry ....the roamer of vedanta forest, Uddanda the lion is coming. "

> Needless to say, he defeats the namboothiris in the debates and

gets all the prizemoney for himself. The king becomes happy with him

and appoints him as a chief courtier. This happens consecutively for

few more years at which the namboothiris get upset. They think of

ways to defeat Uddanda shaasthrikal. Unfortunately, they are aware

that no one in their midst can do that immediately. During that

period they come to know that one namboothiri lady is pregnent. The

prominent namboothiris assemble there and do the requsite

incantations and prayers to beget a child who will be able to

dislodge Uddanda shaastrikal.

> In that illam, Bhattathiri is born. When he is three years old, his

father dies. As part of the tradition he has to do one year of

deeksha. One of the ceremonies for the departed involve making rice

balls and invoking the deprated anscestores to feast on it. The

belief is that the anscestors will take the form of crows and eat it.

Normally the crows come down and eat the rice balls completing their

part of the ritual. This is done for over a period of days, where the

crows are invoked to have the rice balls. Its said that Bhattathiri

used to identify each crow from other and could tell, which crow came

the previous day and which didnt. Due to his remarkable power of

observation, which became evident with identification crows, his name

is kept as Kakkasseri. " Kaakka " meaning crow in malayalam.

> As expected of him he becomes a scholar soon and he excels in all

the fields. Legend is that he is trained by none other than the great

Uddanda shastri himself. Eventually he is ready for the debate with

Uddanda shaastrikal and defeats him in the debate. He is acknowledged

by one and all including the King himself. There have been several

debates later also between Uddanda shaastrikal and Kakkasseri, but

Kakkasseri wins all of them. Most of the anecdotes relating to

Kakkasseri are a bit on the vulgar side that even the author of

Aithihyamala just mentions that and leaves it there.

> During his life, Kakkasseri is unlike the practice of the day,

crosses the rigid lines of casteism to the dismay of the

namboothiris. He does not hesitate to dine with even the people of

lowest caste. Namboothiris dislike the facts, but no one takes up the

issue with Kakkasseri, as they know that they cannot win with him by

arguments or by debate. Eventually they decide that they must take

the advise of Kakkasseri who is the most knowledgeable. They approach

him and ask,

> " Aapathey kim karaneeyam? "

> " what needs to be done when faced with danger? "

> Kakksasseri Bhattathiri knew why this question was posed to him.

Reply came without any hesitation.

> " smaraneeyam charanayugalamambaayam "

> " remember the lotus feet of Amba - mother godess "

> Just to confirm, the namboothiris ask again,

> " talsmaranam kim kurute? "

> " what will happen by remembering so? "

> Kakkasseri replies,

> " brahmaadeenapi cha kinkareekuruthe "

> " it will make brahma and other celestial beings your servants. "

> The happy namboothiris take leave of him and do to appease devi -

the mother godess, along with incantations and prayers for the

removal of danger. On the 41st day of the sacrifice, Kakkasseri comes

there and asks for a glass of water, after drinking which he tells

the namboothiris that he has become impure and takes leave. After

that day Kakkasseri is not seen anywhere and becomes a legend himself.

> Source Link: http://www.neoalchemist.com/20040601/kakkassery-

bhattathiri

>

> Hare Krishna

> Hare Rama