Irayimman Thampi

Iravivarman Thampi, better known as Irayimman Thampi (1782–1856), was an Indian Carnatic musician, music composer and poet from the Kingdom of Travancore. He was a vocalist in the court of Swathi Thirunal. His compositions include the lullaby Omanathinkal Kidavo, one of the most popular lullabies in Malayalam.

Irayimman Thampi
Born
Iravivarman Thampi

1782 (1782)
Kottakkakom Kizhake Madom, Karamana, Travancore
Died1856 (aged 73–74)
Travancore
NationalityTravancore
OccupationMusician, Poet
Known forCarnatic music
Notable work
Spouse(s)Kali Pillai Thankachi
Parent(s)
  • Kerala Varma Thampuran
  • Parukkutti Thankachi

Biography

Irayimman Thampi, née Iravivarman Thampi after his grandfather, was born in 1782[1] at Kottakkakom Kizhake Madom, in Karamana, Travancore to Kerala Varma Thampuran, of the royal family of Cherthala, and Parvathi Pillai Thankachi of the Puthumana Ammaveedu Thampi family, the daughter of Prince Makayiram Thirunal Ravi Varma and niece of the Maharajah Dharma Raja of Travancore royal family.[2][note 1] Thampi was brought up by his parents at a house called Kizhake Madom and after early education from his father, he went under the tutorship of Shankaran Elayathu in grammar, linguistics and Sanskrit literature.[3] He dedicated his first poem, written at the age of 14, to Karthika Thirunal Dharma Raja of Travancore which earned him a notable position in the Travancore court,[4] enjoying the patronage of four kings viz. Dharmaraja, Balarama Varma, Swathi Thirunal and Uthram Thirunal as well as two queens, Gouri Parvathy Bai and Gouri Lakshmi Bai.[5]

Irayiman Thampi was married Kali Pillai Thankachi, daughter of his maternal uncle Puthumana Krishnan Thampi, and the couple had had seven children[note 2] including a daughter, Lakshmi Kutty Pillai Thankachi, better known as Kutty Kunju Thankachi (1820–1914), who continued her father's artistic and poetic legacy.[6] Another daughter of Thampi was married to Sri Narayanan Thampi of Arumana, son of Maharajah Visakham Thirunal. Irayimman Thampi was already thirty one years of age when Swathi Thirunal was born, but outlived him for a decade. It was for putting Swathi Thirunal to sleep, when he was a baby, Irayimman Thampi wrote the lullaby Omanathinkal Kidavo, which went on to become one of the most popular lullabies in Malayalam language.[7]

Thampi is believed to have died in 1856.[note 3]

Contributions

Thampi's contributions range from attakathas, kirtanas, varnas and padams, and has been published as books.[8]

Verses and songs
  1. Kichakavatham Attakatha
  2. Utharaswayamvaram Attakatha
  3. Dakshayagam Attakatha
  4. Subhadraharanam Kaikottikalippattu
  5. Murajapa Pana
  6. Navarathri prabandham
  7. Omanathinkal Kidavo - set in Rāga Neelambari
  8. Vasishtam killippattu
  9. Rasakrida
  10. Rajasevakramam Manipravalam
  11. Somapoma - set in Rāga Saveri
  12. Adimalar - set in Rāga Mukhari

Kirtanas
  1. Neelavarna pahimam (surutti - chempata)
  2. Pāhimām giritanayē - Rāga Saveri - miśra cāpu
  3. Karuna Cheyvan - set in Shree ragam (Later made in Yadukula Kamboji by Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar)
  4. Adimalarinnathanne (Mukhari - chempata)
  • Nityamāśrayē - rītigauḷa - Adi tala

Varnams
  1. Ambā gauri girikanyē - stava varNam - Ārabhi
  2. Manasi parithapam dussaham ayyo (Sankarabharanam - chempata)

Padams
  1. Aroducholvan Azhalullathellam (indisa - Jhampa)
  2. Kamaladikalam Narumalarellam (Kamodari - chempata)
  3. Enthujnanihacheyvu (Neelambari - chempata)
  4. Prananathanenikkunalkiya (Kamodari - chempata)

Notes
  1. Prince Makayiram Thirunal was the younger brother of Dharma Raja
  2. Some records say that Thampi had three children
  3. Records differ about the year of death of Thampi, the years 1855 (1031 ME)[3] and 1862[2] are also mentioned as the year of his death.

References
  1. "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  2. "Irayimman tampi's life history". www.carnatica.net. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. "Irayimman Thampi on Kerala Culture". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. "Gems of scholars of the royal court" (PDF). 24 September 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. "Composers and Musicians Irayimman Thampi (1782-1856)". www.swathithirunal.in. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  6. "Kutty Kunju Thankachi". www.swathithirunal.in. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  7. "Lullaby composed for Swathi: Omana Thingal". www.swathithirunal.in. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  8. "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
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