Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran

Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran (1868 - 1914) also transliterated as Kotungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran, was a Malayalam poet and Sanskrit scholar lived in Kerala, India. His birth-name was Rama Varma. He is famous for his single-handed, word-by-word translation of entire Mahabharata within 874 days. He is commonly known as Kerala Vyasa, meaning Vyasa of Kerala.

This article is about the Malayalam poet and Sanskrit scholar. For the Malayalam film actor and Kathakali artist, see Kunjikkuttan Thampuran (actor).

Birth

Born on 18 September 1864 (i.e., Malayalam era 1040 Kanni 4.).[1] His father was Venmani Achhan Nambudiripad and mother was Kunjippilla Thampuratti. In his childhood he was known by his nickname "Kunjikkuttan".

Life

His family teacher, Valappil Unni Asan was his first teacher. Later he studied under Moonnaamkoor Godavarma Thampuran. He learned Tarka Shastra from Vidwan Kunhirama Varman Thampuran and Jyothisha from Valiya Kochunni Thampuran. He started writing poetry in ME 1047. At the age of 16, turned full-time to writing poetry. Started in Sanskrit. Turned to writing poetry in Malayalam under the influence of Venmani Achan and Venmani Mahan. He married Kodungallur Koippalli Pappiyamma at his age of 21. In ME 1062, at his age of 22, his first book "Kavibharatam" was published.[2] At his age of 39, when Pappiyamma died, he married Thrissur Kizhakke Srambil Kuttipparu Amma. Later he married Sridevithampuratti of Zamorin family. In 1914 January 22 (i.e. on Makaram 10th of ME 1088), at his age of 48, he died.

Literary movements

Kunjikkuttan Thampuran started two literary movements in Malayalam: Paccha Malayalam (Pure Malayalam) and Puranetihasa Vivartanam (Translation of Itihasas and Puranas).

Paccha Malayalam Movement

Kunjikkuttan thampuran had too many scholar friends. Their meeting "Kavi Sammelanam" was also famous. They started writing poems in pure Malayalam, avoiding the over influence of Sanskrit. This movement came to be known as "Paccha Malayalam" Movement.

Translations

He collected and studied the old scriptures of India. He has translated the entire Mahabharata within 874 days. In the Malayalam era of 1068, under the leadership of C.P. Achuta Menon, effort was taken to translate Mahabharata as kilippaattu. Advertisement appeared in the Malayala Manorama daily of ME 1068 Kanni 17. The plan was to finish the translation in five years. Whatever portion Kunhikkuttan Thampuran was assigned, he supposedly finished. But manuscript not found.

After 8–10 years Katatthanaattu Udayavarman Thampuran started the effort to translate Bharata Manjari by Kshemendra. Kunhikkuttan Thampuran finished Drona Parva. Effort unfinshed due to the death of Udayavarman Thampuran. Work finished up to Santi Parva. Kunhikkuttan Thampuran started translation single handedly on ME 1079 Metam 25. He planned to translate 50 slokas a day, during one yaama (till 9 o'clock), so that the work can be finished in 4–5 years. As he started translating, speed increased up to 150 slokas in one yaama. Translation completed on ME 1082 Kanni 12 (874 days). This was a metre-by-metre translation. He has been truthful to even broken metres in the original.

Works

14 in Sanskrit. In Malayalam: 18 poems, 11 Ruupakams, 16 Gathas, 38 Khanda Kaavya, 3 in health, grammar, 18 translations.

  • Kavibharatam
  • Ambopadesham
  • Dakshayaga Satakam
  • Nalla Bhasha
  • Thuppal Kolampi
  • Palulli Charitham
  • Madirasi Yathra
  • Krithirathna Panchakam
  • Kamsan
  • Keralam - Onnam Bhagam
  • Dronacharyar (incomplete)
  • Nalacharitam
  • Chandrika
  • Santhanagopalam
  • Seetha Svayamvaram
  • Ganga Vitharanam
  • Marthanda Vijayam (incomplete)
  • Madusoodana Vijayam
  • Ghoshayathra

Poems
  • Ayoddhyakandham
  • Athmabodham Pana
  • Pattabhishekam Pana
  • Doshavicharam Kilippattu
  • Radhamadhava Yogam Vanchippattu
  • Kodungallur Bhagavati Kurathippattu

Translations

References
  1. A.D. Harisarma (Introduction to NBS second edition). Mahakavi Kunhikuttan Thampuran: Jiivitavum kritikaLum by Prof. K. Sivarama Menon, published by The Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. Calicut (1989)
  2. Pallippattu Kunjukrishnan; Mahachcharitha Samgraha sagaram, The great Indians- A biographical Dictionary; Vol V. Minarva Press, 1967.
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