Naranath Branthan - The Prophet Lunatic
Members of Panthirukulam
All the twelve children of Vararuchi were brought up in twelve different
families. They are as follows:
1. Agnihothri
2. Rajakan
3. Uliyannoor Thachan
4. Vallon
5. Vayillakunnilappan
6. Vaduthala Nair
7. Karakkal Matha
8. Uppukootan
9. Pananar
10. Naranthu Branthan
11. Akavoor Chathan
12. Pakkanar
Agnihothri
The first member of the twelve issues of Parayi (Panthirukulam), Agnihothri was brought up in Vemanjeri
Mana at Thrithala in Palkkad district. It is Mezhathol Brahmadattan Namboodiripad who came to be famous
by the name Agnihothri. He has held 99 'Fire Hothras' which brings the name "Agnihothri" to him. In order to
conduct the death ceremonies of Vararuchi and his wife, all the twelve but for Vayillakunnilappan gathered in
Agnihothri's house every year. Agnihothri's wife did not like the gathering of these people, as they belong to
different castes of lower in nature. Knowing this, Agnihothri one day asked his wife to watch every one of
them by making her touch body of each one of them. Together, they went to each one's room and she could
see each of the eleven brothers wearing 'Gadapadma' like 'Mahavishnu' wearing 'Gadapadma' taking
repose on Anantha.
Uliyannoor Perunthachan (The Master Carpenter)
He was the third member of the Panthirukulam and was born and brought up near Thrithala itself. Difference
of opinion with the rulers of the period made him shift to Uliyannoor later. The Uliyannoor Mahadeva Temple
located at the heart of the village 'Uliyannoor' id the best example of Thachan's craftsmanship. He had a son
who expelled Perunthachan. There occurred many instances which could prove the excellence of his son.
Once Perunthachan had built a wonderful bridge above Uliyannoor River. On one side of it, he founded a
different sort of doll. When a person keeps his foot on one end of the bridge, the doll would slowly enter into
water and when the person came near, the doll with a mouth full of water would come near him and would
spit right on his face. When his son came to know this, he made another doll and founded it on the other
side of the bridge. That doll would move forward and when the other doll was about to spit, son's doll would
give a blow right on the face of the father's doll. Thus the life of the father and the son who excelled one
another in carpentry would never demands oblivion.
Akavoor Chathan
He has brought up as a steward in Akavoor Mana near Alappey. Chathan showed many flashes of divine
talent right from childhood. He inquired the Namboodiri about the aim of the bath and associated things he
was doing daily right from the dawn till noon. Namboodiri replied that he was ceaselessly praying for 'Para
Brahma'. Namboodiri emphatically said that 'Para Brahma was like a wild buffalo. Right then, Chathan started serving Para Brahma and on the forty first day, Para Brahma became apparent in the form of a wild
buffalo. The Ochira Para Brahma Maoorthy Temple in the Kollam district of Kerala reveals the grandeur of
'Akavoor Chathan' clearly.
Vayilla Kunnilappan
When Vararuchi's wife delivered for the twelfth time, she answered 'NO' to the question of Vararuchi whether
the child had mouth. And after a few moments, the mouth of the child disappeared and Vararuchi had
enshrined the child on the nearest hill, alive. The thus formed famous Temple called 'Vayilla Kunnilappan
Temple' is located in Palghat district.
Karakkalamma
The only female member of the Panthirukulam is Karakkal Matha. She was brought up in Kavalappara
Palace near Shornur in Palghat district. There, ladies were given special consideration. It was because of
the grandeur of Karakkal Mata. There are evidences to prove the historical truth in the myth of Karakkal
Matha.
Paananar
He, the mouthpiece of divine music was a great personality. He was said to have played his ‘Udukku’ (a
drum like musical instrument) even before Lords Parameswara (Siva).The details regarding his place of
birth or how he was brought up and all are still unknown.
Paakkanar
Paakkanar was the second of the Panthirukulam (12 issues of Parayi). His 'Eerattingal Paakanar Colony'
was near Thrithala. He was brought up in the Paraya family which is one of the groups belonging to the
lower strata of the society. He practiced the ancestral job itself and he did it as a service. There are many
instances to reveal the unbelievable talents of Paakkanar. Once he happened to see many Brahmins on the
way to their pilgrimage to Kaasi, he gave his stick to them and requested them to bring it back after dipping it
in Ganga. They continued the journey with the stick. While having their bath in Ganga, they dipped
Paakanar's stick also. But some invisible force had drawn it down. When they came back from Kaasi,
Paakanar asked for his stick. They informed him that the stick was lost. Paakanar calmly replied that if the
stick was lost in Ganga. There was nothing to worry and surprisingly he took the same stick from the pond
near his house. The stick came up by itself from the pond when Paakanar stood on the side of the pond. He
planted the stick on the ground and it is said that the same stick later transformed to sweet Kanjira (Kanjira
without bitterness). Besides it said that the Feudal Lords of Azhvanchery were given the position of Lords by
Pakkanar. He, through his own life had provided the world with many philosophies of life. There are eighteen
families following the ancestry of Paakanar, even now in Thrithala. Historians failed to hint or find any evidence regarding the remaining members of Panthirukulam namely Rajakan, Vallon, Vaduthala Nair and Uppukootan. The families where they all were brought up are also unknown. 'Aithihyamaala' written by the writer called Kottarathil Shankunny describes ‘Parayi and the Twelve
Issues’ (Parayi Petta Panthirukulam) in detail. We cannot neglect the story of Parayi and her twelve children
that simply by calling it a myth. Because, History on March published by Kerala History Association says that
seven or eight of the twelve scholar wonders were members of the literary audience of Kulashekar1 who
lived till A.D 592-692 besides, the places associated with Panthirukulam too suggest that Panthirukulam is
a historical reality.
Naranath Branthan - The Prophet Lunatic
Naranath, the mad, the most popular among the twelve issues of Parayi
(Parayi Petta Panthirukulam) was a man with unusual talents. At the
same time, he was a social revolutionary who taught against the social
evils and blind beliefs prevailed during the period. Those who were
unable to understand the revolutionary view points of the man called
him mad.
He was believed to have grown up in a namboodiri home called
Naranath Mangalam in Chethaloor, a place near Mannarkad of Palghat
district in Kerala. When he went to Thiruvegappura, another place in
Palghat district for his studies in Vedas, he became an inhabitant of
Rayiranellor Mountain. From there, he experienced the vision of Devi and for the welfare of humanity; he
enshrined the Devi and started worshipping her. Rayiranellor, which was the main seat for Naranath, the
Mad, was a place blessed with the beauty of nature and it was a meeting place of many divine spirits. He
who was a priest and enshrined icons in many temples was said to have many divine qualities.
Many fabulous stories are in circulation in association with Naranath, the mad. He who lived the life of a
beggar used to prepare his food at any place where fire and water were available with the rice and all he got
by begging. He used to sleep also at the same place. One day, the place caught fire. When he had started
preparing his food over there, the goddess of cemetery called 'Chudala Bhdra Kali' and her companions
who were there to dance, asked him to leave the place. She thought of this as a plan to usurp the place and
so she warned him to leave the place quickly. But soon she realized that he was an unusual man and thus
she decided to give him a blessing of hits choic. Naranath, the mad demanded to change his time of death.
But the goddess who denied this asked him to demand something else. Thus he had demanded to change
his elephantiasis disease from his left leg to right leg and he won the consent of the goddess. The end of
this socialized man with unbelievable talents is not recorded any where.
The Rayiranelloor Mountain
Rayiranelloor Mountain was the dwelling place of Naranath, the mad. It
was a serene and beauteous piece of nature located at Naduvattam
near Pattambi, Palakkad district in Kerala. It was from Rayiranelloor
Mountain that Naranath had obtained the vision of Devi on first day of the
month of Thulam. The mountain has 500 feet height and has a width of
300 acres. Thus place where he got the vision was transferred to a
temple without an icon of Devi, but had the footprint of the Goddess
forming a pit. It was on this pit, where the Goddess shrine was made
later. The pit was an incessant source of water and the water level in it
never went down. So that enough water could be taken to hold 'Poojas'
and 'Archanas'.
The temple is on a flat land of about six hectors on the top of the Mountain. Thousands of people outside
and inside Kerala visit the place to have blessings from the Devi on every 1st day of the month of Thulam in
every year. People believe that climbing the mountain on that day would provide them with many blessings
such as marriage, birth of children, cure from diseases etc. The man who held the enshrinement was
Naranath, the mad. Once when Naranath, the mad was meditating in 'Branthachalam', two kilometers west
of the temple, he saw the Goddess (Devi) swinging on a Banyan tree and he proceeded towards her. But
when he reached near her, she disappeared leaving a pit. He held 'poojas' over there. It was to this
mountain that Naranath, the mad rolled up huge stones. On reaching the top he used to roll them down and
burst out to laughter. It is said that he had done it by raising statue of Naranath, the mad at the south-west
corner on the mountain peak. It is the result of architect called Surendra Krishnan. Along with the 18 feet
height statue there is a symbol of the huge stone which Naranath rolled up to the mountain also.
Parayi and The Twelve Issues
The Brahmin called Vararuchi was the prime scholar in the court of
famous king called Vikramaditya. Once the king asked Vararuchi, which
the important verse in the epic Ramayana was. But he failed to give the
right answer immediately. Vararuchi started his journey seeking answer
to the question. He reached a forest and on resting under a Banyan
tree, happened to listen to the conversation between the forest
Goddesses. It was as follows: "A girl took birth in Paraya hut and her
future husband would be the man who was taking rest under the
banyan tree". This was an important turn in Vararuchi's life that gave him
the answer he was seeking for. Thus he returned to the court of
Vikramaditya and told the king that a girl had taken birth in a Parayi's hut
and she would bring disaster to the country on reaching three years of age. The king who had faith in
Vararuchi's prophesy decided to put the girl in a ferry made of plantain stem with a torch rooted on her head
and to let her adrift in a river. After doing that, the king along with Vararuchi returned to the court happily and peacefully.
Years passed. One day Vararuchi happened to arrive at a Brahmin's home during his journey. The Brahmin
invited him for lunch after having a bath. In order to test the Brahmin's intellect Vararuchi said that he would
be taking the meals, only if his interests were fulfilled. He had demanded for Veerali Silk after having bath.
Besides, he said that hundred people were to be fed in front of him. He also said that he required hundred
curries for lunch and after lunch he needed three men to eat and four to carry him. To save the poor
Brahmin, his daughter agreed to meet all the demands of Vararuchi. She knew that 'Veerali Silk' was nothing
but a bed. Thus the intelligent girl of the Brahmin passed the test of Vararuchi and Vararuchi at last
demanded the girl to make her his wife; And married the girl and tool her to his home. Once Vararuchi
happened to see a wound on her head. She revealed her story that she was not the real daughter, but the
adopted daughter of the Brahmin. Her mother had obtained her from the river while the girl was coming in
ferry of plantain stem with a torch on her head. She said that the scar was of the wound created by the stick
which was on her head. Vararuchi thus realised that the prophesy of the Goddesses of the forest came true.
Thus he decided to go for a pilgrimage with his wife.
In course of the journey, Vararuchi’s wife became pregnant and given birth to a baby. Vararuchi inquired
whether the babe had a mouth and when his wife answered 'yes', he told her to leave the baby there itself.
After that she had delivered eleven children and all were left on the way. When Vararuchi repeated the
question on birth of the twelfth child she answered 'No'. Thus Vararuchi permitted her to take the baby and
they continued the journey. Vararuchi’s wife, the unfortunate woman though had given birth to eleven babies,
could not bring-up even a single one. That was why she lied. But without much delay, the mouth of the little
one disappeared. Vararuchi enshrined the child alive on a hill and later he became a icon namely
'Vayillakunnilappan'.
All the other eleven children were brought-up by eleven different families belonging to different strata of the
society.
Regards,
Mohan.
************************************************** ***************************************
From India, Mumbai
25Members of Panthirukulam
All the twelve children of Vararuchi were brought up in twelve different
families. They are as follows:
1. Agnihothri
2. Rajakan
3. Uliyannoor Thachan
4. Vallon
5. Vayillakunnilappan
6. Vaduthala Nair
7. Karakkal Matha
8. Uppukootan
9. Pananar
10. Naranthu Branthan
11. Akavoor Chathan
12. Pakkanar
Agnihothri
The first member of the twelve issues of Parayi (Panthirukulam), Agnihothri was brought up in Vemanjeri
Mana at Thrithala in Palkkad district. It is Mezhathol Brahmadattan Namboodiripad who came to be famous
by the name Agnihothri. He has held 99 'Fire Hothras' which brings the name "Agnihothri" to him. In order to
conduct the death ceremonies of Vararuchi and his wife, all the twelve but for Vayillakunnilappan gathered in
Agnihothri's house every year. Agnihothri's wife did not like the gathering of these people, as they belong to
different castes of lower in nature. Knowing this, Agnihothri one day asked his wife to watch every one of
them by making her touch body of each one of them. Together, they went to each one's room and she could
see each of the eleven brothers wearing 'Gadapadma' like 'Mahavishnu' wearing 'Gadapadma' taking
repose on Anantha.
Uliyannoor Perunthachan (The Master Carpenter)
He was the third member of the Panthirukulam and was born and brought up near Thrithala itself. Difference
of opinion with the rulers of the period made him shift to Uliyannoor later. The Uliyannoor Mahadeva Temple
located at the heart of the village 'Uliyannoor' id the best example of Thachan's craftsmanship. He had a son
who expelled Perunthachan. There occurred many instances which could prove the excellence of his son.
Once Perunthachan had built a wonderful bridge above Uliyannoor River. On one side of it, he founded a
different sort of doll. When a person keeps his foot on one end of the bridge, the doll would slowly enter into
water and when the person came near, the doll with a mouth full of water would come near him and would
spit right on his face. When his son came to know this, he made another doll and founded it on the other
side of the bridge. That doll would move forward and when the other doll was about to spit, son's doll would
give a blow right on the face of the father's doll. Thus the life of the father and the son who excelled one
another in carpentry would never demands oblivion.
Akavoor Chathan
He has brought up as a steward in Akavoor Mana near Alappey. Chathan showed many flashes of divine
talent right from childhood. He inquired the Namboodiri about the aim of the bath and associated things he
was doing daily right from the dawn till noon. Namboodiri replied that he was ceaselessly praying for 'Para
Brahma'. Namboodiri emphatically said that 'Para Brahma was like a wild buffalo. Right then, Chathan started serving Para Brahma and on the forty first day, Para Brahma became apparent in the form of a wild
buffalo. The Ochira Para Brahma Maoorthy Temple in the Kollam district of Kerala reveals the grandeur of
'Akavoor Chathan' clearly.
Vayilla Kunnilappan
When Vararuchi's wife delivered for the twelfth time, she answered 'NO' to the question of Vararuchi whether
the child had mouth. And after a few moments, the mouth of the child disappeared and Vararuchi had
enshrined the child on the nearest hill, alive. The thus formed famous Temple called 'Vayilla Kunnilappan
Temple' is located in Palghat district.
Karakkalamma
The only female member of the Panthirukulam is Karakkal Matha. She was brought up in Kavalappara
Palace near Shornur in Palghat district. There, ladies were given special consideration. It was because of
the grandeur of Karakkal Mata. There are evidences to prove the historical truth in the myth of Karakkal
Matha.
Paananar
He, the mouthpiece of divine music was a great personality. He was said to have played his ‘Udukku’ (a
drum like musical instrument) even before Lords Parameswara (Siva).The details regarding his place of
birth or how he was brought up and all are still unknown.
Paakkanar
Paakkanar was the second of the Panthirukulam (12 issues of Parayi). His 'Eerattingal Paakanar Colony'
was near Thrithala. He was brought up in the Paraya family which is one of the groups belonging to the
lower strata of the society. He practiced the ancestral job itself and he did it as a service. There are many
instances to reveal the unbelievable talents of Paakkanar. Once he happened to see many Brahmins on the
way to their pilgrimage to Kaasi, he gave his stick to them and requested them to bring it back after dipping it
in Ganga. They continued the journey with the stick. While having their bath in Ganga, they dipped
Paakanar's stick also. But some invisible force had drawn it down. When they came back from Kaasi,
Paakanar asked for his stick. They informed him that the stick was lost. Paakanar calmly replied that if the
stick was lost in Ganga. There was nothing to worry and surprisingly he took the same stick from the pond
near his house. The stick came up by itself from the pond when Paakanar stood on the side of the pond. He
planted the stick on the ground and it is said that the same stick later transformed to sweet Kanjira (Kanjira
without bitterness). Besides it said that the Feudal Lords of Azhvanchery were given the position of Lords by
Pakkanar. He, through his own life had provided the world with many philosophies of life. There are eighteen
families following the ancestry of Paakanar, even now in Thrithala. Historians failed to hint or find any evidence regarding the remaining members of Panthirukulam namely Rajakan, Vallon, Vaduthala Nair and Uppukootan. The families where they all were brought up are also unknown. 'Aithihyamaala' written by the writer called Kottarathil Shankunny describes ‘Parayi and the Twelve
Issues’ (Parayi Petta Panthirukulam) in detail. We cannot neglect the story of Parayi and her twelve children
that simply by calling it a myth. Because, History on March published by Kerala History Association says that
seven or eight of the twelve scholar wonders were members of the literary audience of Kulashekar1 who
lived till A.D 592-692 besides, the places associated with Panthirukulam too suggest that Panthirukulam is
a historical reality.
Naranath Branthan - The Prophet Lunatic
Naranath, the mad, the most popular among the twelve issues of Parayi
(Parayi Petta Panthirukulam) was a man with unusual talents. At the
same time, he was a social revolutionary who taught against the social
evils and blind beliefs prevailed during the period. Those who were
unable to understand the revolutionary view points of the man called
him mad.
He was believed to have grown up in a namboodiri home called
Naranath Mangalam in Chethaloor, a place near Mannarkad of Palghat
district in Kerala. When he went to Thiruvegappura, another place in
Palghat district for his studies in Vedas, he became an inhabitant of
Rayiranellor Mountain. From there, he experienced the vision of Devi and for the welfare of humanity; he
enshrined the Devi and started worshipping her. Rayiranellor, which was the main seat for Naranath, the
Mad, was a place blessed with the beauty of nature and it was a meeting place of many divine spirits. He
who was a priest and enshrined icons in many temples was said to have many divine qualities.
Many fabulous stories are in circulation in association with Naranath, the mad. He who lived the life of a
beggar used to prepare his food at any place where fire and water were available with the rice and all he got
by begging. He used to sleep also at the same place. One day, the place caught fire. When he had started
preparing his food over there, the goddess of cemetery called 'Chudala Bhdra Kali' and her companions
who were there to dance, asked him to leave the place. She thought of this as a plan to usurp the place and
so she warned him to leave the place quickly. But soon she realized that he was an unusual man and thus
she decided to give him a blessing of hits choic. Naranath, the mad demanded to change his time of death.
But the goddess who denied this asked him to demand something else. Thus he had demanded to change
his elephantiasis disease from his left leg to right leg and he won the consent of the goddess. The end of
this socialized man with unbelievable talents is not recorded any where.
The Rayiranelloor Mountain
Rayiranelloor Mountain was the dwelling place of Naranath, the mad. It
was a serene and beauteous piece of nature located at Naduvattam
near Pattambi, Palakkad district in Kerala. It was from Rayiranelloor
Mountain that Naranath had obtained the vision of Devi on first day of the
month of Thulam. The mountain has 500 feet height and has a width of
300 acres. Thus place where he got the vision was transferred to a
temple without an icon of Devi, but had the footprint of the Goddess
forming a pit. It was on this pit, where the Goddess shrine was made
later. The pit was an incessant source of water and the water level in it
never went down. So that enough water could be taken to hold 'Poojas'
and 'Archanas'.
The temple is on a flat land of about six hectors on the top of the Mountain. Thousands of people outside
and inside Kerala visit the place to have blessings from the Devi on every 1st day of the month of Thulam in
every year. People believe that climbing the mountain on that day would provide them with many blessings
such as marriage, birth of children, cure from diseases etc. The man who held the enshrinement was
Naranath, the mad. Once when Naranath, the mad was meditating in 'Branthachalam', two kilometers west
of the temple, he saw the Goddess (Devi) swinging on a Banyan tree and he proceeded towards her. But
when he reached near her, she disappeared leaving a pit. He held 'poojas' over there. It was to this
mountain that Naranath, the mad rolled up huge stones. On reaching the top he used to roll them down and
burst out to laughter. It is said that he had done it by raising statue of Naranath, the mad at the south-west
corner on the mountain peak. It is the result of architect called Surendra Krishnan. Along with the 18 feet
height statue there is a symbol of the huge stone which Naranath rolled up to the mountain also.
Parayi and The Twelve Issues
The Brahmin called Vararuchi was the prime scholar in the court of
famous king called Vikramaditya. Once the king asked Vararuchi, which
the important verse in the epic Ramayana was. But he failed to give the
right answer immediately. Vararuchi started his journey seeking answer
to the question. He reached a forest and on resting under a Banyan
tree, happened to listen to the conversation between the forest
Goddesses. It was as follows: "A girl took birth in Paraya hut and her
future husband would be the man who was taking rest under the
banyan tree". This was an important turn in Vararuchi's life that gave him
the answer he was seeking for. Thus he returned to the court of
Vikramaditya and told the king that a girl had taken birth in a Parayi's hut
and she would bring disaster to the country on reaching three years of age. The king who had faith in
Vararuchi's prophesy decided to put the girl in a ferry made of plantain stem with a torch rooted on her head
and to let her adrift in a river. After doing that, the king along with Vararuchi returned to the court happily and peacefully.
Years passed. One day Vararuchi happened to arrive at a Brahmin's home during his journey. The Brahmin
invited him for lunch after having a bath. In order to test the Brahmin's intellect Vararuchi said that he would
be taking the meals, only if his interests were fulfilled. He had demanded for Veerali Silk after having bath.
Besides, he said that hundred people were to be fed in front of him. He also said that he required hundred
curries for lunch and after lunch he needed three men to eat and four to carry him. To save the poor
Brahmin, his daughter agreed to meet all the demands of Vararuchi. She knew that 'Veerali Silk' was nothing
but a bed. Thus the intelligent girl of the Brahmin passed the test of Vararuchi and Vararuchi at last
demanded the girl to make her his wife; And married the girl and tool her to his home. Once Vararuchi
happened to see a wound on her head. She revealed her story that she was not the real daughter, but the
adopted daughter of the Brahmin. Her mother had obtained her from the river while the girl was coming in
ferry of plantain stem with a torch on her head. She said that the scar was of the wound created by the stick
which was on her head. Vararuchi thus realised that the prophesy of the Goddesses of the forest came true.
Thus he decided to go for a pilgrimage with his wife.
In course of the journey, Vararuchi’s wife became pregnant and given birth to a baby. Vararuchi inquired
whether the babe had a mouth and when his wife answered 'yes', he told her to leave the baby there itself.
After that she had delivered eleven children and all were left on the way. When Vararuchi repeated the
question on birth of the twelfth child she answered 'No'. Thus Vararuchi permitted her to take the baby and
they continued the journey. Vararuchi’s wife, the unfortunate woman though had given birth to eleven babies,
could not bring-up even a single one. That was why she lied. But without much delay, the mouth of the little
one disappeared. Vararuchi enshrined the child alive on a hill and later he became a icon namely
'Vayillakunnilappan'.
All the other eleven children were brought-up by eleven different families belonging to different strata of the
society.
Regards,
Mohan.
************************************************** ***************************************
From India, Mumbai
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