OM
Melpathur
Narayana Bhattatiri
Although volumes can be written about this devotee-poet,
who will be remembered forever for his contribution of composing this great
devotional work, only a very short historical background is given here for the
sake of brevity.
The author, Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri, was an erudite scholar
in Sanskrit, well-versed in the choice
of words which make the work highly rhythmic and flowing, with a very high
literary value, comparable to any of the compositions of classical Sanskrit
poets.
Bhattatiri
has authored many works in Sanskrit, major and minor, totalling about forty,
which can be classified into different groups, viz., sastric or technical, Prabandhas
or narratives, Prasastis or
panegyrics and devotional hymns or Stotras. In the first category, fall the Prakriya-sarvasva, Apaniniya-pramana and
Dhatu-kavya, which are books on
grammar. Mana-meyodaya is a philosophical work on Purva-mimamsa. Among his
narrative writings, the Ramayanam, Maha-bharatam and Bhagavatam written in Champu style (prose and poetry mixed) are
renowned. Some of the Prasastis devoted to some rulers (of the small principalities which comprise the
present Kerala), are said to have been written much against his own wishes.
Among the devotional hymns, Srimad Narayaneeyam is the major work. The
devotional fervour of this work is extremely high and the exposition of the Vedanta philosophy, especially in the last
ten chapters, has no comparison. The
ruling sentiment is Bhakti or devotion
to the Lord, which serves as the means for attaining the four Purusharthas
or values of life, viz. Dharma (righteousness), Artha (worldly prosperity),
Kama (desire for sensual enjoyments) and last, but not the least, Moksha
(emancipation from worldly ties). Totally devoted to the path of devotion and
mentally committed to the task of inspiring the readers over and above the
immediate need of curing himself of his ailment, he took upon himself the
stupendous task of epitomizing Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam describing the
sportive incarnations of the Lord, ending up every chapter with a fervent
appeal for help.