Srimad Narayaneeyam is a devotional Sanskrit work on Lord Guruvayoorappa (Sri Krishna). Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiripad is the author of Narayaneeyam. Narayaneeyam is written in the form of a prayer. There are 1034 verses in Narayaneeyam. It provides an abridged version of the 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavata Purana. Narayaneeyam was written in 1587. It enjoys a very high place in Sanskrit literature, because of its intense devotional fervour as well as its extraordinary literary merit. Narayaneeyam is one of the most popular religious texts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and devout Hindus often recite it together in festivals and groups.
Vrishchikam 28th, when Narayaneeyam was composed, is observed 28 as Narayaneeyam Day.
Story of Narayaneeyam
Melpatthur Narayanabhattathiri, who went to Guruvayoor as advised by his friends to cure his rheumatism , reached Guruvayoor on 19th of the Malayalam year 761 Chingam . There, he dedicated the Narayaneeyam, which he had written while sitting under a pillar in the temple, to Guruvayurappan. He completed this work in 100 days and dedicated it to Guruvayurappan for each chapter consisting of 10 shlokas. It is believed that rheumatism was completely cured on the 100th day.
Achyuta Pisharati’s third disciple, Melputhur Narayana Bhattathiri , was a member of Madhavan ‘s school of astrology and mathematics. He was also a grammarian. His most important scholarly work is Prasya Sarvasvam, an exposition of Panini’s grammatical theories. His favorite grammar teacher Achyuta Pisharati was bedridden with paralysis. Unable to see his pain, Bhattathiri absorbed the rheumatism in his body and removed the suffering of the Guru by his yogic power as Guru Dakshina. In order to free Bhattathiri from this disease, Ezhutachchan, a Sanskrit scholar and the father of the Malayalam language, asked him to “touch the fish” or “start from the fish” to loosely translate the Malayalam colloquial phrase. Bhattathiri who heard this was shocked because he was a devout Brahmin and therefore a vegetarian who would consider it sinful to eat fish. Bhattathiri understood that Ezhutachchan rather was asking him to write the story of Vishnu in the Bhagavata and begin from the Matsya avatara. When he reached Guruvayur, he composed a decade each day and dedicated it to Guruvayurappan. The last sloka of every dasakam is a prayer to Guruvayurappan to remove his illness and suffering. Bhattathiri completed his hymns in 100 days 1587 On November 27 (year 762 Scorpio 28) the last decade of “Ayurarogya Soukhyam” was completed. It is believed that Bhattathiri’s illness was also cured with that.
The 100th dasaka gives a description of Lord Vishnu’s form from his feet to his head. On the day he finished the hymn, he had a darshan of Lord Vishnu in the form of Venugopala. He was 27 years old then.
Narayaneeyam in Malayalam with meaning
Narayaneeyam in Sanskrit with English meaning
Narayaneeyam in Tamil
Narayaneeyam in Telugu
Benefits of Narayaneeyam
The “Parayana” of Narayaneeyam is believed to possess the wonderful power of healing afflictions, both mental and physical, of the devotees. The “Nithyaparayana” of Narayaneeyam will enable the devotees to attain ” Ayurarogyasoukhyam”.
The Cakorasandesa, which was earlier than Narayaneeyam, also refers to rheumatic patients going to the Guruvayur temple. Worship in the Guruvayur temple is considered to be sure remedy for all diseases.
See also: Guruvayoor Temple, Guruvayoor Travel Guide, and Benefits of Fasting on Ekadashi.
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