POONTHANAM

(Without Infinite Belief, Knowledge Is Worse Than Ignorance)

Poonthanam Namboothiri’s residence was at a place called Angatipuram. Poonthanam Namboothiri and Melpathoor Bhattathiri were contemporaries. But beyond his early education, Poonthanam was never considered as a scholastic person. He is believed to have lived during eighth century. The "Jnanapana" of Poonthanam and the heart-breaking story of its origin are unforgettable.

Poonthanam Namboothiri was blessed with a baby boy after a long wait. Poonthanam decided to celebrate the "annaprasam" (the occasion when the newborn is ceremoniously named with an official name and feeding the new born with cooked rice etc. for the first time in a ritualistic manner) of his child in a grand scale. He invited all Namboothiris in the nearby area. The auspicious time for the function was at night. All the ladies, who came much earlier, decided to change their dress and jewelry when it was time for the function to start. They all used the bedroom for changing and their old dresses. As the room was not properly lit no one noticed that the child was sleeping on the cot. The ladies unknowingly piled up their clothes on same cot where the child was sleeping. When the lady of the house went inside to pick up the child for giving a bath prior to the function, she shrieked and a loud cry came out of the room. Alas! The child was no more. The little one was lying dead on the bed from suffocation due to the heap of clothes over him. Poonthanam became a detached man after the child’s demise. The famous "Jnanapana" was the work created while he was passing through grief period due to the loss of his child. There is no doubt that "Jnanapana" will be a work to attain great mental relief for those who are passing through the phase of sorrow due to any calamity. It does not need to be stressed that this poetic work is very simple and also appealing.

Poonthanam Namboothiri was a devotee of Vishnu and a noble man. After the death of his son he literally lived in the Guruvayoor temple premises just uttering the name of God and offering prayers. During that period Melpathoor Bhattathiri happened to visit the temple for a special offering of prayers followed with fast. He was planning to create a devotional narration in poetic form, "Narayaneeyam" at that time. Poonthanam was also progressing with his "Santhana Gopalam" in "pana" structure (specific poetic metres)- a devotional song in praise of Guruvayoorappan- during the same period. Greatly scholastic and thorough with Vedic knowledge Bhattathiri looked down upon Poonthanam whom he considered as a person with no proficiency in grammar and also devoid of any Vedic knowledge. Without knowing Bhattathiri’s opinion about himself, the innocent Poonthanam approached him with a request to go through the pages he has written and correct grammatical errors.

Bhattathiri spoke aloud infront of the public, " What is there to see in poetic language? You have no knowledge in Vedic utterances. Other than mistakes, what else can be there? If those mistakes are removed then nothing will remain in the work."

When he was ridiculed in this manner infront of the public Poonthanam could not take the insult and he cried out his heart infront of the deity. Immediately, there was a loud echo as if breaking through all sides, coming out of the sanctum santorium, making everyone tremble, "Though Poonthanam’s syntax is not firm as much as Bhattathiri’s, Poonthanam’s devotion is more firm than Bhattathiri’s".

Hearing Guruvayoorappan’s prediction Bhattathiri was not only trembling with fear but was also ashamed of his ignorance. Instantly he inquired for Poonthanam.

Seeing Poonthanam sitting and weeping in a corner he pacified him and said, "Are you hurt by my words? It was a mistake on my part. I spoke in that manner while I was contemplating on some thing. Please excuse me. How can Santhana Gopalam in the Jnanapana style which has public acknowledgement, be a bad composition? Let me see whatever you have already written."

With out losing time Bhattathiri read Poonthanam’s "pana" very carefully and giving all comments, congratulated Poonthanam. There is a saying that the descriptive writings of ‘Vaikuntam’ (abode of Vishnu) and the description of lord of Vaikuntam (Vishnu) are as shown in dreams to Poonthanam, by God Himself.

To demonstrate the devoted Poonthanam as a noble man in front of others, there are many stories where in Guruvayoorappan has made fool of many others. Poonthanam, who was happy in chanting only God’s name, was very enthusiastic in giving the meanings of Bhagavatham, whenever any one read Bhagavatham. It became a passion with him to such an extent, that public started listening only for his explanations. It created jealousy among the learned. Poonthanam never explained as per the verses. But he would speak using in very simple language.

Once a massive crowd gathered to listen to him. Among them were scholars as well as simpletons. The subject was "Rugmini Swayamvaram" (Rugmini’s choosing a husband). When narration reached the stage of Rugmini sending the Brahmins to Sri Krishna Poonthanam said " After explaining everything to the Brahmins Rugmini also send a note to be handed over to Sri Krishna".

Suddenly a scholar asked Poonthanam, "where is it written that a note was also sent?"

Hearing this Poonthanam was perplexed. Immediately an echo was heard from the sancton sanctorium, "where is it written that the letter was not sent? Wasn’t the letter sent to me? What Poonthanam uttered is correct. Rugmini sent me a note .I read it as well. Having heard these words the scholars were all surprised. People started to respect Poonthanam more than ever.

Once in the temple at the late prayer time, in the dinner hall, a greedy Namboori happen to find fault with Poonthanam. When the grief stricken Poonthanam was leaving the dinner hall, it is believed that God appeared before him and said, "Poonthanam now you need not stay here with these culprits. Go home. I will meet you there."

Reaching home Poonthanam refused to have food, until God appeared in front of him. Lord Sri Krishna, the beloved of the devotee, is believed to have appeared on the left side of his devotee and it is said that installing an idol for God on the same spot, Poonthanam built a Sri Krishna temple. As the appearance of Lord was on the left, that temple is named as "Idathuppurathambalam" (temple on the left side).

English translation by
Lakshmy. N

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