CHAPTER - II­

AUTHOR: LIFE AND WORKS

Like in other parts of India twentieth century Kerala also

produced many stalwarts who contributed to the growth of Sanskrit

Literature. Among them Dr. P.K. Narayana Pillai, the author of

Dharmasiigara is a well known Sanskrit scholar, poet and teacher from

Kerala.

Biographical Details

He was born in Tiruvalla, on December 25, 1910 as son of Sri.

T Goda Varma of Paliyakkara Palace and Smt. Lakshmi Amma. He

was married to Smt. J. Kamalamma, daughter of late Sri. N.S Raman

Pillai, District Magistate of Thiruvananthapuram and late Smt. Janaki

Amma in 1940. His family consists of his wife and three daughters,

Smt. K. Jayasree, Smt. K. Manju Sree and Smt. K. Rajasree. He did

his graduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Madras. He

received his Masters Degree in Sanskrit in 1934 from the University

of Madras. He also completed MA Degree in Malayalam with First

Class First Rank in 1936. He secured Ph.D in Sanskrit from the

27

University of Bombay for his research in the field of Vedic studies in

1944.

He won the Sree Godavari Prize from Madras University, and

the Kerala Varma Gold Medal from Kerala University. For his

research in epic literature, he was honoured with the Vivekananda

Award. For his contribution to literary criticism, Kerala Sahitya

Academy Award was given to him. The Sanskrit Academy of

Ayodhya awarded him the title 'Vidyiibhu~')a(Jam'. The Kerala Hindi

Prachara Sabha honoured him with the title 'SiihityakaJiinidhi'. He

received the title 'PaI}9itaratna' from the Vi5vasamskrta Prati~')!iin. The

Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy gave him the Kalidasa Award and

the Kendra Sahitya Academy, the National Award for Sanskrit in

1982. Several honorary title were also showered upon him by various

institutions and organizations. From the Government of India, he

received the President's Award for Eminent Sanskrit Scholars in

1985.

He has held various high academic positions in universities and

other institutions. He was the curator of the University Manuscript

Library, Thiruvananthapuram for a few years. He was Professor of

Sanskrit in university college and Principal of Government Sanskrit

28

College, Trivandrum. Joining Kerala University, he has also served as

Professor and Head of the Department of Malayalam. He was the

Dean of Faculty of Oriental Studies for fifteen years. He was a

member of the Senate of Kerala University for 21 years. He was also

member in the Syndicate, Academic Council and Boards of Studies of

Kerala University. He also functioned as one - man Commission for

Sanskrit University appointed by the Government of Kerala. Later the

University was established with the name Sree Sankaracharya

University of Sanskrit. He was also the founder President and

Honorary Director of Mahakavi Ullor Memorial Library and

Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.

He organised many literary, educational and cultural functions.

The most important among them being Silver Jubilee Celebrations of

the Temple Entry Proclamation (1962), Annual Conference of the

Samasta Kerala Sahitya Parishat (1963), 150th Birth Anniversary

Celebrations of Prof. Max Muller (1974), Mahakavi Ulloor Centenary

Celebrations (1977), and 140th Birth Anniversary of Kerala Varma

Valiyakoil Thampuran (1985).

Dr. P.K Narayana Pillai is also an author of emmence m

Sanskrit, Malayalam and English and has to his credit more than a

29

dozen works in these languages. In addition he has edited a number of

ancient Sastric texts in Sanskrit and Malayalam.

Sanskrit Original Works:

Dr. P.K. Narayana Pillai has twelve original works is Sanskrit.

Cidiitmikiistavah I, SrivalJabhesasuprabhiitam2, Dharmasiistrstavah3

, Sri

Soniidr1sastavah4, Sabarigiri Kirtanam5

, Kanyiikumiirim Bhaje6, Bhaja

Riimakri~lJam7, MayiiradiitamX, Vimaliinanda Saptakam9

, Vivekiinanda

Stotra lO, Vi§vabhanuh" and Dharmasiigarah J2

•

Research Works:

Dr. P.K. Narayana Pillai has written five research monographs

which are considered to be authorities on this specific area. They are

non-Rgvedic Mantra in Marriage Cerimonies 13• Kalidasa - An

Assessment by Ananda Vardhanal4 Mimamsa in Kerala l5, The Rg

vedic Padapii!ha - A Stud/6 and Mantras cited by Pratikar in the

Aitareya BriihmalJa 17•

Malayalam Works:

Sanskrit Equivalents of Malayalam Proper Nouns l8, Sanskrita

Siihitya PralJayikaJ'9, Vicitravipinam20, Tattvadipiki', Sahitika{iik~am22,

30

PriicfnamalJipraviilam23, Desfyagiinam24, Keralahrdayam25, Vfrajananl,

Akbar- - 27Navikrtam , -h' ak 1,2Hsa Jty e J , Asiinte 29Hrdayam ,

Samskiirakautukam 311 etc are his Malayalam works.

Contributions Based on Sanskrit and Malayalam

Kairalfdhvan/', Bhii~iiparimalam32, Bhiiratadeepika33 are his

contributions based on both Sanskrit and Malayalam language.

English Works

The popular works in English written by P.K. Narayana Pillai

are on Sankara and Kerala Varma. They are:-

Sree Sankara: A Philosopher Mystic and Poee4.

Keralavarma Valiyakoil Tampuram35•

In addition to the above he has edited and published numerous

ancient texts and also published many compilations and edited

volumes. There are also numerous research papers, popular articles

and introductions or prefaces to books contributed by him. Thus Dr.

P.K Narayana Pillai has numerous contributions to his credit in

Sanskrit, Malayalam and English. His writings in Malayalam and

31

Englsih too are popular as well as scholarly. Detailed information on

his works are provided below.

Visvabhanuh. (Universal Light)

An epic poem on the life and work of Swami Vivekananda in

Sanskrit with an English translation, Comprising 21 cantos, published

by the author in 1979 with the support from the Ministry of

Education, Government of Kerala.

Mayiiradiitam

It is the Sanskrit translation of the Mayiirasande§a by

Keralavarma ValiyaKoil Tampuran. The poem contains two parts and

a total number of 141 stanzas in Mandiikriintii metre. The poem

upholds the honour of the Indian womanhood by portraying Rani

Lakshmi Bai as a heroic woman who had shown great willpower in

standing by her husband against tyranny and oppression. The work

has been published in 1984.

Sabarigirikirtanam:

This glorious hymn by Sri. P. K. Narayana Pillai describing the

divine form and power of the supreme Deity-Ayyappan is not merely

devotional poem, it is a vision in super consciousness.

32

Non-Rgvedic Mantras in the Marriage Ceremonies

This IS a work of linguistic, ritualistic and sociological

importance in Vedic studies. An exhaustive study of 425 Mantras

presenting a comprehensive picture of Vedic marriage as described in

the different Grhyasutras with their ritual environments, textual

variations and sources-throws light on the affinities between Srauta

and Grhya rites and the manner in which Mantras have been

improvised for domestic rituals. The university of Bombay awarded

Ph.D Degree to Dr. Pillai for this monograph.

Kalidasa- An Assessment by Anandavardhana

An attempt is made in this book by Sri Pillai to assess

Anandavardhana based on the material available in the Dhvanyaloka,

how Anandavardhana would have appreciated Kalidasa had the critic

been focusing his mind on the poet instead of the theory of

suggestion.

The ~gveda Padapatha

It is a study with special reference to the lJ.gveda Padapa!ha. This

is the only study of its kind.

33

Mantras Cited by Pratikas in Aitareya Bdihmat:la

The monograph presents many newly found ~gvedic Khilas. The

42 Khilas discovered from the Aitareya BriihmaI}a have been studied

exhaustively in this work. On the basis of this monograph, Kerala

University awarded Kerala Varma Gold Medal to the author for the

vedic research in an all India competition.

Sanskrit Equivalents of Malayalam Proper Nouns.

The Sanskrit names given to the children of the higher caste

naturally get mutilated, shortened and adapted to the genius of

Malayalam language. Since the original Sanskrit names have to be

used in Samskiiras concerning the person the priests have kept a

glossary of names In usage and their Sanskrit equivalents. The

monograph is an exhaustive study of such names based on old

manuscripts. A close study of the equations in the glossary has shown

that only about ten of them are linguistically untenable.

Kairalidhvani

This is a unique work in that it seeks to elucidate all varieties of

Dhvani drawing illustrations from modem Indian literature. viz.

Malayalam. In it Dhvani Karikas are rendered into Malayalam and

34

they are interpreted more or less on the lines adopted by

Anandavardhana in his Vrtti. While Dhvanyiiloka contains only a little

above 180 illustrations Kairalldhvani contains more than 350

illustrations representing the different periods in Malayalam poetry.

The book was selected by the Kerala Sahitya Academy for their

award in literary criticism for the year 1977 and by the Sahitya

Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, Kottayam in 1981.

Celliirnathastavam

It is a commentary on chellumathastavam, a prayer song

praising the God Chellumathan who was famous all over Kerala. It

contains 37 §lokas. The subject is description of Siva from head to

toe. It is composed in M81}ipravii!a style. It contains many ancient

Malayalam words. In the use of earlier Malayalam words, in its poetic

quality, and the devotion to Siva this work becomes dear to those who

are proud of Malayalam. Dr. P.K. Narayana Pillai has edited this rare

work from its palm leaf manuscript No 8364 kept in Oriental

Research Institute and Manuscript Library, Trivandrum. He has also

prepared a detailed commentrary to the work.

35

Vi~l)uviHisa of Ramapal)ivada.

The edition of Vi~1Juviliisaof Ramapal).ivada and its commentary

written by Sri Narayana Pillai is based on the manuscripts NoT. 367

and No. T 269 of the Travancore University Manuscripts Library.

Ramapal).ivada is a great name in Sanskrit literature, particularly

the Sanskirt literature produced in Kerala. He was a great poet,

dramatist and scholor who flourished in the first half of the 18th

century A.D.

The Vi~1Juviliisa is one of RamapaI)ivadas early works. The poet

who wrote the work was impelled by his patron and inspired by his

devotion to Narasimha, the incarnation of Lord Vi~1Ju installed in

the temple at Cennamangalam. The opening stanza reflects the

author's devotion to Narasimha clearly.

It may be noted that every canto ends with a prayer invoking the

incarnations of God described in it, to bless the readers.

There are eight cantos in it but the commentary covers only six

of them. The Visnuviliisa is written in an elegant style. In the

36

introduction, the editor has discussed the literary merit of the work,

the authorship of the commentary and allied topics.

Madanaketucarita of Ramapanivada

This is an edition of Madanaketucarita prepared by Sri

Narayana Pillai with a study. A bhikshu's falling in love with a

courtesan and his ultimate redemption from the moral degradation

through the kindness of the king form the main theme of this

Prahasana. There are three scenes and the action is confined to one

day. The study by Mr. Pillai assesses the literary merits of the play at

length.

Laghubhaskariya With Vivaral)a

This is another critical edition prepared by Sri Narayana Pillai.

The original is an astronomic classic by Bhaskara I, who flourished in

the beginning of the sixth Century A.D. The commentary entitled

Vivaral}a is by Sankaranarayana who flourished in the eighth century

A.D. Eight manuscripts of the original and three of the commentaries

were consulted for preparing this critical edition. In addition to the

long introduction the publication contains detailed contents and two

indices.

37

Jnanasrayi-Chandoviciti

This version prepared by Sri Pillai is the first complete edition

of the work which is the basic text of Jfianiisrayi school of Prosody.

The author Jnanasraya who belonged to the sixth century A.D

presents in six chapters spread over 317 sutras a system of scansion

different from that of Pingala based on gana. Three manuscripts are

used for the edition and it is provided with detailed content, the

indices of sutras and stanzas cited, and an exhaustive introduction of

historical and comparative lines.

Jaiminiya Siitrartha-Sangraha.

~~iputra Parameswara of the PayYUr family in Kerala is the

author of this commentary on the sutras of Jaimin. A critical edition

based on six old palm leaf manuscripts of the work has been prepared

by Sri. Narayana Pillai

Se~asamuccaya

Sri Narayana Pillai has also prepared a critical edition of

Sesasamuccaya. With the commentary VimarsinJ by Sankara a

disciple of Narayana of Cennar who flourished in Malabar at the

38

beginning of the 15th century. This IS a supplement to

Tantrasamuccaya and deals with the Tantra pertaining to the gods

Brahma, Siirya, VisravalJa, KrishlJa, Sarasvatl, Lak~mi, Gaurl, Jyes!ha,

Kiill, K~etrapiila, Purujit, Indra etc. Seven palm leaf manuscripts have

been used for the edition and the variants are noted in the footnotes.

Contents in detail and index of verses are given in the beginning and

at the end respectively. An introduction on comparative and critical

lines is also provided.

Sri Ramapancasati.

It is a critical edition prepared by Sri Pillai of the stotra-kavya

by Ramaparasava in fifty Cantos dealing with the Riimiiyal}a theme.

The prayers are addressed to the deity at the Irinjalakuda temple. A

commentary on the stotra by Rama is also included in the publication.

The editor Dr. P.K. Narayana Pillai has pointed out in his

introduction that the work has been modeled or patterned on

NiiriiyalJiya. He has attempted a literary estimate of the work and

explained how the author has employed a rather rugged and difficult

style and sometimes recondite usages of Sanskrit grammar.

39

Cintaratnam

It is one of the most outstanding philosophical works in

Malayalam with roots in Vedas and Sastras in Sanskrit. The text has

been critically edited by Sri Narayana Pillai. Its philosophical

contents is analysed and traced to their sources in works such as

Vajasaneyi Samhita, Aitareya Upani~ad, TaittiriyiiraI}yaka,

Ka!hopani~ad, Bhagavadgfta, Nyiiyasiitra, Paficadasf and similar

works.

A~tangahrdaya with the Commentary Hrdaya Bodhika.

There are more than 25 commentaries on AHarigahrdaya of

which PiitlJya, Hrdya, akyasiira, Lalita, Kairali, Viikyapradipika and

Hrdayabodhikii are written by scholars belonging of Kerala. The

author Sridasapandita might have flourished earlier than 1300 A.D.

Sri Narayana Pillai has also prepared a critical edition of

AHiiringahrdaya with the commentary Hrdayabodhika.

Kerala Studies (Ed.)

A collection of papers regarding Kerala History and culture

published in honour of Prof. A. Gopala Menon. Kerala studies as a

40

discipline was first conceived by Dr. Pillai and later on Kerala

University started a journal with the same title.

Dr. Ganapati Sastri Souvenir. (Ed.)

Published on the occasion of the unveiling of Dr. Ganapati

Sastri's portrait by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan at Thiruvananthapuram m

1950.

Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran

This is a monograph on Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran

written at the request of central Sahitya Akademi published in the

Makers of Indian Literature Series. Kerala Varma was a great

Sanskrit scholar and poet who was also the harbinger of the

renaissance in Malayalam literature.

The Spake the Poetic Trio (Ed.)

It is a compilation of sayings from the poetic trios Kumaran

Asan, Ulloor and Vallath01 with translation in Hindi and English.

About this publication Sri. Morarji Desai expressed the following

opinion when he was the Prime Minister of India.

41

"Malayalam literature has been greatly enriched by the learned

contributions of that Great Trio of Poets - Asan, Ulloor and VaHathol.

I am glad that with the publication of their selective quotations, both

in Hindi and English. Now it has become possible to spread their

message of learning to people all over the country. It is indeed a

commendable effort in the field of Indian literature."

Bharatam PaUu

A musical classical second among the Kovalam works, the

first being the Ramakathapattu. This was discovered, edited,

interpreted and published in 1988 with financial assistance from

Ministry of Human Resource Development under the Government of

India. With the publication of this the project regarding the Kovalam

works stands completed.

Ulloor Smaraka Grantham.

Ulloor Smaraka Grantham is an edited volume by Dr. P.K.

Narayana Pillai. It contains more than 50 papers on life and work of

the Mahakavi Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyyer. The collection covers

detailed studies on branches of literature in which ulloor was

interested.

42

Mahakavyas, on Two Sages

Two Sanskrit Mahiikavyiis, which are very important among his

original compositions are Dharmasiigarah,36 the subject of the present

study and Vi§vabanuh 37. Both are in many ways related works. The

subject of the biographies relates to that of a Guru and a disciple. The

first depict the life story of SrI Ramakrishna and in that his disciple

Swami Vivekananda is an important character. Like that the second

depict the life story of Swami Vivekananda and in that Sree

RamakrishI)a is a major character.

The relationship between Sree RamakrishI)a and Swami

Vivekananda is somewhat similar to that of Sri Krisna and Arjuna. Of

all the persons who came in close contact with Sree Ramakrishl)a.

Vivekananda was the one whom he considered the most competent

bearer of his message, for he alone could judge his importance for

posteriti8• Swami Vivekananda says, 'He is the method, that

wonderful unconscious method! He lived that great life and I read the

meaning. Never a word of condemnation for any'.

43

Sree RamakrishI)a is the spiritual paradigm for the new era and

Vivekananda is the sphere head of the movement initiated by him.

They have shown a silver line of hope, in the midst of the chaos, of a

seeming gray future of mankind. The earlier we fall in line with their

direction, the better it is for us.

Context of Composition

Narayana Pillai, in his preface to the Dharrnasiigara narrates the

circumstances, which led to the composition of that Mahiikiivya 3Y• Sri

N.S Raman Pillai the father of Narayana Pillai's wife Kamalamma

was an ardent supporter of Sree Ramakrishna Mission. So she had

opportunities to know about the master and got impressed with his

divine greatness quite early in her life. As years passed by, her

devotion to Sree Ramakrishna grew more and more deep and she

became a devotee of Sarada Devi too. Narayana Pillai also during his

boyhood used to visit the Sree Riimakri~I}iisram at Thiruvalla his

native place. They both used to collect and read Ramakrishna

Vivekananda literature. On many instances they told each other the

stories and incidents related Sree Ramakrisna and Swami

Vivekananda and discussed about their life and thought.

44

On many occaSIOns Kamalamma his wife read out to him

books on Swami Vivekananda when he was composmg the

Visvabhiinu. While he was composing a hymn in praise of Goddess

Kanyiikumari, the divinity of the image and the holy environment of

the temple reflected in his mind. At Kanyakumari the statue of Swami

Vivekananda is installed on the 'Sripadapiira, where Goddess Parvathi

is believed to have set her foot. The introductory part of the hymn,

which the poet composed, contains a reference to Swami

Vivekananda. Then his mind automatically moved on to the

Vivekananda Rock Memorial with its imposing and elegant statue of

the great sage. Then he began to write a poem based on the life of the

great scholar Swami Vivekananda. The Mahiikiivya Vj,{vabhiinu (The

universal Light) on Swami Vivekanda was published in 1979. It

secured the Kalidasa Award from Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Akademi in

1979 and annual award for Sanskrit from Kendra Sahitya Akademi in

1982. Visvabhiinu has an English translation also prepared by the

author.

The faith in Sree Ramakrigla thus ingrained in Narayana Pillai

and his wife early in their life, brought great solace in their later life.

Once when Narayna Pillai was taking rest after an eye operation his

45

wife read out Sree RiimakrishlJavacaniimrtam to him. This has

influenced him to later compose a poem in Sanskrit entitled Bhaja

Riimakri~lJam which was published by 'Sree Ramakri~lJiisramam,

Trivandrum in 1981 with a Malayalam Translation.

The Dhannasiigara (The spiritual sea) a Mahiikiivya on Sree

Ramakrishna the subject of the present study is one of his last works.

The composition of "Dhannasiigara" was started in 1981. But it took a

long time to complete that due to his various preoccupations and was

finished in 1988. it took another one year for preparing the

translation of the poem in English.

This versatile scholar, after an illustrious and active academic

and literary career, passed away at the age of 80 on 20th March 1990.

His Sanskrit works Visvabhanu and Dharmasagara having high

historical and philosophical relevance which advocates practical

application of Indian thought for the upliftment of the down trodden,

and universal love transcending barriers of religion and caste can

promote religious harmony. From these works the world will

remember the author for centuries to come.

46

References

1. Cidiitmikiistavah- Narayana Pillai. P.K.1950.

2. SrIvaJ1iibhesasuprabhiitam.1974.

3. Dharmasiistrstavah 1974.

4. SrI SoniidrIsastavah 1975.

5. 'Sabarigiri KIrthanam. 1975

6. Kanyiikumarim Bhaje. 1975.

7. Bhaja Riimakri~l}am. 1981

8. Mayiiradiitam (translation) 1984.

9. Vimaliinanda Saptakam 1974.

10. Vivekiinanda Stotra 1986.

11. Visvabhiinuh, Trivandrum, the author, 1988.

12. Dharmasiigarah, Trivandrum, The author, 1988.

13. No-Rgvedic Mantras in Marriage Cerimonies, 1958.

14. Kalidasa-An assessment by Ananda Vardhana, 1974.

15. MImiimsa in Kerala, 1951.

16. The Rg vedic Padapii!ha: A Study, 1947.

17. Mantras cited by Pratikas in the Aitareya Brahmana, 1942.

18. Sanskrit Equivalents of Malayalam Proper Nouns, 1948.

19. Samskrta Siihitya Pral}ayikaJ, 1936.

20. Vicitravipinam, 1938.

21. TattvadtIpika, 1958.

47

22. Siihitlkii!ak~am, 1964.

23. PriiclnamaIJipraviilam, 1949.

24. DesIyagiinam, 1955.

25. Keralahrdayam, 1965.

26. VIrajananI, 1966.

27. Akbar Navlkrtam, 1967.

28. Siihityakeli, 1967.

29. Asiinte hrdayam, 1968.

30. Samskarakautukam, 1969.

31. KairaJIdhvani,1977.

32. Bhii~iiparimaJam, 1970.

33. Bhiirata Deepika, 1988.

34. SrI Sankara: A Philosopher, Mystic and Poet, 1979.

35. Keralavarma Valiyakoil Tampuram, 1988.

36. Dhannasiigarah, Trivandrum, the author, 1988.

37. Visvabhiinuh, Trivandrum, the author, 1979.

38. Karandikar V.R. Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, Poona, Bharatiya

Vidya Bhavan, 1991.

39. Narayana Pillai, P.K. Preface to Dhannasiigara, Trivandrum, theauthor, 1988.

48