Shrimannarayaniyam

Shrimannarayaniyam

Just as the Sri Purushottam Sahasranama Stotra is a condensed form of the Bhagavatam Grantha, there is another remarkable composition worth knowing about: the Shrimannarayaniyam.

Shrimannarayaniyam is a devotional Stotra of the highest order. Its creator, Shri Narayana Meppattur Bhattathiri, composed it in the temple at Guruvayur, seated before the Vigraha of Shri Krishna. As the fruit of this composition, his crippling disease of Vata (rheumatism) was not only completely cured, but he was also blessed with the direct Darshan of Bhagwan.

The Shrimad Bhagavatam, one of the eighteen Puranas of Bharat, contains 18,000 Shlokas. The Narayaniyam is its condensed essence — comprising 1,036 Shlokas. Though brief, its devotional and philosophical depth remains fully intact.

Narayana Bhattathiri was born in 1560 CE. By the age of sixteen, he had already mastered the entirety of the Shastras. Yet at that time, he had not advanced far on the path of Bhakti. Once, his Guru, Shri Achyuta Pisharodi, reprimanded him severely. From that moment, Bhattathiri became utterly devoted to his Guru.

About ten years later, his Guru began to suffer from a painful Vata condition. Bhattathiri could not bear to witness this suffering. He prayed to Ishwar that his Guru's disease be transferred to him. His prayers as if, accepted — his Guru recovered, and Bhattathiri received the affliction of Vata. But Bhattathiri held an unshakeable faith that Shri Krishna of Guruvayur would surely free him from the disease. With this conviction, seeking Bhagwan's Krupa, he went to the Guruvayur temple and surrendered himself at the feet of Ishwar.

Bhattathiri sought guidance from the learned philosopher and Bhakta Thunchaththu Ramanujan (Ezhuthachan), who told him: "Begin with Matsya" — "Start from the Fish." This was clearly not a suggestion about diet. Upon reflection, Bhattathiri understood that it was a signal to begin with the Matsyavatara and narrate the glory of the Dashavatara — the ten incarnations. Thus, he received the inspiration to compose a condensed account of the Avatara forms of Vishnu as they appear in the Bhagavatam.

Suffering from the Vata ailment, Shri Bhattathiri somehow reached the Guruvayur temple and surrendered himself completely at the feet of Krishna. Each day, he would perform Sashtanga Dandavat (full prostration) and, filled with Bhakti-Bhav, would sing the praises of Bhagwan in Prarthana. Every day, he composed one Dashaka — a set of ten Shlokas — and offered it to Bhagwan. In this way, over one hundred days, one hundred Dashakas were composed!

At the end of each Dashaka, he offered a heartfelt Prarthana from the depths of his being, pleading for relief from his suffering. At last, the Krupa of Bhagwan descended. On the hundredth day, Bhagwan cured Bhattathiri of his disease, granted him a direct vision — Pratyaksha Darshan — and blessed him with His grace. Bhattathiri was filled with Ananda (bliss). And in the hundredth Dashaka, weeping with joy, he cried out: "Agre Pashyami" — "I see Him before me!" In that final Dashaka, he described Bhagwan's enchanting form from head to toe — Keshadipaadam.

Narayana Bhattathiri composed this work at the age of twenty-seven. By the Krupa of Bhagwan, this philosopher-devotee-poet lived to be ninety-six years old. Collections of his poetry, philosophical writings, and works on Sanskrit grammar are available to this day.

The extraordinary and unparalleled qualities of the Narayaniyam are the very reason it has become so beloved among the people. First, it was composed out of intense Vedana (anguish) and Vyatha (suffering). Therefore, the poet's heartfelt, Bhakti-filled Prarthanas shine through its every verse. Second, it is composed in the first person — as a direct conversation with Bhagwan, face to face. Because of this, anyone who recites it feels as though they themselves are addressing Bhagwan. A magnetic attraction is born between Bhagwan and the Bhakta. And third, this Stotra affirms that whoever performs its Parayana (complete recitation) with full Bhakti and Sharanagati (surrender) will surely attain long life, good health, and well-being.