Kururamma

Thus Vilwamangalam swamy arrived in Kururillam.. Since Kururamma was a widow, she asked Unni to welcome Swamiyar... And asked Swamiyar to have bath.. By the time the swamiyar along with his disciples returned, they were taken aback seeing everything was ready for the pooja.. No one know how and what to arrange for the pooja.. which made the disciples envy on the little boy.. The pooja went through very well..

Then slowly kururamma realised that the boy "Unni" was none other than her lord unnikrishnan.. She was happy to be with him.. Wherever she go.. she could see only him and no one else.. Unni used to protect her from every other hard ships.. He had answers for all her questions..

This made people believe that she become mad by staying lonely for long.. She visited almost everyday the Guruvayur temple without fail..

Kururamma

Kururamma with great enthusiasm... went to have a bath in the nearby pond, where the Chemmangattu amma and her servents were taking bath.. Seeing Kururamma.. they started made fun of her.. She was not affected by their comments.. But when she was taking bath,, water spilled over Chemmangattu amma.. and she started abuse Kururamma.. and told Vilwamangalam swamyar will never visit her. This hurt Kururamma.. and she went back with a gloomy face and lost herself not know what to do... Then Unni came to her and asked why she is sad.. Hearing the story from the Kururamm...Unni consoled her and assured her that defenitely swamiyar will visit her..

Then hurriedly she started preparations to welcome Swamiyar... Vilwamangalam swamiyar started go towards Chemmangattu illam.. then suddely his palanquin stopped and not moved further.. Then Swamiyar made up his mind and went to Kururillam...

Kururamma

Kururamma once heard of Vilwamangalam swamiyar, and thought she could serve the swamiyar, which she took as a privilege. She sent Unni to ask swamiyar whether he can come and visit her so that she can serve him lunch and do pooja and prayer listen to the stories of her lord from him.

Swamiyar readily agreed that he can come the next day. Kururamma with great pleasure started preparation for his arrival. Then hearing this, one of her envious neighbour Chemmangattu amma who was rich, sent for him to have lunch in their house on that same day. She wanted to humiliate Kururamma, because whole village respected kururamma.

What happens is the next story...

നിവേദനം

മായികമാമീ അക്ഷരലോകത്തിന്‍
മായാപ്രപഞ്ചത്തില്‍പിച്ചവെച്ചിടുമീ
ചെറുപൈതലിന്‍ കാലിടറാതെയീ
ഉഷരഭൂവില്‍ കൈപിടിച്ചെന്നും നീ
നേരെ നയിച്ചീടണം മഹാപ്രഭോ

പാലാഴിപോലെന്‍റെ മുന്നിലെന്നും
ആര്‍ത്തലച്ചീടും നിന്‍ കാരുണ്യ
പാരാവാരാമാവോളം നുകരുവാന്‍
ഭാഗ്യമുണ്ടാവണം
മായാമേഘങ്ങളില്‍ ഒളിപ്പിച്ച
നിന്‍ വിശ്വരുപത്തെയാവോളം
ദര്‍ശിക്കാനെന്നുമെന്നിലറിവു
നിറക്കണേ ജഗത്നിയന്താവേ
കനലു പോലെന്നില്‍ ജ്വലിക്കുമെന്‍
പാപഭാരത്തിന്‍ ചുടിലുരുകുമെന്‍
മനസ്സില്‍ ഭക്തി തന്‍ കുളിര് നിറക്കണേ
പവനപുരാധീശ്വര വാസുദേവാ...

Kururamma- the perfect devotee of Lord Krishna

Kururamma, due to her selfless devotion to the lord, started see him everywhere, and she could talk to him any time. This made others felt that she become mad after all her relatives passed away... In fact she is not mad but she got the sidhi to talk to lord and see the lord whenever she wanted.

She is very kind and helping by nature.  She become lonely after one by one all her relatives died.. She prayed to lord every time and day that she should get someone who can help her to prepare for the pooja of her lord.. That day one boy of about 8 to 10 years came to Kururamma and offered his help.  He said his name is Unni and is an orphan.... He said he wanted to stay with her and help her in return he get food and shelter. Kururamma become very happy..

Moham

കര്‍മഭൂവില്‍ തന്‍ കര്‍ത്തവ്യം മറക്കും
സവ്യസാചി ആണ് ഞാന്‍ കൃഷ്ണ....
ഒരു നിമിഷം കളയാതെ വന്നെന്‍
ജീവിതസാരധിയാകില്ലേ  കണ്ണാ....

ആശകളുടെയിരക്കത്തില്‍ വേഗത
കൂടിയെനിക്ക്ന്‍റെ സമനില തെറ്റുന്നു കണ്ണാ..
നിരാശകളുടെ വേലിയിരക്കമോ  എന്നറിയാതെ
ഉഴലുന്ന മനസിന്‍റെ കടിന്ജ്ആണ്‍   
അഎട്ടെദുട്തെന്നെ നേര്വഴിക്കാക്കണേ കണ്ണാ
 പുനര്‍ജന്മതിരകളിക്കെടുത്തെന്നെ
എറിഞ്ഞെന്തിന്  വിളയാടുന്നു നീ കണ്ണാ
നിത്യതയുടെ ലോകത്ത് നിന്റെ പാദദാസി
അവാനനെനിക്ക്  മോഹം...
   

Kururamma

Dhatri who later become Kuruamma after her marriage, was one of the most famous devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan. She got a Krishna Idol from her Swami uncle when she was a child.  She started perform pooja as per the advice from her Guru. She was always immersed herself in Krishna's Bhakthi..  Sometimes she lost herself in the Bhakthi Bhavam. But as a child she was very obedient. 


As per the Namboodiri tradition she got married to the eldest son of Kurur Illam. After her marriage also she remained lost in her Lord's devotion.   In an unfortunate accident her husband passed away.  This happened when she was only 16 years.

After that she devoted her  full time for her lord's pooja.  She worshiped lord as if she was the mother of Krishna who runs after him to get him feed the food.

She offered Nivedyam and cried when  her lord was not come to had that.

Poonthanam's repention

The Friend of Poonthanam when he met him, started abuse him saying he given wrong information and he was pretends  to everyone that he got Lord's Darshan.  Sad Poonthanam, when doing the pooja asked Lord why this had happened to him.  God told him that when someone asks for the solution with complete submission, he will definitely save them.

Here what happened is Poonthanam was asked for solution, but Kururamma with complete faith and submission received the Lord's advice. Poonthanam didn't had that kind of submission and faith on lord.

Poonthanam and his Lord

Poonthanam could be able to see his lord,and talk to him, whenever he wished. That eventually become known to everyone.  One of the family friend who was suffered from a disease, requested Poonthanam, to ask for the cure as he could not bear the pain. 

That day when doing pooja, Poonthanam asked lord, for the solution,for which lord replied that he cannot be cured. With a heavy heart, Poonthanam went and informed about this to his friend. When he heard that even lord too cannot help him, the patient cried piteously that even a stone will melt. . .

Then a widow, who is also a devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan heard about this, and came to meet the patient. She was moved seeing the plight of the patient and assured the ailing man that she will find a solution.
Then she went and prayed to Lord that the man should be saved at any cost, and how should she go about that.  Lord replied that he should chant the names of god all the time, which eventually cured him. 


People with love called her Kururamma, and she went and conveyed lord's message to the patient.  He with complete faith started chant the lord's name whole the time.  Slow and steadily he started walk and then one day he went and met Poonthanam.

Story of Manjula

Those days a girl used to come regularly to submit flower garland she made that day.  Her name is Manjula.  She comes in before pooja time to have darshan of lord, and then very particular about that. She looked at god as he is her beloved. 

One day she happen to become little bit late and  that day, the holy shrine closed for the day and every one left.  Poor girl started crying.  Then Vilvamangalam swamiyar happen to pass by... He told her not to worry, since lord is present anywhere and everywhere, she should place the garland in the Banyan tree which she readily accepted.  The next day when the head priest cleaning the garlands of yesterday, wondered that two extra were there, and he could not remove them.

Then Vilvamangalam swamiyar who was chanting there, told everyone that Manjula gone to her lord. That is why there were two garlands. Then every one started chanting Narayana Narayan loudly. They heard that Manjula become saint the previous day.

Ponnthanam's devotion

Poonthanam used to write poems in Regional language.  He was not a scholar in Sanskrit.  The Sanskrit pandits are jealous with Poonthanam for his popularity. That he used to write poems which any other people can understand.  This made him very popular among common people. Where as Sanskrit is expensive language. Only rich family people can learn that. 

One day while reading Bhagavatham, he pronounced Padmanabho-maraprabhu, which should read combined. That means Padmanabha amaraprabhu. The so called pandits started tease him that he mispronounce the holy book, which made Poonthanam very sad.  Then suddenly they can hear a voice from the Sanctum sanctorum that " i like the Vibhakthi of  Poonthanam more than the Bhakthi of others". and then i am the maraprabhu too".  That means, Lord said he liked the Poonthanam's devotion rather than others showing of devotion. They were proud that they were scholars.

This made others understand that they were actually criticize the most beloved devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan. They realised their mistake and seek forgiveness from Poonthanam.

Poonthanam and Mangattachan

Poonthanam happen to cross a forest on his way to his lord Guruvayurappan where once he attacked by thieves.  He without any hesitation given off everything he had. But refused part with his Bhagavatham book.  He said it was only a book which the thieves not accepted.  They shout at him and about to kill him, then  suddenly Poonthanam closed his eyes and chanted his lord's name.  Suddenly from other direction they heard a sound of horse coming towards them. That made them flee the scene.  Poonthanam saw a young fellow riding in a horse, approached him. It was none other than minister of then Zamoori Rajah, Mangattachan. Poonthanam was very happy that he escaped from the thieves and gifted Mangattachan the ring he had.


Then Mangattachan took him to the right way to Guruvaryur temple and left.  That night guruvayur priest got a dream in which lord said that when Poonthanam comes give him a ring which is in his idol. That day when he opened the door of the temple, the priest surprised to see a new ring in the idol as per his dream and chanted loudly "Hare Narayana Narayana" and returned that to Poonthanam.   Guess who came to save Poonthanam........

Poonthanam Blessed by Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi

Once it happened that Poonthanam went for Bhagavatha Sapthaham in Kottiyur Shiva Temple.  There as usual he started the recite the bhagavatham.  After he complete read the 10th chapter where Krishna asks Rukmini why she married a cowherd like him, that part he kept a bookmark   Next day, when he started read the holy book found that he had to read the same chapter as yesterday.  He thought may be he is wrong and continue to read that part again and complete the chapter and put the book mark in next chapter. But next day is also repeat the same. This repeat for several times. The temple, after 10 days of pooja and festival closes for one year. Till the day of closing, Poonthanam couldn't proceed to another chapter.  He had to read the same chapter continuously. 

After Pooja along with others Poonthanam also left the temple. After some time he realised that he had not took his holy book from the Temple.  When he reached the temple, what he saw was Lord Paramashiva  sitting with Poonthaanam's Holy book and reading the same chapter what he was reading for whole time.

After complete reading Lord Shiva asks Devi Parvathi how was his reading, for which devi replies that it was not so good as Poonthanam's reading. 

Tears fells down from Poonthanam's eyes.  Then Lord reveals that they wanted to bless him for his reading the Bhavavatham, particular chapter.

Narayaneeyam

After a long struggle to reach Guruvayur, Melpathur along with his friend reached his destination.  He started compose 10 chapters each day,which is the short form of  Shree Bhagavatham. Everyone respected Bhattathiri who was a grate Sanskrit scholar in those days.


Since he was affected with Reumatic paralysis, he got a seat in front of Lord to compose the Narayaneeyam.  Poonthanam composed Jnanapana, which describes Hindu philosophical ideas in a simple language. Poonthanam wanted Melpathur to correct the same since he was a scholar as he didn't had confidence in himself.
But Melpathur replied that he is not interested in Bhasha kavyam.That hurt Poonthanam, and he left with a gloomy face.

After that incident Bhattathiri couldn't compose a single line.  He left very disappointed.
In that following night had Bhattathiri could not sleep due the the pain. And subsequently happend the epidsode of repent and he went to Poonthanam to comfort and corrected his Poem, Jnapana.

Bhattathiri thereafter become more attached to his lord, and he got his lord's darshan.  Thus he described lord the way he got darshan in Narayaneeyam.  Narayaneeyam become very good success in those days.  Still people read Narayaneeyam more than Shri Bhagavatham because it is composed in simple Sanskrit Slokas.

Melpathur's Story

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was a non believer from a very orthodox family.  He lost his father when he is very young. He got a elder brother and Mother.  Brother was mentally not well.  After a while both of them passed away.  That made Melpathur Bhattathiri forced to join a guru and started his education.  He become a very good student under the training of his guru Achutha Pisharody and he started believe in God.

But he had to taken over his Guru Achutha Pisharody's Reumatism, which made his life miserable. He could not move and suffered from severe pain.  He thus decided to go to His lord's temple "Guruvayur" .  He went to Guruvayur with the help of one of his friends.  On the way he happen to met with Ezhuthachan who was a scholar and got advice that he should compose Lord's incarnations starting from Matsyavathara.

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Melpathur's transformation

Then, somewhere in beginning of day, just he could close the eyes, then Lord Krishna's soft voice heard,"why what happened Bhattathiri, can't sleep or what?  He started crying after he heard the voice, and started search for Lord,. and in desperate voice, he pleaded " Please help me Lord, i cannot move, and sleep due the pain, help me to continue compose the Narayaneeyam".  Lord replied, " How can I help you, since you have hurt my best devotee Poonthanam, I am helpless.   He is also not slept due to mental agony, for which you must go and apologize. Then, may be you can come out of your trauma."



The Bhattathiri regret for what happend, and with great difficult got up from his bed. Hurriedly done morning rituals, ran to the temple where Poonthanam sat. He asked for Poonthanam's apology for what he had done the previous day and helped him to compose the "Jnanapana".  Jnanapana went on to become more popular later on.

Then Bhattathiri recovered from the pain.
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Poonthanam Namboodiri become a poet

After reading and explaining the Bhagavatham for so long, he got blessings from godess Saraswathi and Ganesh that he started compose poems and tuned it himself and sung in front of the Bhagavatham Audience.  They also enjoyed as those were in simple language, and started learn and sing the same.  This made other Sanskrit Pandits annoy, and they started ignore him.  One day, he completed one book (those days they wrote in the Coconut leaves!) and wanted to correct it from one of his favourite sanskrit Pandit and poet Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri.

But being a jealous Bhattathiri did not want to help him and and instead he said he don't have time to see the "regional language poem" , which made Poonthanam hurt.   He went with a down face, because his ego got hurt as he said publicly.

That night Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri could not sleep, he reumatic pain came back with double force, and it was intolerable.  He came to Guruvayur for  a bhajan  to cure this by doing bhajan.  It was being under control after a few days of Bhajan and in gesture of gratitude, he was working on Bhagavatham's short form called " Narayaneeyam".

Then happened this episode of Poonthanam's request for correction and rest of the story....

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Poonthanam Namboodiri

The Poonthanam Namboodiri got married very late when compare with his fellow folk. The couple waited for a long period to get blessed with a baby. At last, the Antharjanam (wife of Namboodiri) gave birth to a baby boy. This made the whole village happy. Poonthanam Namboodiri being a devotee of Guruvayurappan, used to pray that when he gets a baby, he can give the lord’s name to his baby.


They invited all their relatives to the naming ceremony. The house is full of relatives, Namboodiri’s wife fed the baby full and made him sleep in the corner of the room and busy with the guests . Due to non availability of light in the room, whoever comes in, left their *angavastram in the same corner. After sometime, every one searching for the baby, found that he died of suffocation in the corner.

After the tragedy, Poonthanam become more and more devotee of his lord, Guruvayurappan. He thought when lord himself is playing in my mind, why should I need a baby! Thus he consoled himself and started giving **Sri Bhagavatham lectures in and around the village temples. People used to gather in huge numbers to hear his lecture because he used to explain Sri Bhagavatham in a simple language so that everybody can understand.



*in olden days, ladies of upper caste use to wear one Shawl that cover their chest is called the angavastra.

** The holy book of the Hindu

Guruvayurappan stories

I want to say something about lord krishna Temple, Guruvayur in Kerala. This temple is in Thrissur District,Kerala State, is attracting the attention of millions of people every year.




In Ithihya Mahathmyam.. it is mentioned that the krishna Idol was worshipped by Devaki Devi in Dwapara yuga, washed away when the Pralaya happend subsequently, and recovered in Kali yuga by Guru Bruhaspathi. He done the "Prathishta" with the help of Vayu deva in the place where we found him today... Thus got the name Guruvayur.



Here we can found him in Bala kishora bhavam. So here millions of people will offer small cradles to get a baby boy. Everyones wishes comes true, when they offer it with a clear heart.









There are many stories relates to this. One among is Poonthanam Nambudiri's story.



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