Thursday, December 25, 2014
It is believed that Ezhuthachan was born at Thunchan Veetil near Trikaniyur temple of Vettathunad in the year 670 (ME) (AD 1495). Kerala Sahithya Charithram firmly ascertain that the life period of Ezhuthachan was between 670 and 750 (ME).The males o the Thunchan family taught reading and writing to the children and thus they got the name Ezhuthachan.
After preliminary education in Sanskrit and Malayalam, Ezhuthachan went to Tamil Nadu for higher studies. On return he chose the job of educating children. In his leisurely times he wrote Adhyatma Ramayanam in Malayalam. It was composed in the style of cuckoo song (Kilippattu). When Zamorin attacked Vettathunad, Ezhuthachan started his pilgrimage with the completed copy of Adhyatma Ramayana. The Chambath Mannadiyar of Chitoor persuaded him to stay there and Ezhuthachan lived there by establishing an Ashrama.
Ezhuthachan wrote Uttararamacharitham, Mahabharatham, Mahabhagavatham, Devi Mahathmyam, Brahmandapuranam etc. He made a revolution through his Kilippattu. It was he who gave an attractive form and shape to Malayalam language and made it suitable to handle any subject. He reformed the vocabulary and shaped separate Malayalam letters. He contributed the Manipravalam style to Malayalam language by bringing together Malayalam and Sanskrit in a unique form. He placed the whole society in the path of spiritual progress.
The Bhakthi cult of Ezhuthachan exercised a deep influence in leading the nair families, which was suppressed under the Brahmin supremacy during 5th to 17th centuries, to the path of progress. The Brahmin rule that restricted Sudras from learning letters and education was questioned during this period. The Nair community, which was longing for progress for a very long period under the Brahmin supremacy, emerged strongly during the period.
The Malayalam literature also had full-fledged growth during that period. Ezhuthachan gave the leadership for unification and renewal of two branches of literature, which was moving in diverse directions up to the 15th century. The lyrics he composed in kilippattu (cuckko song) brought Malayalam literature to modern path. It was the Nairs who came forward for education in ‘Gurumutts’ (schools) established by Ezhuthachan and his followers. Only the Nair community had the maturity and sense to understand the views of Ezhuthachan. As a result, Nair community had a leap to the higher fields of Kerala life. It was Ezhuthachan who protected the people, especially the Nairs, from the verge of cultural degeneration. Nairs were indeed fortunate enough to get the leadership of Ezhuthachan to rose to the heights and glory.
After preliminary education in Sanskrit and Malayalam, Ezhuthachan went to Tamil Nadu for higher studies. On return he chose the job of educating children. In his leisurely times he wrote Adhyatma Ramayanam in Malayalam. It was composed in the style of cuckoo song (Kilippattu). When Zamorin attacked Vettathunad, Ezhuthachan started his pilgrimage with the completed copy of Adhyatma Ramayana. The Chambath Mannadiyar of Chitoor persuaded him to stay there and Ezhuthachan lived there by establishing an Ashrama.
Ezhuthachan wrote Uttararamacharitham, Mahabharatham, Mahabhagavatham, Devi Mahathmyam, Brahmandapuranam etc. He made a revolution through his Kilippattu. It was he who gave an attractive form and shape to Malayalam language and made it suitable to handle any subject. He reformed the vocabulary and shaped separate Malayalam letters. He contributed the Manipravalam style to Malayalam language by bringing together Malayalam and Sanskrit in a unique form. He placed the whole society in the path of spiritual progress.
The Bhakthi cult of Ezhuthachan exercised a deep influence in leading the nair families, which was suppressed under the Brahmin supremacy during 5th to 17th centuries, to the path of progress. The Brahmin rule that restricted Sudras from learning letters and education was questioned during this period. The Nair community, which was longing for progress for a very long period under the Brahmin supremacy, emerged strongly during the period.
The Malayalam literature also had full-fledged growth during that period. Ezhuthachan gave the leadership for unification and renewal of two branches of literature, which was moving in diverse directions up to the 15th century. The lyrics he composed in kilippattu (cuckko song) brought Malayalam literature to modern path. It was the Nairs who came forward for education in ‘Gurumutts’ (schools) established by Ezhuthachan and his followers. Only the Nair community had the maturity and sense to understand the views of Ezhuthachan. As a result, Nair community had a leap to the higher fields of Kerala life. It was Ezhuthachan who protected the people, especially the Nairs, from the verge of cultural degeneration. Nairs were indeed fortunate enough to get the leadership of Ezhuthachan to rose to the heights and glory.
