Sanskrit sources of Kerala history
by Suma Parappattoli | 2010 | 88,327 words
This study deals with the history of Kerala based on ancient Sanskrit sources, such as the Keralamahatmyam. The modern state known as Keralam or Kerala is situated on the Malabar Coast of India. The first chapter of this study discusses the historical details from the inscriptions. The second chapter deals with the historical points from the Mahatm...
This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.
7. The Subhagasandesa by Narayana
Subhagasandesa[1] was written by one Narayana. Nothing more is known about the another or his date. Narayana was a native of Trissur. For some reason he was obliged to spend some months at cape comorin. Ullur states that the hero was caught by evil spirit and thereby he reached Kanyakumari and thus he was seperated from his wife. His wife’s house was at Trissur. There he happened to meet a Subhaga—a snataka Brahmin who had arrived there for the worship of the Goddess of Kanyakumari. Subhaga is sent with the message of love to the hero’s beloved at Trissur.
The Subhagasandesa of Narayana was composed under the patronage of king Rama Varma of Jayasimhanad who is believed to have flourished in the 16th C. AD[2].
Referring to this Ramavarma, the poet says the following at the end of the Purvabhagam.
yasya svāmi yadukulapatirṇāmato rāmavarmā
yasya śrīmān bhavati paramaṃ devataṃ bhāgineyaḥ |
udyanmādhavīrasaparimale yasya sandeśakāvye
hṛdye nārāyaṇakavayituḥ pūrvabhāgaḥ samāptaḥ ||
Poem extols one Ramavarma, who was the poets patron.
The only significance of the kavya for history is this—
vīrassevyastadanu bhavatā viśrutā rāmavarmā
rājā rāmājanamanasi yo rāmavarmābhidhānaḥ |
yena sphītaṃ jagati jayasiṃhānvayo yāti kīrtiṃ ||
pātho rāśiḥ paramaśucinā pārvaṇenenduneva ||
māno nīvi manasijaśaraḥ kiṃkarāḥ prārthitorthī
cāro netraṃ kavirabhimataḥ prāṇabandhuḥ kṛpāṇī
nītirbhāryā nigamabhaṇitirdeśiko yasya loke
tādṛṅmṛgo bhavati sukṛtī rājaśabdābhidheyaḥ ||
Ullur identifies this Rama Varma with the brother of Udaya Marthandavarma who fought with Vijayanagar[3]. If this is correct, as it seems to be, he has to be identified with Bhutalavira Rama Varma of immortal fame.
While describing the Cempakasseri temple on the hill at Kuttalam poem mentions a treasurer by name Yajnanarayana, appointed by king Rama Varma of Tiruvitamkur[4]. Ullur identifies him with Yanjanarayana Iyer, appointed by Rama Varma to collect the tolls of Tiruvitamkur kings in the 16th C. AD at Tirunelveli District[5]. Yajnanarayana mentioned in the poem was only a financial officer posted at Kuttalam by the king of Tiruvitamkur[6].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Vinjanadeepika IV -Pp 1-17; Sahityaparishat Traimasikam I -Pp 1-16
[3]:
Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur Vol. II -Pp 288 -291
[4]:
Vinjanadeepika IV -P 11
[5]:
Ibid