Pranam
There are several anecdotes of vada prativadas in India. Kakkaseri
Bhattadri is one. The story of Kakkasseri Bhattathiri happens around 17th
Century north kerala, where *Samoothirippadu* is the ruler. Every year
there used to be a debate contest on *Vedas, Shaastras* and *Puranas* at
samoothiri’s court. Uddhanda Shaasthrikal comes to compete.He says a
couplet.
Palaayadhwam palaayadhwam, re re dushkavi kunjara vedaanta vanasanchaaree,
hyayaathyuddanda kesari.
run and hide run and hide, ye elephants of bad poetry the roamer of
vedanta forest, uddanda the lion is coming.
Most of the anecdotes relating to Kakkasseri are a bit on the vulgar
side that even the author of Aithihyamala just mentions that and leaves it
there. During his life, Kakkasseri is unlike the practice of the day,
crosses the rigid lines of casteism to the dismay of the namboothiris. He
does not hesitate to dine with even the people of lowest caste.
Namboothiris dislike the facts. They approach him and ask, “Aapathey kim
karaneeyam?” “what needs to be done when faced with danger?”
Kakksasseri Bhattathiri knew why this question was posed to him. Reply came
without any hesitation.
“smaraneeyam charanayugalamambaayam” “remember the lotus feet of Amba –
mother godess”
Just to confirm, the namboothiris ask again, “talsmaranam kim kurute?” “what
will happen by remembering so?”
Kakkasseri replies, “brahmaadeenapi cha kinkareekuruthe” “it will make
brahma and other celestial beings your servants.”
The happy namboothiris take leave of him.
2 Melpattur Narayana pattadri rendered the beautiful Narayaneeyam.
Govinda bahattadri of 13th century earlier to Naryana had written famous
astrological treatise with the marks of authentication still followed.
Modern people might have read savithri stories ( i read in another
language) of Manu Bhattadri. KR IRS 21621
On Mon, 21 Jun 2021 at 07:18, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *KAKKASSERI BHATTATHIRI*
>
> Dear friends,
>
> After reading about Kakkasseri Bhattathiri from Sri Sivam Perinkulam’s
> posting years back,(*Fortunately he has started writing articles now
> after 3-4 years gap*) I was eager to make my posting after reading about
> him from Eithihyamala.
>
> *Keeping the reading as skeleton I am making this posting.*
>
> We know a nampoothiri who succeed in vaatha prathiivatham is honoured as
> BHATTATHIRI. The period of Kakksseri nampoothiri is that of *UDDANTA
> SASTHRIKAL*. Kakksseri won over Uddanta Sasthrikal.
>
> Kakkasseri was a nampoothri highly scholared. But he was not for the
> customary practices of nampoothiri community. He was not specific of
> nampoothiri acharams. *He was of the opinion that bath is for body
> pleasure and cleanliness and not for SUDDI*. This meant he would take
> bath as he likes and when ever he likes.
>
> He was named Kakkasseri because he could *IDENTIFY CROWS*. He was extra
> intelligent. He was a wandering Bhattathiri. Nothing is known about his
> Veali (marriage) or children. Let me start with the birth of Kakkasseri.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gopala Krishnan 7-10-2013.
>
> *Reposted after editing and updating information. R. Gopala Krishnan*
>
> 1. Kozhikkode Thali temple assembling
>
> It was a practice during the period of MANAVIKRAMAN SAKTHAN THAMPURAN once
> in a year scholars assembling in THALI TEMPLE at Kozhikkode. I mean by
> scholars who are really experts in Vedam, sasthram, puranam etc. There will
> be discussions and those who win over others are paid with *PANAKKIZH*I
> (Money in a small red bag). Malayali Brahmins (nampoothiries) were most
> participants
> in the early days.
>
> Some how there was decline in the nampoothiries attending and persons from
> near by states participating and winning. At this time Uddanta sasthrikal
> from Tamilnadu appeared.
>
> 2. Uddanta sasthrikal
>
> He was a scholar, no doubt. *But he was very pride. For him others were
> insignificant*. He will come with a parrot. Parrot will talk as he
> directs.
>
> Others in Kerala thought- what a pity condition. A person from other
> state win over others every year. He became close with king also and
> started living with king. A golden period to him.
>
> *My note- We have uddaantasasthrikals every*where, in Brahmana samooham,
> groups other religions etc. now also.
>
> 3. Nampoothries assemble at Guruvayoor.
>
> Some years passed. Chief Nampoothiries assembled at GURUVAYUR. They
> prepared a *“Bala” (butter)* with recitation of manthras and prayer to
> Guruvayoorappa. At that time one antharjanam had conceived near by in an
> illam. It was proposed to give the butter to the Antharjanam and she
> consumes it till delivery.
>
> 4, Birth of Kakkasseri
>
> Accordingly *she consumed butter and in time gave birth to a male child*.
> With out my writing – he became later the famous Kakkasseri Bhattathiri.
> (What name he was known during a boy is not told in Eithihyamala)
>
> 5. Death of father.
>
> At the age of three his father died. One year Deeksha had to be observed. *At
> that time during MASIKAM, the child could recognise the difference between
> the crows present the previous day and on the day to take pind*am.
>
> He will identify to his mother. For nampoothiries SAPINDI is after one
> year
>
> *My note- We say balikakka or Andan kakka.* We can see many crows
> sitting on tree branches, and when Pindam is offered oohum- *none of them
> come near it* irrespective of the claps the kartha make. Even the big
> balikakka wait for specific crow/crows first to take pindam.
>
> There is definitely certain crows associated with our pithrus. They may
> have representatives when sraddha is conducted separately by *male
> children for their father. For mother there is srardha and pindam only in
> Gaya.*
>
> 6. Upanayanam
>
> Vidyarambham was done at the age of three and upanayanam was performed at
> the age of five to the child.
>
> Mother used to take him to near MUKKUTHALA Devi temple. One day just to
> joke on the child one passing by person asked him where he had gone. He
> said to Mukkuthala devi temple. He further asked what devi said?
> Immediately he said *NOTHING in a Sanskrit sloka* –The gentle man could
> not make out what the child said. He became perplexed. Finally the boy
> explained the meaning of his verse in substance as Nothing. The person
> could understand the boy is not an ordinary child.
>
> 7. Challenging Uddanta sasthrikal.
>
> The nampoothiries desired he should challenge and win over Uddanta
> sasthrikal. It was even before Samavarthanam (Completion of education with
> Gurukulam)
>
> My note- Many may be recollecting our sastrikal telling bridegroom side-
> *Finish
> SAMAVARTHANAM and come, I might commence vratham… *
>
> 8. Tatthayum poochhayum (Parrot and cat)
>
> When Kakkasseri appeared in the sadas of Manavikraman, he was just a boy.
> The king had a doubt since appearing as a boy, did he come to participate
> in the discussion. *He confirmed YES. *
>
> Kakkasseri had gone with *a servant and a CA*T. First he placed his cat
> opposite to parrot. It got geared- whether cat would attack it? Exactly it
> was the intention of Kakkasseri bringing the cat to the sadas.
>
> 9. Vatha prathivadam and winning
>
> Kakkasseri defeated in each tharkam from the very first welcome from the
> Uddanta sasthrikal. King Manavikrama understood, Uddanta sasthrikal
> could never win . However he is an aged Brahmin. *King thought giving him
> last chance. *
>
> He asked the person who could give more number of meanings of the first
> sloka from RAGHUVAMSAM could be won.
>
> Sasthrikal could give 4 but Kakkasseri gave 8 and win all the 100
> kizhies. The last Kizhi was for the aged person, sasthrikal said, he is
> maximum aged. But Kakkasseri said- my servant is more aged than you and
> took that kizhi also.
>
> *Uddanta sasthrikal returned to Tamilnadu accepting his defeat of
> Kakkasseri….*
>
> 10. Other tharkams and vatha prathivathams
>
> Bhattathiri became famous. He has participated in many tharkams later too
> with uddanta sasthrikal . In some *Uddanta made unparliamentarily
> attacks and nampoothri too retarded in the same coin*.
>
> *My note- Beautiful. It was in Eithyamala period also!!!*
>
> 11. Samavarthanm..
>
> Samavarthanam was performed. After that nampoothiri never used to remain
> permanently in the illam. He was a wandering man with principle *SARVAM
> BRAHMA MAYAM.*
>
> He will take food from all, touch all, he never felt anything. However
> during Thali vada prathivadam (Kozhikkode Thali Lord Siva temple) he
> used to attend positively and get all kizhies.
>
> 12. theendal and thodeel
>
> As days passed many other nampoothiries could not like him . *But none
> could talk and win over him.* Those talk adverse totally changed in
> his presence itself.
>
> 13. Brahmins question
>
> It was the time of Tharka sasthram at Tali temple and Kakkasseri was
> returning getting all Kizhies. Others asked him- What shall we do in the
> situation of a crisis. *They internally ment to get rid of Kakkasseri. He
> understood it*. He asked to pray Devi, and she will give out a way- Even
> Brahma will become servant in substance.
>
> 14. Kakkasseri calls on 41st day of prayer.
>
> The Brahmins after preparing padmam started to worship Devi as Kakkasseri
> told them. On the *41st day* *Kakkasseri came and stood outside*. He
> wanted some water. After drinking it he said- You have theendal and
> thodeel. *I am having BRASHTU. I am not coming inside and* left the scene.
>
> 15. Kakkasseri- where is he?
>
> Afterwards no body has seen Kakkasseri Bhattathiri. Most probably he would
> not have children. There was no male member in the illam. So after him the
> illam went to memories- *Anyam ninnu poyi*. It is felt his period was
> between Kollam Era 600 and 700.
>
> 16. Eandi- Unakkutheriyuma? Yar intha Kaakasseri.
>
> My note- In the earlier posting I had added this par t also. Now Sri
> Sivam Perinkulam is with us –Original poster on this . I request him to
> write about this part which could make every one laugh.
>
>
>
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