Narayaniyam

Narayaniyam is the story of Lord Narayana. It is a work consisting of 1035 slokas or verses, divided into 100 dasakams or chapters, each dasakam consisting of approximately 10 slokas. It is a condensed version of Bhagavata Purana, which consists of 18,000 slokas authored by Veda Vyasa. It is said that the work has the blessings of Lord Krishna or Guruvayoorappan, the presiding Deity of Guruvayur.  Melpathur Narayana Bhattathirippadu was born about the year 1560 in a village near the temple of Tirunāvāya in Malappuram district, Kerala. He composed the Narayanīyam at the age of 27.

The day on which Narayaneeyam was completed, 28th Vrischikam, is celebrated by the Devaswom as Narayaneeyam day. Discourses and debates on Narayaneeyam written by Melpathur take place. Special functions are held at Melpathur Illapparambu also. According to local legends, Bhattathiri had a Guru by the name of Achyuta Pisharadi, who fell victim to a severe attack of paralysis, and suffered unbearable pain. Bhattathiri desired to find a cure for his master and fervently prayed for the disease to be transferred to himself, freeing his Guru from suffering. According to the legend, Lord Krishna granted Bhattathiri his wish, and he soon became crippled.

Once, when Bhattathiri, unable to move, was carried into the Guruvayur temple, he met Thunchath Ezhuthachan, an eminent Malayalam poet of the time. Ezhuthachan advised Bhattathiri that he could be cured if he "began his treatment with fish". The disciples of Bhattathiri who heard this were shocked because Bhattathiri was a devout Brahmin and therefore a vegetarian who would consider it sinful to eat fish. Bhattathiri however understood what Ezhuthachan really meant - that he would be cured if he could compose a hymn glorifying the incarnations of Lord Krishna beginning with the fish incarnation, known as Matsya.

Accordingly, he started composing the Narayaniyam. It is said that he would recite one dasakam, consisting of ten verses, every day. The local legend says that on the hundredth day he had a vision of the Lord, and rendered a graphic description of this form, after which he was immediately cured of his disease. The final dasaka, Kesadipaada Varnanam, embodies top-to-toe picture of little Krishna in all grace and glory.

The incarnations of Vishnu are traced with piety, Bhattathiri transforms the episodes into solemn prayers, pouring out his soul in total supplication before the Lord. 

Narayaneeya Sahasranama is a condensed form of Narayaneeyam consisting of 1000 names of Vishnu. It is carefully created collections, of all the namas (names) of Vishnu's Avataras, that appear sequentially and chapter-wise in the Narayaneeyam. It was composed by Ayyappan Kariyat, an Ayurveda vaidya.

Acharyas have ruled that these are the Narayana Dasakas which give special results.

Dashakam 12 (Varahavataram) – Narayanapreeti, attainment of high position.

Dasakam 13 (Hiranyaksha Vadham) – Fame, wealth, long life.

Dasakam 16 (Nara Narayana Charita and Daksha Yaga) – Forgiveness.

Dasakam 18 (Prithu Chakraborty Charitam) – Prosperity, Children, Victory.

Dashakam 27 (Palazhi mathana and Kurmavatar).

Decade 28 (Lakshmisvayamvaram and Amritolpathi) – Intended Fruitfulness.

Dashakam 32 (Matsyavatara), Dashakam 51 (Aghasura slaying and forest eating), Dashakam 52 (Vatsapaharana and Brahma Garvu Shamana) – wish fulfillment.

Dasakam 82 (Bana Yuddha and Nrigamoksha) – All-victory potential.

Dasakam 87 (Kuchelavritta) – Prosperity, Karma Bandha Nirmukti.

Dasakam 88 (Santhanagopalam) – Removal of grief, liberation

Decade 100 (Description of Lord Keshadipada) – Long life, health and happiness.

On this Narayaniya day, Praying that Guruvayurappan may grant Health, and years of Happiness.

My copy by 'Swami Tapasyananda'