Sakthibhadran () was a

Classical Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

writer, who lived in ancient

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. He wrote '' Ascharyachoodamani'' (

Devanāgarī Devanagari ( ; , , Sanskrit pronunciation: ), also called Nagari (),Kathleen Kuiper (2010), The Culture of India, New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, , page 83 is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental writing system), based on the a ...

: ),The Literary Tradition of Kerala by V. Aravindakshan
/ref> the first

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

from South India. He may have been born in

Kodumon Kodumon (pronounced ko-du-mann) is a village in Adoor Taluk of Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. Temples Chilanthi Temple - Kodumon is famous for the Chilanthi temple situated 1.5 km east of Kodumon junction. The te ...

a village in

Adoor Adoor (sometimes spelled ''Adur'') is a Municipality in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. It is the headquarters of Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division. Etymology Adoor (Ad-oor) in Malayalam translates as "Ad" means "separ ...

Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...

,കൊടുമണ്‍ എച്ച്.എസ്.എസ് കൊടുമണ്‍/ആശ്ചര്യചൂഢാമണി - ശക്തിഭദ്രന്‍ - റിവ്യൂ - ആര്‍.പ്രസന്നകുമാര്‍
. between the 7th and 11th centuries.
The malayalam translation of Ascharyachoodamani was made by the famous Sanskrit scholar Vedashri Parakkode N. V. Nambiathiri.

Early life

A popular tradition current in malabar represents Shaktibhadran as a pupil of Adi

Shankaracharya Shankaracharya ( sa, शङ्कराचार्य, , "Adi Shankara, Shankara-''acharya''") is a religious title used by the heads of amnaya monasteries called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hinduism. The title derives from Adi ...

; and if this tradition could be trusted, Adi Shankaracharya saved 'Ascharyachoodamani' from complete loss by reciting it from his memory when the work was accidentally burnt. According to Ascharyachoodamani, he was the first playwright of South India and also wrote the play named 'Unmadavasavadatta' on popular story of King Vatsaraj.

Story of Ascharyachudamani

*First Act - In first Act stage-manager give introduction of play. Play start with

Lakshman Lakshmana ( sa, लक्ष्मण, lit=the fortunate one, translit=Lakṣmaṇa), also spelled as Laxmana, is the younger brother of Rama and his loyalist in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He bears the epithets of Saumitra () and Ramanuja (). ...

who made hut for his brother and wife

sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...

. Surpanakha disguised as a beautiful woman meet Lakshman and request him to marry her; but Lakshman refused and went to hut.

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

and sita praise Lakshman for making such a beautiful hut. *Second Act - surpanakha requested rama for marriage but rama refused and asked to meet

so angry surpanakha in take her real horror form try to abduct Lakshman but Lakshman cut her ears, nose and breasts. *Third Act - In this Act , sages give magical ring to Rama and chudamani (hairpin) to sita.

Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He a ...

, A demon-king and brother of surpanakha take help of

maricha In the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'', Maricha, or Mareecha (Sanskrit: मारीच, IAST: ) is a demon, who was killed by Rama, the hero of the epic and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned as an ally of Ravana, the antagonist of the epic. Hi ...

who take magical form. Ravana disguised as rama meet sita ; charioteer of ravana disguised as Lakshman so sita went with them. Surpanakha disguised as sita meet rama and Maricha disguised as Rama meet Lakshman. *Fourth act - In this Act , surpanakha who disguised as sita meet rama and Converse with him but when magical ring of

touched

; she take his original form of surpanakha. Surpanakha tell rama it's all plan of ravana to abduct sita.

who abducted sita disguised as rama touch sita's magical chudamani (hairpin) and take his real form.

jatayu Jatayu ( sa, जटायुः, IAST: ) is a demigod in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'', who has the form of either an eagle or a vulture. He is the younger son of Aruṇa and his wife Shyeni, the brother of Sampati, as well as the nephew of Garud ...

, a vulture try to help sita but ravana kill him. *Fifth Act -

Mandodari Mandodari ( sa, मंदोदरी, , lit. "soft-bellied";) was the queen consort of Ravana, the king of Lanka, according to the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. The ''Ramayana'' describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. She is extoll ...

learns that Ravana arranged

vasantotsav The Vasantotsav is an annual Indian Classical music, semi classical, folk and light music festival held in Pune. The festival is organized by Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Pratisthan, Pune, in the memory of the late Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande by inviting ...

(festival of spring) for sita but Sita doesn't like this and

ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He a ...

tries to convince her but she refuses. *Sixth Act -

Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...

meet sita in

Ashokavana Mohan may refer to: People * Mohan Shumsher JBR, Former prime minister of Nepal * Mohan (actor) (born 1956), Indian film actor * Mohan (director), Indian director of Malayalam films * Mohan (name), a name generally found among Hindus * Mohan ...

and give ring of

. he also give message of Rama.

Sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...

give his chudamani as sign to Hanuman. *Seventh Act -

Vidyadhara Vidyadhara(s) (Sanskrit , literally "wisdom-holders") are a group of supernatural beings in Indian religions who possess magical powers. In Hinduism, they also attend Shiva, who lives in the Himalayas. They are considered ''Upadeva''s, or demi ...

and his wife tell fighting between ravana and Rama. Rama defeat Ravana. Finally

meet sita who wear beautiful ornaments so Rama makes

undergo a trial by fire to prove her chastity.

Narada Narada ( sa, नारद, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage divinity, famous in Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of mind-created children of Brahma, the creator god. He ...

tell secret that

Anasuya Anasuya () is an ascetic, and the wife of Sage Atri in Hinduism. She is the daughter of Devahuti and Sage Kardama in Hindu texts. In the ''Ramayana'', she lives with her husband in a small hermitage on the southern border of the Chitrakuta for ...

give magical ornaments to sita so she look beautiful. Finally Rama went

Ayodhya Ayodhya (; ) is a city situated on the banks of holy river Saryu in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya, also known as Sāketa, Saketa, is an ancient city of India, the birthplace of Rama and ...

with sita and Lakshman.

References

External links

{{authority control Malayali people Ancient Indian dramatists and playwrights People from Pathanamthitta district Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala