Velutheri Kesavan Vaidyar(1858–1896) was a Malayalam poet; Sanskrit scholar and Ayurveda physician from the state of

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 ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. He was born as second child among four children born to Eeshwaran Padmanabhan of Velutheri House in Thottam and wife, Azhaki Amma of Thalathoppu House in Karinkulam, an

Ezhava The Ezhavas () are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as Kerala, where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest Hindu community. They are also known as ''Ilhava'' ...

family resident in Thottam, Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, South Travancore. He is associated with the

Venmani School The Venmani School of poets were involved in a movement in Malayalam Literature also known as the Venmani Movement. The style of poetry was pioneered by members of the Venmani Illam of Kodungalloor in the 19th century. Main members The major poets ...

of Malayalam Literature. Kesavan was schoolmate; friend and follower of

Sree Narayana Guru Narayana Guru, , (20 August 1856 – 20 September 1928) was a philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer in India. He led a reform movement against the injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala in order to promote spiritual ...

. Known for some of the finest; critically reviewed and extremely appreciated poetry in Malayalam in the later half of the 19th century. His literary works within the short span of his life ranged from original poetry to adaptations and translations from prominent Sanskrit pieces and even attakkathas and prose like academic texts on grammar in Malayalam. Died too early at the age of 38 on October 5, 1896 (Kanni 21, Kollavarsham 1072), Velutheri Kesavan Vaidyar left a glittering mark in the history of Malayalam poetry prior to the era of the modern poets.

Birth and family

Kesavan was born second child to Eeshwaran Padmanabhan of Velutheri House in Thottam, and Azhaki Amma of Thalathoppu House in Karinkulam. Velutheri House is situated in a serene residential locality named Thottam in Manacaud, a place close to Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Kesavan married Lekshmi Amma of Karickal family at the age of 29.

Biography - 'Randu Vidwat Kavikal - Volume 1'

Mahopadhyaaya Vidwan Kunju Krishnan had authored and published a two-volume biographical work titled 'Vismritharaya Randu Vidwat Kavikal (Velutheriyum Perunnelliyum)' on the life and work of Velutheriyil Kesavan Vaidyar and his equally eminent contemporary; scholar; poet and dear friend Perunnelli Krishnan Vaidyar. 'Vismritharaya Randu Vidwat Kavikal (Velutheriyum Perunnelliyum) - 1', the biography of Velutheriyil Kesavan Vaidyar was published in the year 1951 and 'Randu Vidwat Kavikal Volume-2', the biography of Perunnelli Krishnan Vaidyar was published in the year 1975 which was almost twenty five years after the former was published. Velutheri Kesavan Vaidyar and Perunnelli Krishnan Vaidyar – The duo is considered to be the unsung heroes and two short-lived shooting stars in the history of Malayalam literature.

Major Literary Works

Balisugreeva Sambhavam (Vanchippattu/Malayalam poetry composed in the Dravidian metre Nathonnata) Abhijnana Shakunthalam (Malayalam Translation) Ashtangahridayam (Malayalam Translation) Hithopadesam (Malayalam Translation) Sundopasundayudham (Aattakkatha/Libretto for Kathakali) Prasannaraghavam (Malayalam Translation) Sourapuranam (Malayalam Translation) Arthalankara Manipravalam (Alankarashastra adaptation in Malayalam) Balapaddhamrutham (Grammar) Vanchiraja Vamshacharitham (Epic Poem in Sanskrit) Durganandavilasom (Sanskrit Devotional Poetry)

External links

PRD kerala
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