Sakthibhadran was a

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

writer, who lived in ancient

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

. He wrote '' Ascharyachoodamani'' (

Devanāgarī Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

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

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

from South India. He was born in

Chengannur Chengannur () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipalityhttps://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located south east of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about ...

between the 7th and 11th centuries.Presenting the Soorpanaka tale
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 (, , " 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 Shankara; teachers from the successive line of te ...

; 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 who made hut for his brother and wife

sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

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

Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...

and sita praise Lakshman for making such a beautiful hut. *Second Act - surpanakha requested rama for marriage but rama refused and asked to meet Lakshman so angry surpanakha in take her real horror form try to abduct Lakshman but Lakshman cut her ears and nose. *Third Act - In this Act, sages give magical ring to Rama and chudamani (hairpin) to sita.

Ravana According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...

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

maricha In the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'', Maricha, or Mareecha (Sanskrit: मारीच, IAST: ), is a rakshasha, who was killed by Rama, the hero of the epic and an avatar of 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, a vulture try to help sita but ravana kill him. *Fifth Act -

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

learns that Ravana arranged vasantotsav (festival of spring) for sita but Sita doesn't like this and

ravana According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...

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

Hanuman Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotio ...

meet sita in Ashokavana and give ring of

. he also give message of Rama.

Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

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

Vidyadhara Vidyadhara(s) (Sanskrit , meaning "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-g ...

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

tell secret that

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

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

Ayodhya Ayodhya () is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ayodhya district as well as the Ayodhya division of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya became th ...

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