Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker (a.k.a. Mooloor Asān or Sarasa Kavi, meaning "humour poet") (1869-1931) was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

region of present-day

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 ...

Early years

Padmanābhan was born in his mother's ancestral home named ''Kaavil'' near Panayannaarkavu, close to the town of Mannar in Central Travancore in 1869 ( Malayalam year Kumbhom 27, 1044). His father was Mooloor Sankaran

Vaidyar Vaidya (Sanskrit: ), or vaid is a Sanskrit word meaning "doctor, physician". Today it is used to refer to traditional practitioners of Ayurveda, an indigenous Indian system of alternative medicine. Senior practitioners or teachers were called ''Va ...

and mother was Veluthakunj Amma. Both his parents were from well educated, prosperous and respected

Ezhava The Ezhavas, () also known as ''Thiyya'' or ''Tiyyar'' () in the Malabar region, and Chovar () in the south, are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as Kerala, where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the po ...

families. Kaavil was a family of traditional ayurvedic physicians, and the Mooloor family was well known for its ''

Kalari A kalari is a gymnasium or training space primarily associated with the martial art of Kalaripayattu. The word ''kalari'' comes from Tamil. In the past, village schools in Tamilnadu, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were k ...

'' (martial art), natural treatments,

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 ...

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

, and spirituality. Mooloor's poetic masterpiece, ''Kirathom'', was what brought him accolades from different quarters in his teens. His literary masterpiece, ''Kavi-Ramayanam'', which he wrote at the age of 25, is deemed to be the motivational force behind the 1936

Temple Entry Proclamation The Temple Entry Proclamation was issued by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma on November 12, 1936. The Proclamation abolished the ban on the backward and marginalised communities, from entering Hindu temples in the Princely State of ...

, which abolished the ban on backward caste people entering

Hindu temple A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to Hindu deities, deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to who ...

s in the state of

Early poetic days and major works

Padmanābhan initially studied

Ayurveda Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

kalari A kalari is a gymnasium or training space primarily associated with the martial art of Kalaripayattu. The word ''kalari'' comes from Tamil. In the past, village schools in Tamilnadu, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were k ...

etc. from his father Muloor Sankaran Vaidyar. He started writing poems right from his childhood. He is a man of letters who dedicated his life not only for the literary work but also for his community (

) and the state (

) as a whole. He was a member in the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha from 1914 onwards. He was an excellent orator as well. His major works include: "Nalacharitham", "Krishnarjuna Vijayam", "Kiratham" ("Ammanappattukal"), "Asannamarana Chintha Sathakom" (a poem that won a

Bhashaposhini ''Bhashaposhini'' is an Indian monthly magazine. It is one of the oldest Malayalam literary review magazines. History and profile ''Bhashaposhini'' was first published in 1892 as a literary journal of the Bhashaposhini Sabha. The founding edito ...

award), "Krishanrjuna Vijayam", "Kuchelavrutham" (Katha Kali literature), "Kokila Sandesam", "Avasarokthimala", "Theendal Gadha", "Moonnu Tharattukal", "Kavithaniroopanam", "Balabodhanam", "Neethisara Samuchyam", "Pooppadappattu", "Kalahamsam" (poems), "Sanmarga Chandrika", "Dharmapadam" (translations), and "Subhadraharanam" (drama).

Mezhuveli Anandabhootheshawaram Temple

Mezhuveli Anandabhootheshawara Temple is situated at the heart of Mezhuveli. This temple was built by Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker. The prathishta and pooja was performed by

Sree Narayana Guru Sree 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 spirit ...

. This century-old temple was built on a place called ‘Tholekavu’, which was surrounded by a small hill called ‘Meenchirakkal Hill’ on the southern side, ‘Ambottimodi’ (also called ‘Kailasam’) on the east, a beautiful stream flowing on the western side near 'Pottanmala’ and on the north side ‘Padmanabhan Kunnu’, a small hill. Tholekavu was a small forest, which is believed to be a part of the

Pandalam Pandalam is a municipality in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is known for its connection with Ayyappan and Sabarimala. It recognised ''as the cultural capital of Travancore'', Pandalam hosts educational institutions rang ...

Kingdom.

Career

He was the first editor of the ''

Kerala Kaumudi ''Kerala Kaumudi'' is a Malayalam language daily newspaper published from Kerala, India, headquartered in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It was founded in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman as a periodical. His son K. Sukumaran later served as ...

'' daily and founder of the 78-year-old Padmanabhodayam English School in the small hamlet of Mezhuveli. The late Kerala Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran conferred the ''Sarasakavi'' title on Mooloor in 1913. The Government of

nominated him as a member of the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha, the precursor of today's Legislative Assembly. Mooloor was elected vice-president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana ( SNDP) Yogam in the 25th year of its formation. He died on 1931 ( Malayalam Year 1106, Meenam 9).

Educational institutions established by Mooloor

Following are the main educational institutions founded by the poet: * Mezhuveli Padmanabhodayam Higher Secondary School * Gangadhara Vydyasala, Mezhuveli * Keralavarma Vilasom, Lower Primary School, Karakkad Eight lower primary schools in the following places: * Thalachira * Valiyakulam * Kanjeetlukara * Thulikulam * Kumbazha * Chiramel

Elavumthitta Elavumthitta (also ''Elavinthitta, Elavanthitta'') is a town (located near to the border of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta district) in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. The majority of its inhabitants are from Hindu and Christian bac ...

Public Market, which now has several shopping complexes, was a great contribution of this poet, during his period as a Praja Saba member. 'Sree Moola Rajagopala Vilasam' Market he named, now recollects the rule of the Maharajas and Diwans of Travancore.

Mooloor Smarakom (Mooloor Memorial)

Mooloor named his residence ''Kerala Varma Soudham'' as a mark of respect for Kerala Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran, who was his close friend. It was later converted into the Sarasakavi Mooloor Memorial by the State Government in 1989. His home in

is preserved as a monument by the Department of Culture, government of

. The objective of the Mooloor Memorial is to familiarise the present generation with the rich social as well as literary contributions of the poet and to keep his memory alive. This is now famous for "Ezhuthiniruthu" (The starting of writing and reading of children).

References

Pathanamthitta Website

published by Department of cultural Affairs, government of

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 ...

.
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Guru Dileepji Maharaj

{{DEFAULTSORT:Padmanabha, Mooloor S. Narayana Guru Indian male poets 1869 births Malayali people 1931 deaths Members of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly 19th-century Indian poets 20th-century Indian poets Poets from Kerala People from Idukki district Poets from British India