Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala.
Manipravalam മണിപ്രവാളം (Macaronic) was a literary style used in medieval liturgical texts in South India, which used an admixture of Sanskrit and Tamil. Mani-pravalam literally means ruby-coral, where Mani means ruby in Tamil while Pravalam means Coral in Sanskrit. Tamil is referred to as ruby and Sanskrit as coral.
O M C Narayanan Nambudiripad, an eminent sanskrit scholar was born to the famous Nambudiri family of Olappamanna Mana on 24 June 1910 in Vellinezhi. He is known for his translation into Malayalam of the Rigveda. This work titled Rigveda Bhasha Bhashyam is an exhaustive interpretative analysis of the Rigveda alternatively known as Deviprasadam. After his death on 4 April 1989 aged 79, a trust was constituted in his memory. The Deviprasadam Trust at Olappamanna Mana hands out awards annually to honour masters in Sanskrit, Vedas, Malayalam literature and Kathakali.
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature.
Tholan is believed to have been the first Namboothiri poet of Malayalam. Believed to have lived in the 9th century AD, Tholan is thought to have pioneered the use of Manipravalam in poetry. Tholan was a court poet and jester of the Kulasekharas and would write plays in which the Vidooshaka (clown) would parody the Sanskrit verses in Malayalam. This began a long-standing tradition in Koodiyattam and Koothu.
Mezhathol Agnihothri revived the traditions of the ancient Shrauta traditions in Kerala, India the 4th century AD. At that time, Buddhism and Jainism had eroded the ancient Vedic Religion culture of India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 Yaagams. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox Nambudiri Brahmins.
Venmani Vishnu Nambudiripad was an early 19th-century Malayalam poet belonging to the well known Venmani family. He was the uncle of famous Venmani Achhan Nambudiripad. He was also involved in religious and philosophical pursuits. Some of his works include Ganapath Praathal, Raghuvamsam and Samsariyute Paaraavasyam.
Poonthottam Mahan Nambudiri (1857-1946) was a poet from the Venmani School of Malayalam Literature.
Seevolli Narayanan Nambudiri (1868–1905) was a well-known Malayali poet of the Venmani style, who was also an Ayurvedic physician.
A. R. Raja Raja Varma or A R. Rajaraja Varma (1863–1918) was an Indian poet, grammatician and Professor of Oriental Languages at Maharaja's College(present University College), Trivandrum. Rajaraja Varma Koyi Thampuran was born in February 1863 at the Changanachery Lakshmipuram Palace to mother Kunjikkavu Thampuratti and father Vasudevan Namboodiri from the Pattial Illam. He wrote widely in Sanskrit and Malayalam. He is known as Kerala Panini for his contributions to Malayalam Literature. A mixed effect of the influence of the study of British Romantic poets of the 19th century and a renewed interest in the real classics of Sanskrit literature can be seen in his poems. His essays are fine examples of excellent prose.His important works are Kerala Panineeyam, Bhashabhooshanam, and Vritha Manjari. Bhangavilaapam and Malayavilasam are his poems. Bhasha Megha Dootu, Bhasha Kumara Sambhavam, Malayala Sakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, and Charudattam are among his translations. Varma was the moving spirit behind the great literary renaissance in Kerala in the Golden Age of Malaylam literature. Says Ulloor of A.R. Rajaraja Varma, "While others embellished the walls of the mansion of Malayalam literature with their paintings and drawings, A.R. worked both on its foundation and dome and made it a long enduring and imposing structure for the benefit of the people of Kerala. His fame rests on this architectural accomplishment and is bound to last for ever".
Kodungallur Kovilakam, refers to palace of royal family of the late medieval Kingdom of Kodungallur (Cranganore), in the modern-day Kerala state, India. Kodungallur was a feudal principality subordinate to the rulers of the Kingdom of Cochin since the later half of the eighteenth century until the time of Indian independence. Kingdom of Kodungallur was under the protection of the Dutch after 1707 for a few years before returning to its allegiance to the Zamorin. Kodungallur Royal Family had two branches at Chirakkal Kovilakam and at Puthen Kovilakam.
Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran also transliterated as Kotungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran, was a Malayalam poet and Sanskrit scholar lived in Kerala, India. His birth-name was Rama Varma. He is famous for his single-handed, word-by-word translation of entire Mahabharata within 874 days. He is commonly known as Kerala Vyasa, meaning Vyasa of Kerala.
Kunhikuttan Thampuran (1864–1913) was an Indian poet from Kodungallur, Kerala. He was a member of the royal family. He was the son of Venmani Achan Nampoothiripad and Kunchipilla Thampurati and was born on Malayalam era 1040 Kanni 4. His actual name was Rama Varma. He was popularly known as Kerala Vyasan, meaning Vyasan of Kerala.
Moothiringode Chithrabhanu Nambudiripad was a pioneer of popular science writing in Malayalam language and an eminent translator. He was one of the founders of popular science movement in Kerala State, India. He was conferred several awards for his writing and translation, and for contribution to society.
Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad (1891-1981) was a Nambudiri Brahmin in the State of Kerala in India who helped rejuvenate interest in the Indian traditional architectural styles known collectively as Vastu shastra. He was a consultant for the renovation of many temples in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and also the Royal Architect for the three royal families of Travancore, Cochin and Kozhikode (Calicut). He was a prolific writer authoring more than a hundred books on a variety of books relating to traditional knowledge areas like vastu shastra (architecture), jyothisha, ayurveda, and also books on history. He compiled a Sanskrit-Malayalam Dictionary and a Dictionary of Indigenous Medicines.
