Rayiranellur Hill (Pattambi)

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Narayanathu branthan Temple. Naranath Branthan (The madman of Naranam) is a character in Malayalam folklore. He was considered to be a divine person, a Mukhta who pretended to be mad. His chief activity consisted of rolling a big stone up a hill and then letting it fall back down. Unlike Sisyphus, he acted on his own volition rather than under the influence of a curse. There is a large statue of Naranath in Palakkad district of Kerala where he is believed to have lived.

Naranathu Branthan was born as the son of Vararuchi, the famous astrologer who adorned the court of King Vikramadithya. Naranathu Branthan was one among the twelve offsprings or the Parayi petta panthirukulam, of Vararuchi and was brought up in the Naranathu Mangalathu Mana, situated at Chethallur in Palakkad. Branthan came to Thiruvegappura for mastering 'Vedas'. Thiruvegappura and the nearby Rayiranelloor Maountain, which is known as 'Branthachalam', became his usual abode. Due to his strange behavior and odd activities, people perceived him as 'mad'. At Rayiranellor Mountain he had the vision of the Devi (Goddess), and later for the benevolence of the people he enshrined Devi in the Mountain and started his worship there. No clear descriptions have yet been received of Naranath's last days.

Story of Sri Rama Temple at Triprayar

One day Naranathu Branthan came to worship at the temple of Triprayar. He was surprised to see the movement of the altar stone, yet fathomed the reason through his yogic powers. He called the temple Tantri and had a nail driven on the stone, chanting mantras. The movement stopped forthwith. The portion where the nail was thrust can be seen even today.

In order to prevent any decline in the power of the idol on account of the change in its location Naranathu Branthan also arranged to install two goddesses on either side of the deity -Sri Devi on the right and Bhumi Devi on the left.

One of the popular stories which is associated with Naranath Branthan goes as follows. Once Goddess Bhadrakali appeared before him and offered to grant boons to him. But naranath branthan declined to accept the offer. But the goddess persuaded him to ask something for her satisfaction. He then asked the Goddess to make his lifespan increase by one second. The goddess told him that she didn't have the power to do so. Then he asked her to decrease his lifespan by one second. The goddess was unable to grant that too. Frustrated by this, Naranath Branthan asked the Goddess to shift the Manth from his left leg to right leg, which the goddess readily did.

Contemporary Literature

Naranath Branthan is the title character of an acclaimed poem by V. Madhusoodhanan Nair.

Parayi petta panthirukulam, literally meaning the "twelve castes borne from Pariah woman", is an important legend which highlights the evolution of the social structure of ancient Kerala.

The legend is centred around the village of Thrithala. According to this story, a brahmin named Vararuchi married a lower caste woman without knowing her true identity. After the marriage, they set out on a long journey. During the course of the journey, the woman became pregnant several times, and every time she delivered a baby, Vararuchi would ask her if the baby was born with a mouth. On hearing a positive reply, he would ask her to leave her newborn, with the explanation that the god which gave the mouth, would also provide the food. This went on until the twelfth baby was born .This time the wife got disgusted and lied to the same old question of her husband. On hearing this, Vararuchi asked for the baby. But the mouth of the baby had really disappeared. Then the Legends have that Vararuchi enshrined the baby on the nearest hill alive.

Vayillakkunillappan is still revered as a deity in Vayillakkunillappan temple in the Palghat district of kerala.

Each of other eleven babies were taken up by people of different castes and they grew up in that caste, making the legendary 'Panthirukulam'. They all became famous in their lives and many tales are attributed to them.

The names of the twelve people are Mezhathol Agnihothri, Pakanar, Perumthachan, Rajakan, Vallon, Vaduthala Nair, Uppukootan, Akavoor Chathan, Karakkal Amma, Pananaar, Vayillakunnilappan and Naranath Bhranthan.


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