Naranath Bhranthan
Encyclopedia
Naranath Branthan 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 Pattambi, 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 Vikrama. 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 Mountain, 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.
The most famous facet of Naranath Branthan's life is his apparently eccentric habit of rolling big stones up the hill and letting them roll down back, and laughing thunderously on seeing this sight. However this act has been often considered allegorical and has been applied for social critiquing for myriad contexts.
The Naranathu Brandhan Mala (hill) is located at Rayiranelloor in Palakkad district on the Valanchery - Pattambi road after Thiruvegappura Shiv temple. It takes 1.5 hour to climb the hill. Many climb the hill during 1st of Thulam (Oct 18, 2011). On top there is a statue of Naranathu Brandhan. The nearest rail head is Kuttipuram in Malappuram district on the Shornur - Kozhikode route.
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.
Story of Naranath Bhranthan and Bhadrakali
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.
Some more stories
Naranath Bhranthan could eat raw fish from water. He used to roll a big rock uphill and then push it from atop. He would continue to do so all day throughout.
In another story a man wanted to Naranath bhranthan to be his Guru
and followed him. As a good disciple he wished to do everything his Guru did. Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away but the disciple stuck on. After walking for long their mouth was parched and there was no water source nearby. Naranath Bhranthan spotted a blacksmith and asked him to give molten metal to drink, and he drank it. The disciple was sure that he himself couldn't do it. And Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away.
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity...
, he acted on his own volition rather than under the influence of a curse. There is a large statue of Naranath in Pattambi, Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
district of Kerala where he is believed to have lived.
Naranathu Branthan was born as the son of Vararuchi, the famous astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
who adorned the court of Vikrama. Naranathu Branthan was one among the twelve offsprings or the Parayi petta panthirukulam
Parayi petta panthirukulam
Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, is a Malayalam language phase which translates as "twelve kulams born of a Pariah Woman". This phrase is a well recognized as the title of an important legend of ancient Kerala, a southern state in India. The 'Kulams' refer to vocation based hierarchical ethnic groups...
, of Vararuchi and was brought up in the Naranathu Mangalathu Mana, situated at Chethallur
Chethallur
Chethallur is an Indian village situated in Palakkad District of Kerala. The population of the village is around 5000. This village attained the media interest recently, because of the construction of the new muriyankanni bridge. This bridge may reduce the calicut- palakkad distance by around...
in Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
. Branthan came to Thiruvegappura
Thiruvegappura
Thiruvegappura is a Valluvanad village on the bank of river Thutha, a tributary to the Bharathapuzha River, serving as the gateway to Palakkad District, for inboard traffic from the northern Malabar districts of Kerala....
for mastering 'Vedas'. Thiruvegappura and the nearby Rayiranelloor Mountain, 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.
The most famous facet of Naranath Branthan's life is his apparently eccentric habit of rolling big stones up the hill and letting them roll down back, and laughing thunderously on seeing this sight. However this act has been often considered allegorical and has been applied for social critiquing for myriad contexts.
The Naranathu Brandhan Mala (hill) is located at Rayiranelloor in Palakkad district on the Valanchery - Pattambi road after Thiruvegappura Shiv temple. It takes 1.5 hour to climb the hill. Many climb the hill during 1st of Thulam (Oct 18, 2011). On top there is a statue of Naranathu Brandhan. The nearest rail head is Kuttipuram in Malappuram district on the Shornur - Kozhikode route.
Stories of Naranath Bhraanthan
Story of Sri Rama Temple at TriprayarOne day Naranathu Branthan came to worship at the temple of Triprayar
Triprayar
Thriprayar is a place in Thrissur District in the state of Kerala, India, located in the middle of Guruvayur - Kodungallur - Ernakulam Highway , bears a magnificent temple to Sri Rama which is associated with many interesting legends.-History:...
. He was surprised to see the movement of the altar stone
Altar stone
An altar stone is a piece of natural stone containing relics in a cavity and intended to serve as the essential part of an altar for the celebration of Mass in the Latin Church. Consecration by a bishop of the same rite was required...
, 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.
Story of Naranath Bhranthan and Bhadrakali
One of the popular stories which is associated with Naranath Branthan goes as follows.
Once Goddess Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....
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
Filariasis
Filariasis is a parasitic disease and is considered an infectious tropical disease, that is caused by thread-like nematodes belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae"....
from his left leg to right leg, which the goddess readily did.
Some more stories
Naranath Bhranthan could eat raw fish from water. He used to roll a big rock uphill and then push it from atop. He would continue to do so all day throughout.
In another story a man wanted to Naranath bhranthan to be his Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
and followed him. As a good disciple he wished to do everything his Guru did. Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away but the disciple stuck on. After walking for long their mouth was parched and there was no water source nearby. Naranath Bhranthan spotted a blacksmith and asked him to give molten metal to drink, and he drank it. The disciple was sure that he himself couldn't do it. And Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away.