KRISHNATTOM

Krishnattom-by P.K.S.Raja-part-1

Krishnagiti was written between 1655 A.D. and 1658 A.D. by the then Zamorin Raja of Calicut, Manavedan Raja. During this period, both Vilwamangalam Swamiyar and the Zamorin Manavedan Raja were staying at Guruvayur. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar was such an ardent devotee of lord Guruvayurappan that he could see the lord in flesh and blood whenever he wanted. One day the Zamorin requested the Swamiyar to help him and show him the Lord. Swamiyar replied that before committing anything he will have to consult Guruvayurappan and get his consent. The next day the Swamiyar told him that Guruvayurappan has given his consent and the Zamorin can see Guruvayurappan playing in the early hours of the morning at the platform of the Elanji tree. When as per this agreement, the Zamorin saw the real Guruvayurappan, he was so excited that he forgot all the environment and decorum, rushed to the Elanji tree and embraced the lord. The lord immediately disappeared saying ' Vilwamangalam did not tell me that this will happen ' . However, during the melee, the Zamorin got one peacock feather from the head gear of Lord Krishna. Then probably to atone for the inadvertent discourtesy shown by him to the Lord, he immediately went to the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Guruvayurappan and pledged that with that feather of peacock, he will make a headgear , compose Krishnagiti in the form of a dance drama and dedicate it to Lord Guruvayurappan. Accordingly with single minded application, he wrote Krishnagiti in eight cantos, and without any assistance did the choreography, all the costume make up including Krishna's headgear, facial make up, details of instruments for the background music and prepared the list of all and sundry articles required for staging the dance drama. He himself selected the artists for the Arangetam and trained them to perform the dance drama. It is to be noted that the Arangetam of all the eight plays viz., Avatharam, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham , Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam were performed near the sanctum sanctorum of the Guruvayur Temple. On the ninth day, Avatharam was repeated as the Zamorin felt that it was not auspicious to end the series with the demise of Lord Krishna. This practice of performing Avatharam after Swargarohanam is being continued to this day.

Originally the performance of Krishnattam was strictly restricted to the Guruvayur Temple, palaces of the members of the Zamorin's family , temples and houses of Namboodiri Brahmins within the jurisdiction of the Zamorin's empire. Performances outside the jurisdiction of Zamorin were strictly prohibited. Only recently, about thirty to forty years ago this restriction was removed. Now it can be performed anywhere in the world. In fact a few years ago the troupe went even to Europe and gave performances. Also the Zamorins used to take the original headgear prepared by Manavedan Zamorin along with them when they went out on important occasions, particularly when they went to fight with the neighbouring rulers. But this was lost at the time of invasion of Hyder Ali.

The Zamorin adopted in Krishnattam many features from the dance dramas which were prevalent in Kerala at the time of introduction of Krishnattam. These were Koodiyattam and Ashtapadiyattam. Of this Koodiyattam is most important and is still prevalent in Kerala.