Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran

Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran (1864 - 1914) 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. Born on 18 September 1864 (i.e., Malayalam era 1040 Kanni 4.). His father was Venmani Achhan Nambudiripad and mother was Kunjippilla Thampuratti. In his childhood he was known by his nickname "Kunjikkuttan". His family teacher, Valappil Unni Ashaan was his first teacher. Later he studied under Moonnaamkoor Godavarma Thampuran. He learned Tarka Shastra from Vidwan Kunhirama Varman Thampuran and Jyothisha from Valiya Kochunni Thampuran. He started writing poetry in ME 1047. At the age of 16, turned full-time to writing poetry. Started in Sanskrit. Turned to writing poetry in Malayalam under the influence of Venmani Achan and Venmani Mahan. He married Kodungallur Koippalli Pappiyamma at his age of 21. In ME 1062, at his age of 22, his first book "Kavibharatam" was published. At his age of 39, when Pappiyamma died, he married Thrissur Kizhakke Srambil Kuttipparu Amma. Later he married Sridevithampuratti of Zamorin family. In 1914 January 22 (i.e. on Makaram 10th of ME 1088), at his age of 49, he died.