Pandalam Kerala Varma

Kerala Varma (January 1879 – June 1919), most commonly known as Mahakavi Pandalam Kerala Varma (Malayalam: മഹാകവി പന്തളം കേരള വർമ്മ), was an Indian poet, scholar, and publisher. He was born in Pandalam, and belonged to the Pandalam Royal Family. He wrote two mahakavyas, more than a hundred narrative poems, translations, and children's poetry. He is widely regarded as the author of the first complete mahakavya in Malayalam. He was the owner and Chief Editor of Kavana Kaumudi, the first Malayalam periodical, which was also the first to introduce special issues in Malayalam. Kerala Varma was born in Pandalam in 1879, to Kottayam Puthuppally Thrikkonamangalam Desathu Perinjeri Illathu Vishnu Namboothiri and Puthankoikkal Aswathynal Thanwangi Thamburatti. He had two elder brothers and an elder sister. He also had two paternal half-brothers; Neythelloor Koikkal Makayiramnal Kerala Varma Thampuran (1846–1890) and Neythelloor Kottarathil Thrikkettanal Veera Kerala Varma Thampuran. Makayiramnal Kerala Varma Thampuran was the author of Bhoothanatholbhavam thullal and Aardra Maholsavam Sanskrit champu. Thrikkettanal Veera Kerala Varma Thampuran was the author of Rukmamgadacharitham Sanskrit poem and Banayuddham Sanskrit champu. He was also the logical reasoning guru of Pandalam Kerala Varma. Pandalam Kerala Varma's relative Malikathazhe Bharaninal Kerala Varma Thampuran (1823–1883) was an astrology and grammar expert. It is believed that he had predicted that Pandalam Kerala Varma would become famous one day. Another relative, Vadakke Kottarathil Thiruvathiranal Raja Raja Varma Valiya Thampuran (1817–1902), was the author of the hymns Dharmasathru Sathakam, Krishnaleela, Devi Sthothram, Sabarigireesa Sthothram, and Pandalam Mahadeva Sathakam. He took care of Pandalam Kerala Varma's poetic practice and grammatical studies. Thekkekkettil Kottarathil Athamnal Godavarma Valiya Thampuran (1840–1911) was the grammar guru of Pandalam Kerala Varma. Kerala Varma started learning the alphabet at age 3 from Pandalam Achutha Warrier. After Warrier's death, Avittomnal Rama Varma Thampuran became his guru. Kerala Varma learnt Siddha Roopam, Sree Ramodantham, and Amara Kosam by age 10. Thereafter he studied the poems Sree Krishna Vilasam, Naishadheeya Charitha, Kiratharjuneeyam and plays like abhigijñānaśākuntalam. From age 17 to 24, he studied Vyulpathi Vadaparyantham logical reasoning and Praudamanoramantham grammatical lessons. Kerala Varma's upanayana was completed at the age of 14. He started writing Sanskrit poems from age 12, and Malayalam poems from age 19. He was established as a poet by the age of 20. Beside poetry, he was also skilled in other activities. In his childhood, he made a striking clock and a cycle for use in water.