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'''Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad''' (1891-1981) was a [[Nambudiri]] [[Brahmin]] in the State of [[Kerala]] in [[India]] who helped rejuvenate interest in the Indian traditional [[architecture|architectural]] styles known collectively as [[Vastu shastra]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} He was a consultant for the renovation of many temples in [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Karnataka]], and also the Royal Architect for the three royal families of [[Travancore royal family|Travancore]], [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] and Kozhikode (Calicut).{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} He was a prolific writer authoring more than a hundred books on a variety of books relating to [[traditional knowledge]] areas like [[vastu shastra]] (architecture),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kanippayyur Shankaran naboodiripad|title=Manuṣyālaya candṟika|date=1965|publisher=Pañcāṃgaṃ Pustakaśāla|location=Kunnamkulam, Kerala|url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/003452154}}</ref> [[Hindu astrology|jyothisha]] (astrology and astronomy), ayurveda (Indian system of medicine), and also books on history.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad|title=Āryanmāruṭe kuṭiyēṯṯaṃ, Kēraḷattil|date=1966|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b4gRAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> He compiled a [[Sanskrit]]-[[Malayalam]] Dictionary and a Dictionary of Indigenous Medicines.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kanippayyur Sankaran Nambudiripad|title=Vaidyarantnam ausadhanighantu|date=1965|publisher=Pañcaṅgam Pustakaśāla|location=Kunnamkulam, Kerala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVo-AAAAIAAJ}}</ref>

Sankaran Namboodiripad was born as the ninth child of Kanippayyur Subramanian Namboothiripad, who himself was a great scholar in vasthu vidya, and Kanippayyur Kali Antharjanam.<ref>{{cite web|last1=K Raman Bhattathiripad|title=Contributions of Namboothiris in "Vaasthu Vidya"|url=http://www.namboothiri.com/articles/vaasthuvidya.htm|website=Namboothiri websites|publisher=Namboothiri websites Trusst|accessdate=23 November 2015}}</ref> (According to some [[Keralolpathi|legends]], after [[Parasurama]] created Kerala from the sea, the practice of various professions essential for the society were distributed among different families. In this process, Kanippayyur was a Namboothiri family to which was assigned the profession of architecture and construction of temples.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/kanippayyur-krishnan-namboothiripad/26|website=Kerala tourism|publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala|accessdate=23 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192908/https://www.keralatourism.org/leadinglights/kanippayyur-krishnan-namboothiripad/26|url-status=dead}}</ref>) He had his traditional primary education and Rig Vedic studies at home. He took higher lessons in Rigveda at the famous Vedic School at Thrissur and became well versed in Sthapathya Veda and Astrology under the tutelage of his elders. He also studied Ayurveda. He rejuvenated Vaastu Shastra and popularized it further.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} He also started work centers for making icons and other ancillaries connected with temples.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad|url=http://kanippayyur.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=66|website=Kanippayur Nurturing Tradition|accessdate=23 November 2015}}</ref> Kannippayur Narayanan Namboothiripad is often quoted from this family nowadays as he is a renowned Astrologer appearing in TV Shows, Online etc.

==Panchangam Press==
In 1929, Shankaran Namboodiripad established a printing press in [[Kunnamkulam]] to print mainly the [[almanac]]s prepared by him and other members of his family. The press, named Panchangam Press, has developed into an icon of Kunnakulam producing books related to Hindu religious practices. The press has brought out works on many knowledge systems like [[Vedas]], [[Brahmanas]], [[Aranyaka]]s, [[Upanishads]], [[Vedanga]]s, Upavedas, Epics and [[Puranas]], [[Tantra]], [[Mantra]], classical Sanskrit literature, etc.
==Research Library==
The descendants of Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad have established a research library in memory of Shankaran Namboodiripad at Kunnamkulam to continue the scholarly traditions of learning and research established by him. The Library founded in 1990 aims to be a repository of palm leaf manuscripts and books related to traditional Indian systems of knowledge, and to be a center for the propagation of such knowledge by bringing out translations of works in these knowledge areas. The Library also aims to be a pioneer in the popularization of Sanskrit language among the younger generation. The Library has procured large collections of manuscripts and books held in many [[Namboothiri]] houses.

==Works==
* Ent̲e smaraṇakaḷ
* Āryanmāruṭe kuṭiyēt̲t̲aṃ, Kēraḷattil (4 Vols.)
* Vaidyaratnaṃ auṣadhanighaṇṭu : Grāhyāṃśaṃ Aṭaṅṅiyatȧ. Sampādakan
* Nāyanmāruṭe pūrvvacaritr̲aṃ.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Results for 'au:Sankaran Nambudiripad, Kanippayyur,' [WorldCat.org]
|url = http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au:Sankaran+Nambudiripad,+Kanippayyur,&qt=hot_author
|date = 2018-05-20
|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20180520021016/http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au:Sankaran+Nambudiripad,+Kanippayyur,&qt=hot_author
|archivedate = 2018-05-20
|access-date = 2018-05-20
|url-status = live
}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu temple architecture]]
[[Category:Architecture in India]]

Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad - Revision history

DottyN0357445099 at 13:56, 9 June 2025