Nuel ID at 17:28, 7 February 2026

2026-02-07T17:28:33Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
'''Manaveda''' ([[Malayalam]] മാനവേദന്‍ (1585–1658 AD) was one of the [[Zamorin]] Rajas of [[Kozhikode]] in northern [[Kerala]], and is renowned as the author of [[Krishnanattam]]. This art is a dance drama and presents the story of [[Krishna]] in a series of eight plays.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Krishnanattam - An Overview |url=https://www.dvaipayana.net/krishnanattam/Krishnanattam.html |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=www.dvaipayana.net}}</ref> [[File:Monument of Manaveda in Guruvayur.jpg|thumb|Monument of Manaveda in Guruvayur]]

The second Manaveda (Ruling period 1658-1662 AD) Asvati Tirunal Manaveda is the one who destroyed the power of the Portuguese with the help of Dutch. He reinstated the Mutta Tavali Prince on the throne of Cochin.<ref name="raja">The contribution of Kerala to Sanskrit Literature; K.Kunjunni Raja; University of Madras 1980; pages 119 to 152</ref>

As he was a patron of letters, [[Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri]] was quite probably a friend of him.<ref name="raja"/>

==Early life==
He was born to the royal family of the [[Zamorin]] Rajas of [[Kozhikode]] in 1585.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvaipayana.net/krishnanattam/manaveda.html|title=Manaveda in a broad perspective |website=www.dvaipayana.net|accessdate=2023-09-28}}</ref>
Though much is not known about parents and childhood, it is said he had education from Anayath Krishna pisharody and Desamangalath varrier. He grew up into a poetic genius and a farsighted ruler.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chintha.com/kerala/krishnanattam-history-origin.html |title=Krishnanattam - History and Origin | chintha |access-date=22 February 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029034755/http://chintha.com/kerala/krishnanattam-history-origin.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Contributions==
Only two of his books are available now - ''[[Krishnanattam]]'' (text is also called Krishnageethi) and ''Purva bharatha chambu'',<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://guruvayurdevaswom.nic.in/krattam.html | title=Krishnanattam | access-date=22 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515073148/http://guruvayurdevaswom.nic.in/krattam.html | archive-date=15 May 2014 | url-status=dead}}</ref> both written in [[Sanskrit]]. The later was completed in A.D 1643, 10 years before [[Krishnanattam]]. His other books are believed to be destroyed in the fire which gutted [[Zamorin]] palace when [[Hyderali]] of [[Mysore]] attacked in 1766.

==Krishnageethi==
The [[Sanskrit]] text based on which [[Krishnanattam]] was created was written on A.D 1653, aged 68. It consists of eight plays: Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham, and Swargarohanam. It is based on 10th and 11th skandhas of [[Bhagavata Purana]] dealing solely with the story of [[Krishna]]. It has also gained inspirations from [[Gita Govinda]] of [[Jayadeva]], Sree krishna vilaasam [[Mahakavya]] and [[Narayaniyam]] of [[Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guruvayur.com/Krishnanattam.htm|title=Welcome|website=www.guruvayur.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301171303/http://www.guruvayur.com/Krishnanattam.htm |archive-date=1 March 2010 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> [[File:Krishnanattam Mudra.jpg|thumb|Krishnan]]
The opening [[Śloka|sloka]] of [[Krishnanattam]] is:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.malayalamresourcecentre.org/Mrc/culture/artforms/krishnanaattam/krishnanaattam.html |title=The Art Forms of Kerala - Krishnanaattam |accessdate=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130704045348/http://www.malayalamresourcecentre.org/Mrc/culture/artforms/krishnanaattam/krishnanaattam.html |archivedate=2013-07-04 }}</ref>

<poem>{{transliteration|ml|Jagathi sukritilokai: nandithaananthidasa
Kalaviranithavamsiibhasamanasamana
Pashupayuvathibhogya devathadevatha sa
Sachalajaladhapaliimechaka me chakaasthu}}</poem>

[[File:Krishnanattam kalari.jpg|thumb|Krishnanattam kalari in Guruvayur near 'Office Ganapathy' temple where the art is taught.]]

Apart from such slokas it is also adorned by many padyageethams like that of [[Gita Govinda]] of [[Jayadeva]]. It is a masterpiece work in [[Sanskrit]] by a [[Keralite]].

===The stories===
[[File:Krishnanattam 1.ogg|thumb|Staged at Melpathur auditorium during utsavam]]The eight plays are: Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kerala.me/art_krishnanaattam.php |title=Krishnanattam, Krishnanattam Dance, Traditional Dance of Kerala, Kerala, Kerala.me |accessdate=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811155136/http://kerala.me/art_krishnanaattam.php |archivedate=2013-08-11 }}</ref> its easily memorised by a [[mnemonic]] "a-ka-ra-ka-swa-bha-vi-swa". On the ninth day, Avatharam is repeated.
The various benefits of Krishnanattam as an offering are:

* Avatharam for a birth of a child.
* Kaliyamardhanam to remove the effect of [[poison]].
* Rasakreeda well-being of unmarried girls, to end disputes between [[wikt:couple|couples]].
* Kamsavaddham to remove [[enemy|enemies]].
* Swayamvaram for a happy [[matrimony]].
* Bana yuddham to remove impoverishment, for good [[farm]] production.
* Vividha vadham to eliminate [[poverty]] and increase yield from farms.
* Swargarohanam for [[peace]] of a departed [[soul]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.guruvayuronline.com/index.php/temple/temple-offerings/special-offerings/179-krishnanattam |title=Krishnanattam |access-date=22 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312135225/http://guruvayuronline.com/index.php/temple/temple-offerings/special-offerings/179-krishnanattam |archive-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==The legend==
[[File:Krishnanattam (théâtre rituel du Kerala).jpg|thumb|Krishnanattam]]King Manaveda told Vilwamangalam about his ambition to view [[Krishna]]. The next day the Swamiyar told him that [[Guruvayurappan]] has given his consent and Manavedan can see [[Guruvayurappan]] playing in the early hours of the morning at the platform of the Elanji tree.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sangeethasabha.blogspot.in/2010/08/manavedans-krishnageethi-story.html |title = Sangeethasabha: Manavedan's 'Krishnageethi'-the story|date = 2010-08-05}}</ref> He could only see and not touch Him. When as per this agreement, Manavedan saw Guruvayurappan in the form of little child Sri Krishna, he was so excited that he forgot himself and, rushed to embrace little Sree [[Krishna]].Guruvayoorappan immediately disappeared saying, "Vilwamangalam did not tell me that this will happen ". However, Manavedan got one [[peacock feather]] from the headgear of Bhagavan Krishna.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Krishnanattam - History and Origin |url=http://chintha.com:80/kerala/krishnanattam-history-origin.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029034755/http://chintha.com:80/kerala/krishnanattam-history-origin.html |archive-date=2018-10-29 |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=www.chintha.com |language=en}}</ref>
The [[peacock]] [[feather]] was incorporated in the headgear for the character of Sri Krishna in the dance drama [[Krishnanattam]] based on his own text krishnageethi which is composed of 8 chapters. It was 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. The blessed art form is still maintained by Guruvayur devaswom and staged as an offering by devotees.

==Late life==
After advent of [[Krishnanattam]] at age of 68 he was till his demise involved in improvising the [[dance]][[drama]]. He died at [[Thrissur]] in 1658 and was cremated at [[Guruvayur]] south of [[Guruvayurappan]] temple. A statue was built at this place, which at present is located near panjajanyam guest house in guruvayur.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indiansinparis.com/events?task=view_detail&agid=335&year=2010&month=3&day=11 |title=Krishnanattam- Classic dance of Kerala | Indians in Paris | |access-date=22 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305034907/http://indiansinparis.com/events?task=view_detail&agid=335&year=2010&month=3&day=11 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery caption="Krishnanattam(കൃഷ്ണനാട്ടം)" widths="200px" heights="150px" perrow="3">
File:Krishnanattam_gryr_1.jpg|
File:Krishnanattam_gryr_2.jpg|
File:Krishnanattam_gryr_3.jpg|
File:Krishnanattam_1.jpg|
File:കൃഷ്ണനാട്ടം_.jpg|കൃഷ്ണനാട്ടം_.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://guruvayurdevaswom.nic.in/krattam.html]
*[http://www.dvaipayana.net/krishnanattam Krishnattam]
*[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/krishnanattam/article4036428.ece?css=print ‘Krishnanattam’]
*[http://indianastro.indianclassicals.com/krishnanattam.htm Welcome to Indian Classicals.Com - Krishnanattam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005190527/https://indianastro.indianclassicals.com/krishnanattam.htm |date=5 October 2023 }}
*[[Bharata Muni]]
*[https://archive.today/20130411160507/http://www.planetsinfolab.com/horizonguruvayur.com/krishnanattam.html krishnanattam]
*[http://indiansinparis.com/events?task=view_detail&agid=335&year=2010&month=3&day=11 Indiansinparis.com - Tourism and Discovery of Paris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305034907/http://indiansinparis.com/events?task=view_detail&agid=335&year=2010&month=3&day=11 |date=5 March 2016 }}
*[https://www.facebook.com/notes/dhyana-sankalpam/krishnan%C3%A2ttam-gods-own-opera/1143904288971937/ Krishnanâttam-God's Own Opera | Facebook]
{{coord missing|Kerala}}

[[Category:Performing arts in India]]
[[Category:Dances of India]]
[[Category:Theatre of India]]
[[Category:Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
[[Category:Arts of Kerala]]
[[Category:Religious vernacular drama]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

Manaveda - Revision history

Nuel ID at 17:28, 7 February 2026