Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan

Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan belonged to  17th century period , is well known as the father of the Malayalam language.  He is also known as Tuñcatt-Eḻuttacchan.  Ezhuthachan  was born in Trikkantiyur,  near the town of  Tirur,  Malappuram in Kerala.

In the name Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, Thunchaththu is his family name, Ramanujan is his personal name  and Ezhuthachan  points to his caste name. Ezhuthachan is an honorific title normally given to great teacher or schoolmaster. As such  his name is transliterated and there are many variations ,including Thunchath Ezhuthachan, Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, and Thunjath Ezhuthachan.

Ezhuthachan’s  works are extremely popular, which also popularized the writing system adopted by him, and that is the current Malayalam alphabet. He wrote Hari Nama Keerthanam to popularize the Malayalam alphabets. The kilippaattu style in Malayalam was introduced by Ezhuthachan.

Ezhuthachan’s “Adhyathmaramayanam” is a major work and a translation of the Ramayana. There have been no  Hindu house in Kerala without a Adhyathmaramayanam. The speciality of his version of Ramayana is that it is full of devotion.  People chant  Adhyathmaramayanam daily in all Hindu homes in Kerala. Keralites celebrate mid-July to mid-August as Ramayana Masam (Ramayana Month) every year.

Adhyathmaramayanam comprises of 6 Kandas: Bala Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Sundara Kanda ,Kishkindha Kanda, Yuddha Kanda.

A memorium has been built at the birth place of Thunchathu Ezhuthachan. His birth place is called as Thunjan Parambu. During Vijayadashami, parents come to Thunjan Parambu with their children ,to introduce them to the world of letters.  Poets and teachers help children to write on the white sands of Thunjan parambu with their fingers.

Related posts:

1. Thunjan Parambu Museum
2. Thunjan Parambu
3. Vijayadashami
4. Niranam Poets