Narayaneeyam Chanting For Relief From Health Problems

Narayaneeyam is a Sanskrit text of medieval origin, composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (1560 – 1666 AD). It is a poetic summary of the Bhagavata Purana, one of the major Hindu scriptures. Bhattathiri was a renowned Sanskrit poet in Kerala. The Bhagavata Purana has about 18,000 verses, mainly devoted to Krishna worship.

Narayaneeyam tells the story of Lord Narayana. It consists of 1035 slokas (verses), divided into 100 dasakams or chapters. Each dasakam has around 10 slokas. The hymn is a condensed version of Bhagavata Purana, which has 18,000 slokas penned by Veda Vyasa. Supposedly, the work has the blessings of Guruvayurappan or Lord Krishna who is the presiding deity of Guruvayur.

Narayaneeyam describes several episodes from the Bhagavata Purana. It talks about the incarnations of Vishnu with great piety. Bhattathiri’s narration turns the episodes into devout prayers, through which he pours out his soul in total surrender to the Lord. The last dasaka, Kesadipaada Varnanam, draws a picture of infant Krishna in all his glory. Reading the Narayaneeyam is believed to heal all kinds of ailments, both mental and physical. Those who read it daily, it is believed, will be able to attain long life, good health and vitality.

Hymn Born of Pain, Has Great Power 

Keralites worship Krishna as Guruvayurappan in Guruvayur, a temple town. Local legends say that Bhattathiri had a Guru called Achyuta Pisharadi, who suffered from severe paralysis and intolerable pain. Bhattathiri wanted to help his guru by finding a cure. So, he prayed that the disease should be transferred to himself, which would free his Guru from his agony. According to the legend, his wish was granted by Lord Krishna. The disease got transferred to him and he became a cripple.

Once, Bhattathiri, who was unable to move, was carried into the Guruvayur temple. There, he met Thunchath Ezhuthachan, a famous Malayalam poet who lived during this period. Ezhuthachan told Bhattathiri that he would be cured if he started his treatment with fish. On hearing this, Bhattathiri’s disciples were shocked as Bhattathiri was a pious Brahmin and a vegetarian. It would be sinful for him to eat fish. But Bhattathiri understood what Ezhuthachan was trying to say - that he would recover from his illness if he composed a hymn praising the incarnations of Lord Krishna which began with Matsya, the fish incarnation.

So, he started composing the Narayaneeyam. Supposedly, he would recite one dasakam, comprising ten verses, daily. It is said that on the hundredth day, he received a vision of the Lord and described his form in a very graphic manner. Following this, his pain vanished, and he was completely cured.