Achyuta Pisharati

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Thrikkandiyoor Achyuta Pisharati (1550 – 1621) was a renowned Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer, astronomer and mathematician of his time. He was a student of Jyestadeva and a member of Madhava of Sangamagrama's Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. He is remembered mainy for his part in the composition of his student Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri's devotional poem, Narayaneeyam.

Works

He discovered the technique of 'the reduction of the ecliptic'. He authored Sphuta-nirnaya , Raasi-gola-sphuta-neeti (raasi meaning zodiac, gola meaning sphere and neeti roughly meaning rule), Karanottama (1593) and a four- chapter treatise Uparagakriyakrama on lunar and solar eclipses.

Narayaneeyam

Pisharati is known to have scolded and provoked an errant Narayana to take up the Brahmin's duties of prayer and religious practices. He accepted Narayana as his student. Later when Pisharoti was struck with paralysis (or rheumatism by another account), Narayana, unable to bear the pain of his dear guru, by way of Gurudakshina took the disease upon himself. As a result Pisharoti is said to have been cured, but no medicine could cure Narayana. As a last resort, Narayana went to Guruvayur and requested Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a great devotee of Guruvayoorappan, to suggest a remedy for his disease. Ramajunan Ezhuthachan advised him to compose a poetical work on the Avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu beginning with that of Matsya (Fish). Narayana composed beautiful slokas in praise of Lord Guruvayurappan and recited them before the deity. He was soon cured of his disease.

The book of slokas written by Narayana were named Narayaneeyam. The day on which Narayana dedicated his Narayaneeyam to Sri Guruvayurappan is celebrated as "Narayaneeyam Dinam" every year at Guruvayur.