Summary info. about Thuravoor Narayana Shastri, Sanskrit scholar and eminent grammarian of late 1800s and early 1900s from Kerala

Last updated on 8 Mar. 2023

Copied with link updates from ravisiyer.blogspot.com on 14 Apr. 2023, first published there on February 26, 2023

This post provides a summary of what I know so far about Thuravoor Narayana Shastri (or Sastri or Sastrigal) (TNS) who is my great-grandfather. Note that R. Narayana Sastri or Sastrigal or Sastriar also refers to TNS. Also sometimes the honorific prefix of Brahmasri is used for his name.  This post also provides reference links for details which are typically other posts of mine.

I have provided it as a set of points rather than as a biographical note. I don't think I have enough info. about TNS to write a biographical note. Further, I think writing such a note would require some visits to Thuravoor and Thiruvanthapuram to get a decent background about TNS life and his times. I am not in a position to make such visits. 

In future, if somebody wants to write a biographical note on TNS they may find this summary note useful.

1. For a picture of TNS with A. R. Rajaraja Varma (ARRV) and others, see Ref. 11.
2. The earliest reference I could get to TNS is sometime in the period 1875 to 1880 when ARRV and TNS were taught Sanskrit Kavyas, Natakas, Vyakarna and Alamkara by Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran (KVVKT) in Harripad.  For more, see Ref. 1. I say 1875 to 1880 as KVVKT's wiki page states that as his period of stay in Haripad.
3. In Kollam year 1056 (which would be 1881 CE) TNS went to Thiruvananthapuram with ARRV, and by this time TNS "was a knowledgeable & famous person in the field of (Sanskrit) literature and grammar". For more, see Ref. 2.
4. In 1889, Maharaja's Govt. Sanskrit College started functioning. "The syllabus for the courses at the institution prepared at the instance of Kerala Varma by A.R.Rajaraja Varma and Thuravoor Narayana Sastrikal was scrutinized and approved by him with the necessary modifications. The question papers for the examination used to be set up and answer scripts valued under his supervision. It was indeed a great privilege for him to see that his favourite students Rajaraja Varma and Narayana Sastrikal become principals of the college.". For more, see Ref. 1.
5. TNS was principal of Maharaja's Govt. Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram from 1909 to 1911. The web page on history of the college refers to TNS as "Sri Thuravoor Narayana Sasthrigal, the celebrated scholar in Sanskrit grammar," (who became principal). For more, see Ref. 1.
6. In his book, Mani Dipika / Manideepika Sanskrit study guide preface, ARRV provides high appreciation for TNS referring to him as "the foremost among modern grammarians and the headmaster of the Royal Sanskrit PaaTHaSAla of Thiruvananthapuram". ARRV writes, "There were impassable occasions when I could not move forward because of doubts about the fundamental principles of PANinean grammar.  Whenever that happened he (TNS) examined the source texts such as BhAshyam (Patan^jali's MahAbhAshyam) and KaiyyaTa (KaiyyaTa's PRadeepam) and found solutions to objections to my arguments and joined with me to find solutions through grammatical argumentation and decision-making." For more, see Ref. 8.
7. ARRV in his book Laghu Paniniyam, writes in the preface dated 3rd August 1911, "It only remains to me to acknowledge with much gratitude the constant assistance encouragement and advice I have received from my revered uncle and preceptor, M R. Ry Kerala Varma Avl. C.S.I., the doyen of Sanskrit scholarship in South India, and from my fellow-student, former colleague and friend, Brahmasri R Narayana Sastriar, the present head of the local Sanskrit College".  For more, see Ref. 1.
8. ARRV's book Sahitya Kutuhalam "is a collection of some of the early poems of A.R. published with suitable notes by the scholar Thuravoor Narayana Sastrikal". (A.R. refers to ARRV).  The dates provided for some of these poems range from 1887 to 1892. For more, see Ref. 1.
9. The 5 volume/part Kerala Sahitya Charitram (KSC) book by Mahakavi Ulloor has got four significant references to TNS in part 5 which taken together inform us of the following (for more, see Ref. 6):
   • It praises TNS as a great Sanskrit grammarian (MahA-Vaiyaakarana) who gained fame even in distant lands.
   • It states that TNS studied Sanskrit together (for some period) with A.R. Rajaraja Varma (ARRV) under Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, and that TNS was a close companion and colleague of ARRV with one Sanskrit work of ARRV (Sahitya Kutuhalam) having notes of TNS. It states (Malayalam translated to English), "Until his passing away, Thuravoor Narayana Shastri was A.R. Rajaraja Varma’s बहिश्चरप्राण — his own life spirit outside his body. (Thuravoor Narayana Shastri and A.R. Rajaraja Varma had one life breath and two bodies!)"
   • It states that TNS was the teacher of noted author K. Sambasivasastri (KSS) who has a section on him (KSS) in Ulloor's KSC book.
   • It does not mention of any Sanskrit (or Malayalam) book or poem authored by TNS himself, which I think implies that TNS did not publish any significant Sanskrit (or Malayalam) book or poem.
10. The book, Glimpses of Sanskrit Research: A Collection of Research Papers in Sanskrit and English by E. Easwaran Nampoothiry, published in 1995 refes to TNS as eminent grammarian in the 19th century. For more, see Ref. 3.
11. The book Kēraḷīasaṃskṛtasāhityacaritraṃ [History of Sanskrit Literature of Kerala] by Vaṭakkuṃkūr Rājarājavarmmarājā [Vadakkumkur Rajarajavarma Raja], refers to TNS as a famous scholar. For more, see Ref. 10.
12. The book, KERALA VARMA AND HIS WORKS by Dr. Poovattoor Ramakrishna Pillai has a reference to "Narayana Sastri, ‘Sastipurtimangalam’, Vijnanacintamani, dated 1-8-1080 M. E., Pattambi." which may be a reference to TNS and an article published by him in the Sanskrit magazine, Vijnanacintamani, published from Pattambi. The date of 1-8-1080 M. E. could roughly be 1-8-1905 CE. For more, see Ref. 3.
13. The book, Vyaṅgyavyākhyā: The Aesthetics of Dhvani in Theatre by K.G. Paulose, published in 2013, refers to TNS as an eminent traditional scholar of the last century who transcribed a very old palm-leaf manuscript in Sanskrit language in Malayalam script to paper in Devanagari script for the Oriental Manuscript Library Thiruvanantapuram in 1915 CE (ME 1090). For more, see Ref. 4 and Ref. 5.
14. Pandalam Kerala Varma and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer (the same Mahakavi Ulloor whose famous work of Kerala Sahitya Charitram is mentioned earlier in this post) began learning the higher texts of Vyaakarana Mahaabhaashyam of Patanjali and the higher textbooks of Alankaara Shastram (Rhetorics and Poetic Aesthetics) under the guidance of TNS around 1914.  For more, see Ref. 1 and Ref. 7.
15. Book on A.R. Rajaraja Varma titled, "Ē. Ār. Rājarājavarmma - Volume 3" with author listed as "M. Bhagirathy Amma Thampuran", 1963 as publication date possibly, has a picture of a group including R. Narayana Sastrigal (TNS) on page 192. For more, see Ref.11.
16. TNS may have been a poet who composed some poems. Family handed-down accounts state that he composed and chanted/sang verses in praise of the then king of Travancore (in modern-day Kerala), and was rewarded for it with gold ornament(s). For more, see Ref. 9.
17. As per family handed-down info., a portait of TNS was put up in Govt. (Maharaja's) Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram (where he was principal from 1909 to 1911). But in Dec. 2018 when an elder friend of mine visited the college, the then principal did not know about it. The principal and the elder friend looked around among the portraits available to them in the college but could not find any with TNS name on them.
18. In today's Sanskrit academic circles & literature, TNS should have at least some recognition as a Kerala Sanskrit grammarian scholar of the late 19th and early 20th century. Sadly that seems to be completely absent. Given that TNS has been mentioned a few times in 20th century works as an eminent Sanskrit scholar and grammarian, I think it would be appropriate for research scholars on Sanskrit grammarians of 20th and 19th century Kerala to at least mention that TNS has been referred to as an eminent Sanskrit scholar and grammarian. For more, see Ref.12.

References

1. My great-grandfather Thuravoor Narayana Sasthrigal, noted Sanskrit scholar in grammar, and principal of Govt. Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) from 1909-1911,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/my-great-grandfather-thuravoor-narayana.html , published in Dec. 2018, last updated Feb. 2023.

2. Results of Google Books search for തുറവൂർ നാരായണ ശാസ്ത്രി - Malayalam script name of my ancestor Thuravoor Narayana Sastri - and variations,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/results-of-google-books-search-for.html , published in May 2020, last updated June 2020.

3. Other names of my ancestor Thuravoor Narayana Sastrigal like R. Narayana Sastri and Turavur Narayana Sastri, and books mentioning them, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/other-names-of-my-ancestor-thuravoor.html , published in May 2020, last updated Feb. 2023.

4. Pics related to my ancestor Turavur Narayana Sastri's Sanskrit-Devanagari transcription work of Vyangyavyakhya in 1915, from K.G. Paulose's related 2013 book,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/pics-related-to-my-ancestor-turavur.html , published on 21 June 2020.

5. My ancestor Turavur Narayana Sastri named in 21st century books & journal as 1915 Sanskrit transcriber of ancient Tapatisamvarana-dhvani & Subhadradhananjaya-dhvani (Vyangyavyakhya) Kerala drama commentaries related to Kutiyattam, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/my-ancestor-turavur-narayana-sastri.html , published on 23 May 2020.

6. Few significant occurrences of Thuravoor (തുറവൂർ) Narayana (നാരായണ) Shastri name in Part 5 of Ulloor Kerala Sahitya Charitram, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/few-significant-occurrences-of.html , published on 16 Feb. 2023.

7. Great boost from Shri D.K.M. Kartha to increase current knowledge about my great-grandfather, Sanskrit scholar Thuravoor Narayana Shastri, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/great-boost-from-shri-dkm-kartha-to.html , published on 15 Feb. 2023.

8. A.R. Rajaraja Varma's high appreciation for Thuravoor Narayana Shastri in Mani Dipika / Manideepika (4th ed., 1934) Sanskrit study guide preface,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/ar-rajaraja-varmas-high-appreciation.html , published 19 Feb. 2023.

9. My family history and how we moved from traditional South Indian Brahmin occupations to others over generations, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/some-info-and-speculation-about-my.html , published 11 July 2016.

10. I am looking for help from Malayalam script readers to see if my great-grandfather name is mentioned in a history of Kerala literature book, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/i-am-looking-for-help-from-malayalam.html , published 13 May 2020, last updated on 1 Mar. 2023.

11. Century old picture of Sanskrit scholar Thuravoor Narayana Sastrigal (my ancestor) with A. R. Rajaraja Varma and others, most probably taken in early 1900s,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/century-old-picture-of-sanskrit-scholar.html , published on 7 Mar. 2023

12. Why is Thuravoor Narayana Shastri not mentioned as eminent Sanskrit scholar and grammarian of 18th-19th century in current articles about past Kerala Sanskrit scholars?,  https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/why-is-thuravoor-narayana-shastri-not.html , published 3 Mar. 2023.

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Readers may also want to visit this post of mine which mentions a few more posts besides the above references: List of my posts about my ancestor Thuravoor Narayana Shastri, noted Sanskrit Grammarian of late 1800s and early 1900s, based in Kerala, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/p/list-of-my-posts-about-my-ancestor.html , published 15 Feb. 2023.