Thuravoor Narayana Sastrigal related passages in A.R. Rajaraja Varma biography by Bhagirathy Amma Thampuran and Raghava Varma

Last updated on 9th May 2023

This post refers to, and covers/describes, the Thuravoor Narayana Sastrigal related passages in A.R. Rajaraja Varma biography of three volumes titled, “Ē. Ār. Rājarājavarmma” Volume 1, 2 and 3, by M. Bhagirathy Amma Thampuran and M. Raghava Varma Raja (daughter and son of A.R. Rajaraja Varma), first published in February 1963 by M. Bhagirathy Amma Thampuran.

This seems to be the Google Books link for the book: https://books.google.co.in/books?id=X4ARAQAAIAAJ .

An elder has very kindly done the laborious task of going through all three volumes of the book, and providing Malayalam text and English translation of all passages related to Thuravoor Narayana Sastrigal (TNS). As the great-grandson of TNS, I (Ravi S. Iyer) am deeply grateful to the elder for this great service he has done.

These passages are a very valuable source of some information about the life and work of TNS. TNS’s contribution and support for some of ARRV’s literary works have been acknowledged by ARRV in the preface of those books, and so were available to us before going through this ARRV biography. The mention of this aspect in this ARRV biography lends important confirmation to it. But some of the other aspects of TNS’s life including his darshan of Jagadguru Shankaracharya and receiving of upadesam from him (along with ARRV), ARRV and TNS discussing Aitareya Upanishad to get solace after a tragedy, how close ARRV and TNS were, ARRV’s role as a patron of TNS and how ARRV greatly helped TNS recover from a serious illness, became known to me only after the elder shared these passages from this ARRV biography and provided their English translation. So, once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the elder for this work. Note that some info. about TNS and ARRV relationship was conveyed orally by my (late) uncle to his son, my cousin. After the elder shared these passages from the ARRV biography which I shared with my cousin, my cousin told me that his father had mentioned some aspects of ARRV relationship with TNS to him (which have some variations from what this ARRV biography says).

I also am very grateful to ARRV for the friendship, kindness and patronage he gave to TNS, and to the authors of above ARRV biography who are ARRV’s children, as otherwise this information about TNS would not have been available to us now.

I did not get a response from an email seeking permission to publish TNS related passages that I sent to the publishers who now seem to own the copyright for the book as per a relative of one of the authors. So I cannot share those passages in this post here, except for three such passages which I think comes within fair deal aspect of Indian copyright law.

The pic below has the Title-Verso page of Volume 3 of the book set used by the elder and has important publication details.

[On PC desktop/laptop, to open pic in larger resolution (if available), right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.]

All the references to TNS found the elder are mentioned below. Three of the TNS passages in the book given below having Malayalam text followed by English translation have been provided by the elder.  For the other passages related to TNS, I have provided some info. about it in English based on the elder's translation (but not provided the translation). The book volume number and page number(s) of the passages are also mentioned. 

Note that the year dates mentioned in the passages are usually in Malayalam Era (or Kollam Era). 825 has to be added to Malayalam Era year to arrive at the rough Common Era (CE) year which is normal usage for date years nowadays. It is a rough calculation as sometimes the CE year so calculated could be off by 1 year. 1060 year in passage below is roughly 1060+825 i.e. 1885 year in our usage now (CE).

The acronym TNS stands for Thuravoor Naryanana Sastrigal and the acronym ARRV stands for A.R. Rajaraja Varma.

My comments are provided at times, identified by “[Ravi: …]”.

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Volume 1, chapter 3, page 66

This passage is about TNS (and one more person) joining the group of students who were being taught samskr^tam by Kerala Varma Valiya Koyithampuran, some time after the teaching began. TNS is referred to as "nArAyaNan KuTTy". TNS (and the other person) thus became classmates of ARRV. It also states that TNS (and the other person) moved to Thiruvananthapuram with ARRV, with the permission of Kerala Varma Valiya Koyithampuran.

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Volume 1, chapter 5, page 92

This passage is about frequent literary meetings of friends of ARRV with TNS being one of these friends in MooTattumaTham (मूटत्त्तुमठँ ).

Note:

MooTattumaTTham was a house where ARRV lived between 1060 and 1070 and it was situated in Changanassery. It was a meeting place for many creative geniuses like ARRV.

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Volume 1, chapter 6, page 131

The Malayalam text and English translation by the elder are provided below.

ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു നാടകമെഴുതുവാൻ ചരിത്രനായകനെ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ച കാരണങ്ങൾ അവിടത്തെ സ്നേഹിതനും സഹകാരിയും ആയിരുന്ന ബ്രഹ്മശ്രീ തുറവൂർ നാരായണ ശാസ്ത്രികൾ പ്രസാധനം ചെയ്തിട്ടുള്ള "സാഹിത്യകുതൂഹല"ത്തിൽ പ്രസ്തുതകൃതിയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള പ്രസ്താവങ്ങളിൽ വിശദീകരിയ്ക്കപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്.

The reasons that prompted the subject of this biography (ARRV) to write such as drama (named GaiRvANee vijayam  गैर्वाणीविजयं) have been explained in detail in the portions about that drama in sAhitya kutoohalam, a book (by ARRV) edited by BrahmaSRee turavooR nArAyaNa SAstRikaL, a friend and colleague (cooperator) of ARRV.

Note:

The drama focused on the happiness of lovers of Sanskrit about the opening of an institution that promoted Sanskrit without any competition with English learning, an effort supported by the ruling king SReemoolam tirunAL.  The reference is to the samskr^ta pATaSAla संस्कृत पाठशाला in Thiruvananthapuram where ARRV was working at one time as an Examiner (परिशोधक)

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Volume 1, chapter 7, pages 148–9

This passage is about ARRV telling the (Sanskrit) Shastri scholars about desirability of learning English. This resulted in GaNapati SAstRikaL and tuRavoor nArAyaNa SAstRikaL becoming disciples of ARRV in English language education.

Note

The paragraph goes on to say that GS benefitted most from it as evidenced by his editorship of the celebrated TVM Sanskrit Series.  It does not mention anything more about TNS.

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Volume 1, chapter 7, page 159

Diary entry by ARRV

This passage is about a picnic at a cool stream resort for which ARRV, TNS and the king of Poonjar travelled by a bullock cart in 1072.

[Ravi: 1072 ME is 1897 CE. Quite interesting to read about this picnic at a cool stream resort for which they had to wake up at 3 AM and travel by bullock cart.]

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Volume 1, chapter 7, page 166

The Malayalam text and English translation by the elder are provided below.

1056 -ആമാണ്ടുതന്നെ രാജരാജവർമ്മയുമൊന്നിച്ചു തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തേയ്ക്ക് പോന്നിരുന്ന തുറവൂർ നാരായണശാസ്ത്രികൾ  അപ്പോഴേയ്ക്കും ഒരു നല്ല വൈയാകരണനും പണ്ഡിതനും

ആയിക്കഴിഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. സാഹിത്യപരമായതും വ്യാകരണസംബന്ധമായും ഗുണദോഷവിവേചനം ചെയ്യുന്നതിൽമാത്രമല്ല, ഏതു കൃതിയുടെയും ന്യൂനതകൾ കണ്ടുപിടിയ്ക്കുന്നതിലും ശാസ്ത്രികൾ അതിസമർത്ഥനായിരുന്നു. രാജരാജവർമ്മയുടെ കൃതികൾ എല്ലാം തന്നെ  ശാസ്ത്രികളാണ് മുൻപേ വായിച്ചു നിരൂപണം ചെയ്യാറുണ്ടായിരുന്നത്. ശാസ്ത്രികളുടെ നിരൂപണം അനുസരിച്ചു മാറ്റങ്ങൾ ചെയ്തതിനു ശേഷമേ രാജരാജവർമ്മ സ്വകൃതികൾ വലിയ കോയിത്തമ്പുരാനെപ്പോലും  കാണിയ്ക്കാറുണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ.  രാജരാജവർമ്മയെ സംബന്ധിച്ചേടത്തോളം ശാസ്ത്രികൾ കുറ്റം പറയുന്നതിൽ തുലോം കൂടുതൽ അഭിനന്ദിയ്ക്കുകയാണ് ചെയ്തിട്ടുള്ളതെന്നുള്ള പരമാർത്ഥവും വ്യക്തമാക്കിക്കൊള്ളട്ടെ. 

tuRavooR nArAyana SAstRikaL, who had gone with Rajarajavarmma by 1056 itself to Thiruvananthpuram had by then (1070) become good Grammarian and Scholar.  SAstRikaL was very skilled not only in making grammatical and literary judgement -- finding out merits and demerits of a work -- but also in finding out the defects of any piece of writing.  Customarily, it was SAstRikaL who first read every book by Rajarajavarma and offered his criticism.  Rajarajavarma made changes in accordance with the suggestions made by SAstRikaL, and then only he showed his manuscripts even to Valiya Koyithampuran (his Guru and Uncle).  As far as Rajarajavarma was concerned, it should be clarified, SAstRikaLmostly had more reason to praise the former's work than to find fault with (implying the errors were far in between).

Note

This para comes in the section where the authors talk about friends and colleagues of ARRV.

[Ravi: 1056 ME is 1881 CE. So this tells us or implies that TNS (with ARRV) had moved to Trivandrum/Thiruvananthapuram in 1881. TNS would have moved from Thuravoor where TNS was based earlier and nearby places like Harripad where TNS and ARRV during their boyhood, studied Sanskrit together under Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran – KVVKT, sometime in the period 1875 to 1880. For more, see my post: Summary info. about Thuravoor Narayana Shastri, Sanskrit scholar and eminent grammarian of late 1800s and early 1900s from Kerala, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/summary-info-about-thuravoor-narayana.html .  

When was TNS born? ARRV was born in 1863 CE as per his wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Raja_Raja_Varma . As TNS and ARRV studied Sanskrit together under KVVKT as boys, it is reasonable to presume that their birth years would be close. So I will venture to speculate that TNS was born in the period 1860 to 1865 CE, which would make his age somewhere between 16 to 21 years, when he seems to have moved to Trivandrum in 1881CE.

The other critical info. about TNS is that by 1070 ME which is 1895 CE, TNS had acquired a name as a good Sanskrit grammarian and scholar. Based on our previous speculation, TNS would have been between 30 to 35 years old in 1895 CE. TNS’s good grammatical and literary judgement as well as skill in finding defects in any piece of writing, are explicitly mentioned. Further, this ARRV biography confirms what is mentioned in other sources that TNS would read ARRV’s manuscripts (of Sanskrit works, one presumes), suggest changes which would be incorporated by ARRV, and only then would ARRV show the (improved) manuscripts to others (and publish some of them, one presumes). This acknowledgement of TNS’s contribution to ARRV’s works, presumably Sanskrit works, by ARRV’s children-authors in this ARRV biography is a powerful testament to these contributions by TNS. However, in current writings about Sanskrit works of the late 19th and early 20th century (late 1800s to early 1900s), while ARRV’s name seems to be prominently mentioned, there is very little or no mention of TNS. That is not fair to TNS, IMHO. I think when ARRV’s name is mentioned in this context, it should also be mentioned that TNS played this significant editorial role for ARRV’s Sanskrit works.]

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Volume 2, page iii

This passage mentions ARRV receiveing a raise in salary in 1079 and TNS taking charge as ARRV's Sanskrit teacher colleague in the college in 1079 (same year).

Note:  This is a part of the Chronology given at the beginning of the book.  And this is the only part where TNS is mentioned.

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Volume 2, chapter 1, page 27

This passage mentions that in 1079 the College's Sanskrit Pandit retired and based on ARRV recommendation TNS who was ARRV's trusted colleague and "a lion among Scholars" (vidvat-kEsari विद्वत् केसरी) was appointed as the Sanskrit Pandit and PK Narayana Pilla was appointed as the Malayalam Professor.

Note:  This provided ARRV with some free time, which he appears not to have had without the assisting teachers who were actually colleagues.

[Ravi: Fascinating! We are getting a better picture of TNS and ARRV relationship. The diary notes are particularly interesting as they are based on what ARRV himself had written.

1079 ME is 1904 CE. TNS is referred to as ARRV’s colleague at the Sanskrit college implying that TNS was already associated with the Sanskrit college and got a sort-of promotion or regular appointment as “Sanskrit Pandit”.  However the following passage seems to refer to the same appointment but this time the description mentioned is “assistant teacher”.

As per other sources, TNS has been stated as having an official designation of “Sanskrit assistant” of Sanskrit college in some references and as “Headmaster” of Sanskrit Paatashaala in some other references. The “Sanskrit Pandit” reference in ARRV book mentioned above may be only an informal description. Coming from a traditional Sanskrit paatashaala background, TNS seems to have lacked academic qualifications of European standards, and so would not have been given a more fitting official designation like that of Sanskrit teacher or Sanskrit pandit/pundit in the larger Maharaja’s science and arts college which seems to have been a European academic system type college, and of which the Sanskrit paatashaala seems to have been a small part. For more, see my blog post: Sahitya Kutuhala: Almost century old book in Sanskrit using Malayalam script; Cover page in English shows my great-grandfather R. Narayana Sastri as Editor and A.R. Rajaraja Varma as author, https://tnarayanasasthri.blogspot.com/2023/04/sahitya-kutuhala-almost-century-old-book.html .]

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Volume 2, chapter 5, page 195-196

This passage mentions ARRV's many submissions to the government about a salary raise for ARRV and appointment of two assistant teachers, finally getting accepted. ARRV's salary was raised to Rs.200 -- 300 scale, and both the persons (nArAyaNa SAstRikaL and nArAyaNa PiLLa) recommended by him were appointed as assistant teachers. With a lot of happiness and pride, ARRV took the two teachers (TNS and the other teacher) to the class for introductions. ARRV had complete faith in skills and ability of both the teachers to do their duties well.

Not only were these two teachers colleagues of ARRV at the college but they were colleagues in the literary work done by ARRV at home. TNS was editor of sAhitya kutoohalam, a collection of some of the lighter writings of ARRV.

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Volume 2, Chapter 5, page 209

This passage mentions that many literary men would gather in ARRV's residence in Trivandrum and that TNS was almost a daily visitor.

Note:

The time period is 1080 - 1081.

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Volume 2, Chapter 7, page 279

This passage mentions a diary entry of ARRV in 1083 where he wrote about discussions with the Diwan (Sir P. Rajagopalachari) on many things including TNS appointment as Headmaster of Sanskrit college, and that the Sanskrit college would once again come under ARRV's supervision.

Notes:  1. No decision was taken, it seems, but discussions went on.  The only fait accompli seems to be TNS's appointment as the Headmaster.

2. The previous dated entry in the diary was for 1083 Makaram 27, and then the biographers write "one month later."  That is why I gave the date as 1083 Kumbham).

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Volume 2, Chapter 7, page 280

This passage is about PK NaraayaNa PiLLa resigning his position as ARRV's Malayalam assistant as he passed Bachelor of Law exam in 1084 (1909 CE) and that two weeks later TNS was appointed as Headmaster of Sanskrit college. Thus two close colleagues of ARRV left him in a short span of time,

Note:  Once a person became a Bachelor of Law, a lucrative and prestigious legal career awaited him in those days.

[Ravi: The 1909 year mentioned above for TNS being appointed as headmaster of Sanskrit college fits in with Maharaja’s Govt. Sanskrit College list of principals board where TNS is mentioned as principal from 1909-1911. For more, see my post: 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 .]

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Volume 2, Chapter 7, page 292

This passage is about Jagadguru SankarAchArya's holy visit to Kaaladi for a temple PRatishTTha (ritual establishment of the idol) in 1910. In that visit, ARRV received UpadESam of Brahmavidya, which is the highest gift a Hindu can ever receive, from the Jagadguru. TNS was only the other person in Travancore (southern Kerala) who had got such good fortune (of receiving Brahmavidya initiation).

Note:  As far as I know, the UpadESam involves the Guru whispering in the ears of the receiver one of the four MahAvAkya-s from the Vedas, namely, tat-tvam-asi, or PRajn^Anam brahma:, etc.) which is appropriate to the specific Matham, मठम् and certain other injunctions with a MooRti to worship from thereon.

At a later point, it is clarified that TNS accompanied ARRV during his trip from TVM to Aluva, a distance of 220 km perhaps by train.

[Ravi: The Jagadguru SankarAchArya’s Kaaladi visit is covered in later passages as well. I have provided an elaborate comment there. It should be noted from this passage that His Holiness visited Kaaladi in 1910 CE to perform the ritual establishment of an idol in a temple. This ties in to some info. I have shared from a website in my later comment.]

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Volume 2, Chapter 9, page 388

This passage is about social life and mentions literature-loving persons which list includes TNS.

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Volume 2, Chapter 10, page 409

This passage is about the preface of MaNideepikA  where ARRV mentions the very audacious task of reforming grammar of PANini MahaRshi

Note:  The rest of the sentence continues on page 410. 

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Volume 2, Chapter 10, page 410

This passage continues the preface to MaNideepika where ARRV mentions that he would not have the courage to do that taks but for agreement and support of TNS, foremost of the modern grammarians and headmaster of the Royal Sanskrit Paathasaala, on every point.

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Volume 2, Chapter 10, page 413

This passage is about ARRV writing LaghupANineeyam (SImplified PANineeyam) and showing his writings to TNS who congraulated him and encouraged him, resulting in ARRV continuing work on the book at great speed.

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Volume 2, Chapter 11, page 437-438

This passage covers the visit of Jagadguru Shankaracharya during 1085 Christmas holidays. ARRV went to Kollam (Quilon) and TNS joined him there. AARV and TNS listened to evening discourse of the Shankaracharya, and later took part in the pooja conducted by the Shankaracharya.  The next day, the Shankaracharya agreed to give them UpadESam after the UttarAyaNam started at which time, the Shankaracharya would be in Kaladi (Adi Sankara's birthplace).

Note:  UttaraayaNam in India is celebrated to start in January.  Then begins the holier half of the year when the Sun is moving towards the north.  That is the Spring and Summer in the northern hemisphere.

[Ravi: As per the above, ARRV & TNS had darshanam of and upadesam from Jagadguru Shankaracharya in 1085 ME which is 1910 CE. The upadesam was in Kalady. The question that pops up is which Shankaracharya was it. Most probably it would have been one of the two south India Shankaracharyas i.e. Kanchi Shankaracharya or Sringeri Shankaracharya.

I did a Google search for: 1910 visit of Shankaracharya to Kalady .

The tenth result was this page: TEMPLE OF SRI ADI SHANKARACHARYA, KALADY, KERALA, https://www.hinduscriptures.in/sacred-places/temples/temple-of-sri-adi-shankaracharya-kalady-kerala-1  .

It states that Kalady town was brought to the forefront by efforts of "Jagadguru Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Swamigal, the 33rd Peetathipathi of the Sringeri Guru Parampara" and "Sri Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma Maharaja of Thiruvitamcore". Two temples dedicated to Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Goddess Saradamba respectively were established under their supervision in Kalady. "The Kumbabhishekham for the temples were performed on the auspicious Magha Shukla Dwadasi day in the year 1910. The Maha Swamiji  also established the celebration of Sri Shankara Jayanti and Navaratri at Kalady." The Maha Swamiji reference is to the above mentioned Shankaracharya.

Note that an earlier passage from this ARRV biography book mentioned that the Shankaracharya visit to Kalady (or Kaaladi) was to do ritual installation of an idol in a temple. That ties in with the above extract from the above webpage.

Given all the above info., it seems the Shankaracharya who gave upadesam to ARRV and TNS was Sringeri Shankaracharya and not Kanchi Shankaracharya. ]

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Volume 2, Chapter 11, page 440

This passage mentions that ARRV took a week off and went with TNS to Kaladi. The Shankaracharya had arranged for a vehicle to pick up ARRV and TNS from a nearby railway station, and had arranged a house for ARRV and TNS to stay in.

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Volume 2, Chapter 11, page 442

The Malayalam text and English translation by the elder are provided below.

രണ്ടുദിവസം കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ട് സ്വാമികളുടെ തൃപ്പാദസന്നിധിയിൽ വെച്ച് ബ്രഹ്മസൂത്രങ്ങളുടെ ശാങ്കരഭാഷ്യോപദേശം രാജവർമ്മയ്ക്കു ലഭിച്ചു. രണ്ടു മണിക്കൂർ സമയം കൊണ്ടായിരുന്നു, മുറപ്രകാരമുള്ള എല്ലാ കർമ്മങ്ങളോടും  കൂടി അതു  പൂർത്തിയായത്. അദ്ധ്യാസഭാഷ്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു സ്വാമികൾ ഒരു ചെറിയ പ്രസംഗവും നടത്തി. ആ പരിശുദ്ധ സങ്കേതത്തിൽവെച്ച്  ഏറ്റവും വിശിഷ്ടമായ ആ ഉപദേശം ലഭിയ്ക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ഭാഗ്യം  തിരുവിതാംകൂർകാരിൽ ചരിത്രനായകനും നാരായണ ശാസ്ത്രികൾക്കും മാത്രമേ സിദ്ധിച്ചുള്ളൂ എന്നാണറിവ്.

After two days (of arriving in Kaladi), Rajarajavarmma received the UpadESAm of the Sankarabhaashyam of the BrahmasutRa-s sitting at the holy feet of the svAmikaL. It (the UpadESam) was completed with all the customary rituals taking two hours' time. The svAmikal made a short speech about the addhyAsa-bhAshyam. As far as we know, the good fortune to receive that especially sacred and important UpadESam at such a holy center (as Kaaladi) was obtained only by our biography's subject and nArAyaNa SAstRi among folks from Travancore.

Note: addhyAsa bhAshyam -- see https://www.advaita-vedanta.org/articles/adhyasa_bhashyam.htm 

[Ravi: Fascinating to see reverence for Shankaracharya that both TNS and ARRV had, and the blessing of darshan and upadesam they got from the revered Shankaracharya.

This adds the devotional aspect to our knowledge of TNS (and ARRV).]

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Volume 3, Chapter 3, page 77-78

This passage deals with a diary entry of ARRV where he says he spent free time in the college for his SAkuntaLam translation and that he and TNS continued that work from evening to 12 midnight. ARRV was not happy with some translation he did and so discontinued the work.

Note:  This portion of the biography contains various diary entries by ARRV.  It is quite interesting that even in Malayalam translation, TNS was of assistance to ARRV perhaps because of TNS's deep linguistic and literary knowledge.  From the context it is clear that they were using various editions of the KALidAsa play, SAkuntaLam in ARRV's translation work.

Interestingly, this work led to a huge crisis in ARRV's life.  His uncle and Paramaguru, KEraLavaRma Valiya KoyitttampurAn misunderstood it and became hostile. Very hostile.  ARRV was near a mental breakdown because of this enmity of his Guru and Uncle.  In the system of the royals of Kerala, the Uncle on the mother's side is more important than the father, whom the son hardly speaks about.

More surprisingly, it was T Ganapati SAstrikaL and TNS, both disciples of KEraLavarma, who mediated between the nephew and the uncle and brought harmony back into the relationship.  Some others also assisted.  See the next message in this series.

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Volume 3, Chapter 3, page 84-85

Background:

There was a raging literary battle in Kerala in the first decade of the 20th century about formal things in poetry, and in that ARRV and his uncle KVVKT were on opposite sides, which created a distancing between them who were close relatives and had a Guru-Sishya relationship.

Then came the ARRV translation of KALidAsa SAkuntaLam, which made the uncle very angry at the nephew.  A mutual friend agreed to create a rapprochement, but it did not work quickly.  And then ARRV went to Madras (now Chennai) for a Board of Studies meeting.  And then came intervention by GS and TNS.

This passage covers how GaNapati SAstRikal and nArAyaNa SAstRikaL made Keralavarma Valiya Koyithampuran understand how hurt ARRV (his nephew) felt with his words, and got his permission for ARRV to visit him. ARRV then visited his uncle and pay his respects to him.

Note:  This shows how deeply involved TNS was in the scholarly and personal life of ARRV.  Being the direct disciples of KVVKT, they had a special influence on him, which enabled them to create a reconciliation between the two warring scholars.

[Ravi: Fascinating to see the details of TNS (and TGS) relationship with ARRV and KVVKT.]

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Volume 3, Chapter 3, page 97

This passage deals with Valiya Koyil Thampuran's desire for all participants in the conflict reconciling. nArAyaNa SAstRikaL and KESava pilla helped in this matter. ARRV's diary entry for 1088 states that S. ParamESvara Iyer (aka ULLooR) came with KESavapilla and nArAyaNa SAstRikal and expressed regret for some harsh words he had written in this context.

Note:  In the controversy regarding the "second letter rhyming in each poetic line," S. ParamESvara Iyer had taken the uncle's side whereas KC KESava pilla had taken the side of the nephew.  Conceivably, TNS did not take any sides as Malayalam poetry was not his forte.  Plus he was a disciple of KVVKT, the principal contestant and at the same time an intimate friend and colleague of the opponent, ARRV.  Basically ULLooR apologized to ARRV after ARRV's apology to his uncle.

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Volume 3, Chapter 4, page 145

This passage deals with the funeral ceremony of Kerala Varma Valiya Koyil Thampuran. TNS was one of the participants in the ceremony and was specially mentioned in the book as having had great devotion and respect towards the deceased.

Note: PiNDam is the funereal ceremony according to the Vedic rites in Kerala (and perhaps elsewhere).   In 1090 Kanni month, KVVKT was involved in a car accident while ARRV was with him, and later due to internal injuries, the older man passed away.  In fact his is considered to be the first traffic fatality in the whole of India.  1914 September 22 is the date.   See -  https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=904680

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Volume 3, Chapter 4, page 146-147

This passage deals with ARRV regaining mental poise to some extent after demise of his uncle. ARRV discussed AitarEya Upanishad with TNS till midnight and this gave him some solace.

Note:  Upanishads advise us that death is only for the body-mind, but the soul is eternal and that it will be reborn after death [Ravi: If the soul does not merge in Paramatma].  Death is not THE END.

[Ravi: Very noteworthy that ARRV and TNS discussed AitarEya Upanishad, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aitareya_Upanishad and got solace from it when their revered and famous teacher KVVKT passed away suddenly. As I am very reverential towards the Upanishads and have got great spiritual inspiration and understanding from them, I am fascinated to read that my great-grandfather TNS discussed this Upanishad with ARRV. Note that even before reading the above, I was quite sure that TNS would have been well read on Hindu scripture including Upanishads but I had not come across any statement mentioning that. The above statement therefore is a very important one for me.]

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Volume 3, Chapter 7, page 256

This passage deals with ARRV's translation of KALidAsa's drama  MALavikAgnimitRam into Malayalam around 1090 - 1091 which he showed to TNS and others who enjoyed it.

Note: The name TNS occurs first although he was only a grammarian.  This shows that TNS had a dual genius -- he was not only a grammarian but also a literary critic of the highest caliber.  Otherwise, why would ARRV show the work in progress to TNS ?

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Volume 3, Chapter 8, page 319

This passage deals with ARRV's translation of only the poetic parts of svapnavAsavadattam (Bhasa's drama) with the prose part of the translation (to Malayalam) being done by ARRV's daughter Bhageerathi. It was arranged that TNS would clear any doubts she had.

Note:  svapnavAsavadattam is the most celebrated play of Bhaasa, a predecessor of KALidAsa who was praised by the latter.

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Volume 3, Chapter 10, page 387, 388

This passage mentions that TNS and another person were almost daily visitors, and that ARRV considered TNS as an intimate friend and member of the family. It also mentions that ARRV helped three intimate friends when they were very ill and TNS was one of these very ill persons.

(see next page)

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Volume 3, Chapter 10, page 390, 391

This passage mentions that ARRV wrote that TNS was bedridden with illness for five months in 1091. It states that if ARRV had not helped TNS at this time, TNS would not have survived.

The details of TNS illness and treatment are provided. TNS illness started with an intermittent fever which would rise to 105 degrees Farenheit and slowly go down to 100 or lower. ARRV visited TNS every day. Allopaths and Ayurvedic doctors examined TNS but could not say what exactly he was suffereing from. Some suggested diagnoses were sannipAta jvara (Influenza ?  Typhoid ?), Complex Fever and beginning of Tuberculosis. ARRV conducted a PRaSnam (divining by cowrie shells done by astrologers) which indicated no threat to life. Doctors advised moving TNS from his narrow home in an agrAhAram (Tamizh Brahmana settlement) in a densely populated area to a more spacious place with good air circulation.

[Ravi: Thanks so much to the elder for sharing this great service done by ARRV (and family perhaps) to my great-grandfather, out of love & concern that ARRV had for him. I have been deeply moved by reading this. My gratitude to late ARRV sir and anybody else who helped TNS survive that long illness. Note that the year when TNS had this life-threatening illness was 1091 ME which is 1916 CE.]

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Volume 3, Chapter 10, page 392

This passage is about ARRV moving TNS to a house with better air circulation and cleanliness. As this house was close to ARRV's residence, ARRV was able to conveniently visit TNS everyday and talk to him. But there was no improvement in health of TNS. On Vishu day, in the early morning at 4 AM, a person rushed to ARRV's house saying TNS is about to pass away. ARRV did the customary Vishu daRSanam (a ritual on the Vishu day in Kerala) and took his son Raghava Varma with him to TNS's house. It was a very pitiable situation there with TNS lying like a lifeless log and TNS's younger brother being very agitated.

Note:  The belief is that Vishnu daRSanam of sacred objects such as coconut flower stalks, special mirror, Konna tree flowers, a full measure of rice in the husk, picture of a Deity, etc.) ensure good luck.  Perhaps that is why ARRV wanted to do that ritual before leaving to attend to TNS.  And daRSanam takes only 5 minutes or so.

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Volume 3, Chapter 10, page 393, 394

This passage continues the coverage of TNS's illness. TNS's younger brother began to cry and tell ARRV that any medicine and water given to TNS was coming out of his mouth. ARRV went near TNS and looked at him intently. ARRV used a cloth piece soaked in the medicine in a glass and dripped the medicine into TNS's mouth. After a few minutes the medicine went down TNS's throat and did not come out of his mouth. ARRV continued this process and in half an hour all the medicine had been ingested. ARVV then, going himself by car, fetched a doctor who immediately gave the patient a saline injection. An hour later TNS opened his eyes and spoke one or two words. But the fever continued with rising and falling of the temperature. TNS became very thin.

Later TNS developed an abcess which created lot of anxiety. Surgery to treat the abcess could not be considered due to TNS being very thin then. Fortunately, the abcess got drained by itself! Later TNS health gradually improved. When ARRV and family left for a summer vacation, ARRV arranged for TNS to move to ARRV's residence temporarily. On ARRV and family returning from vacation, TNS was waiting at the gate and his face showed happiness and gratitude. Later TNS would tell ARRV's son Raghava Varma that ARRV had gifted him with his life and his livelihood.

[Ravi: It is very emotionally moving for me to read these passages. I think TNS telling ARRV's son that ARRV had gifted him (TNS) with his life and his livelihood, tell us how indebted TNS himself felt to ARRV. It seems to me this captures a key aspect of the ARRV-TNS relationship well.]

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Volume 3, chapter 10, page 445-446

This passage is about the condolences after ARRV passed away. It says that many came to express condolence and that two names of nArAyaNa SAstRi and and KS Raman Menon have to mentioned. TNS came immediately after the svaRgArOhaNam of ARRV who was his sole patron and supporter. On seeing the body, TNS wept uncontrollably and screamed with sorrow. TNS did a a sAshtAn*ga-PRaNAmam to ARRV body. On getting up, TNS left and was not to be seen anywhere.

[Ravi: Very moving! Documents very well how TNS felt towards ARRV!]

-----  End of text passages related to TNS in the book set ----------------

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Between pages 192 and 193 of the book (Third Volume), a picture of a group of people including ARRV and TNS is given.

My blog post: 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 , first published on March 07, 2023, shows this pic and also has some cutouts from it.

[I thank the authors and publisher of the book set, “Ē. Ār. Rājarājavarmma” Volume 1, 2 and 3, by M. Bhagirathy Amma Thampuran and M. Raghava Varma Raja, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above few extract(s) from their book set on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]