Naranath Bhranthan

Statue of Naranath

Naranath Branthan (The madman of Naranam) is a character in Malayalam folklore. He was considered to be a divine person, a Mukhta who pretended to be mad. His chief activity consisted of rolling a big stone up a hill and then letting it fall back down. Unlike Sisyphus, he acted on his own volition rather than under the influence of a curse. There is a large statue of Naranath in Pattambi, Palakkad district of Kerala where he is believed to have lived.

Naranathu Branthan was born as the son of Vararuchi, the famous astrologer who adorned the court of Vikrama. Naranathu Branthan was one among the twelve offsprings or the Parayi petta panthirukulam, of Vararuchi and was brought up in the Naranathu Mangalathu Mana, situated at Chethallur in Palakkad. Branthan came to Thiruvegappura for mastering 'Vedas'. Thiruvegappura and the nearby Rayiranelloor Mountain, which is known as 'Branthachalam', became his usual abode. Due to his strange behavior and odd activities, people perceived him as 'mad'. At Rayiranellor Mountain he had the vision of the Devi (Goddess), and later for the benevolence of the people he enshrined Devi in the Mountain and started his worship there. No clear descriptions have yet been received of Naranath's last days.

The most famous facet of Naranath Branthan's life is his apparently eccentric habit of rolling big stones up the hill and letting them roll down back, and laughing thunderously on seeing this sight. However this act has been often considered allegorical and has been applied for social critiquing for myriad contexts.

The Naranathu Brandhan Mala (hill) is located at Rayiranelloor in Palakkad district on the Valanchery - Pattambi road after Thiruvegappura Shiv temple. It takes 1.5 hour to climb the hill. Many climb the hill during 1st of Thulam (Oct 18, 2011). On top there is a statue of Naranathu Brandhan. The nearest rail head is Kuttipuram in Malappuram district on the Shornur - Kozhikode route.

Stories of Naranath Bhraanthan

Story of Sri Rama Temple at Triprayar
One day Naranathu Branthan came to worship at the temple of Triprayar. He was surprised to see the movement of the altar stone, yet fathomed the reason through his yogic powers. He called the temple Tantri and had a nail driven on the stone, chanting mantras. The movement stopped forthwith. The portion where the nail was thrust can be seen even today.

In order to prevent any decline in the power of the idol on account of the change in its location, Naranathu Branthan also arranged to install two goddesses on either side of the deity -Sri Devi on the right and Bhumi Devi on the left.

Story of Naranath Bhranthan and Bhadrakali

One of the popular stories which is associated with Naranath Branthan goes as follows. Once Goddess Bhadrakali appeared before him and offered to grant boons to him. But naranath branthan declined to accept the offer. But the goddess persuaded him to ask something for her satisfaction. He then asked the Goddess to make his lifespan increase by one second. The goddess told him that she didn't have the power to do so. Then he asked her to decrease his lifespan by one second. The goddess was unable to grant that too. Frustrated by this, Naranath Branthan asked the Goddess to shift the Manth from his left leg to right leg, which the goddess readily did.

Some more stories

Naranath Bhranthan could eat raw fish from water. He used to roll a big rock uphill and then push it from atop. He would continue to do so all day throughout.

In another story a man wanted to Naranath bhranthan to be his Guru and followed him. As a good disciple he wished to do everything his Guru did. Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away but the disciple stuck on. After walking for long their mouth was parched and there was no water source nearby. Naranath Bhranthan spotted a blacksmith and asked him to give molten metal to drink, and he drank it. The disciple was sure that he himself couldn't do it. And Naranath Bhranthan told him to go away.

Contemporary Literature

Naranath Branthan is the title character of an acclaimed poem by V. Madhusoodhanan Nair.

See also

Parayi petta panthirukulam
Panthirukulam_Original_Art

Interesting similarity

The folklore is very similar to Greek myth of Sisyphus

External links

• A tribute to Naranath and Branthachalam Temple at Kaippuram
• Story of Naranath Branthan
• Bhagavathi Temple situated near Naranathu Branthachalam Temple