Ruring a time when temples and spirituality lost its values resulting in anarchy in society, the Bhakthi movement gained popularity through works of poets. During 16th century, works like Thunchath Ezhuthachan's translation of the epic Ramayanam could influence the common people in following a path of devotion and surrender to God.
Ezhuthachan's Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu, a beautiful poetic narration written in very simple language, has a magnetic power in influencing people of any kind and age. Written in the form of Kilippattu — narration through a song of the bird — Ramayanam could easily attract people to the Bhakthi movement. In olden days, reciting Ezhuthachan's Ramayanam during the month of Karkkidakam was a ritual observed in every Hindu household which helped people to appreciate its values, philosophical passages and poetry.
Being part of the culture, reading Ramayanam also helped children to study how to pronounce words correctly. Both laymen and educated equally adore Ezhuthachan and his beautiful Kilippattu and many of its passages are quoted as guidelines in life. Rama, the hero of Ramayanam, has a universal acceptance.
In those days, Karkkidakam was marked by heavy rain, scarcity, poverty and diseases and people have no other way than praying to the God to save them from nature’s furies. There used to be no work as the paddy fields and agriculture lands were flooded and people used to solely depend on what grains they had stored earlier.
During my childhood days, most of the houses were small huts and there were only a couple of houses with tiled roofs. People in nearby areas used to gather in one of such houses and listen to Ramayanam recital.
This was the common practice in many of the places during those times in Kerala. Reciting and listening to the beautiful poetic narration was really a heavenly experience even for children.
Times have changed and so have the prayers and practices. Nowadays, even Ramayanam and Karkkidakam have been highly commercialised by various organisations and even by temples.
