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Blind faith in Padakam
HE TELLS stories of gods and goddesses. But little does one know that his is a telling tale in itself, embedded in the darkness of life. C. P. Narayanan Namboodiri, 80, has been fighting a battle, for the past several years, against blindness. And giving him the strength to keep his mind focussed on the brighter aspects of life is his unfailing passion for Padakam, the art he so dearly nourishes.
Reciting Sanskrit slokas and then getting into a detailed exposition and explanation of them, forms the essence of padakam. The themes are from the Puranas, extolling the deeds of gods and goddesses. This art is steeped in `bhakti,' devoid of any sort of satire or social criticism, like the Chakiarkoothu.
Born in Uliyanoor near Aluva, Mr. Namboodiri turned blind when he was three years old. He began learning the Braille and passed the intermediate exams using that language. From then on the Braille became the language for Mr. Namboodiri to explore the vast world of Indian mythology.
Being exposed to the art of padakam right from his childhood, Mr. Namboodiri became fascinated by the manner of recitation and the different stories that the narrator presented. Realising his interest in the art veterans like P.K. Damodaran Nambiar and Sankara Warrier, instilled in him the confidence to delve into this art. And when Kochukuttan Nambiar, who used to recite the padakam at the Thiruvenkidam Vishnu temple, near Guruvayur, died, Mr. Namboodiri was given the chance to display his art.
It soon became an integral part of his life. For the past 60 years Mr. Namboodiri has taken this art to the corners of the country. He has the unique record of having reciting the padakam in almost all the major temples of India. However, life has always been a bitter struggle for this humble man. Mr. Namboodiri has not received due recognition for a whole lifetime of dedication to art.
After all these years of singing the glories of the gods and goddesses, Mr. Namboodiri struggles to make both ends meet. Settled in a small house in Madayikonam, near Irinjalakuda, along with his wife and seven children, Mr. Namboodiri still travels to the temples, braving ill healths and attacks of asthma.
"Padakam has opened a world where I see gods and goddesses. And I try to take the people who listen to me to this world. It is, for me, an unending journey," says Mr. Namboodiri, who retains an unbelievable enthusiasm when he begins to talk about his divine art.
M.PRASHANTH
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