Pandalam Kerala Varma

Kerala Varma (January 1879 – June 1919), most commonly known as Mahakavi Pandalam Kerala Varma, was an Indian poet, scholar, and publisher. He was born at Pandalam, and belonged to the Pandalam Royal Family. He wrote two mahakavyas, more than a hundred narrative poems, translations, and children's poetry. He is widely regarded as the author of the first complete mahakavya in Malayalam. He was the owner and Chief Editor of Kavana Kaumudi, the first Malayalam periodical, which was also the first to introduce special issues in Malayalam.

Personal life

Kerala Varma was born at Pandalam in 1879, to Kottayam Puthuppally Thrikkonamangalam Desathu Perinjeri Illathu Vishnu Namboothiri and Puthankoikkal Aswathynal Thanwangi Thamburatti. He had two elder brothers and an elder sister. He also had two paternal half-brothers; Neythelloor Koikkal Makayiramnal Kerala Varma Thampuran (1846–1890) and Neythelloor Kottarathil Thrikkettanal Veera Kerala Varma Thampuran. Makayiramnal Kerala Varma Thampuran was the author of Bhoothanatholbhavam thullal and Aardra Maholsavam Sanskrit champu. Thrikkettanal Veera Kerala Varma Thampuran was the author of Rukmamgadacharitham Sanskrit poem and Banayuddham Sanskrit champu. He was also the logical reasoning guru of Pandalam Kerala Varma. Pandalam Kerala Varma's relative Malikathazhe Bharaninal Kerala Varma Thampuran (1823–1883) was an astrology and grammar expert. It is believed that he had predicted that Pandalam Kerala Varma would become famous one day. Another relative Vadakke Kottarathil Thiruvathiranal Raja Raja Varma Valiya Thampuran (1817–1902) was the author of the hymns Dharmasathru Sathakam, Krishnaleela, Devi Sthothram, Sabarigireesa Sthothram, and Pandalam Mahadeva Sathakam. He took care of Pandalam Kerala Varma's poetic practice and grammatical studies. Thekkekkettil Kottarathil Athamnal Godavarma Valiya Thampuran (1840–1911) was the grammar guru of Pandalam Kerala Varma.