Revathi Pattathanam, an ancient ritual that used to be held annually by the Zamorins, the erstwhile rulers of Kozhikode, will be re-enacted, albeit symbolically, at the Tali Temple here on Thursday.
According to T.M. Balakrishna Eradi, chairman, Revathi Pattathana Samiti, the event used to be held for seven days from the Revathi star in the Malayalam month of Thulam. It was discontinued for centuries after the power of the Zamorins over the region weakened. The ritual was revived in 1977 when K.C. Marumakan Raja was the titular head of the family. “Yajur Veda Laksharchana is a major event to be held as part of the event this year. K.C.U. Raja, the current head of the Zamorin family, will give a panakkizhi (purse ) to a Vedic scholar nominated by the Koodalloor Namboothirippad in the morning.”
Legend has it that the major attraction of Pattathanam, the annual assembly of Vedic scholars, used to be the conferring of the title ‘Bhatta’ (scholar), or Bhattadanam, after an intense debate. The winners were also given panakkizhis .
It is believed that the origin of the event dates to days when the Zamorin, the then ruler of Eranad, forcibly seized the administration of the Tali Temple, removing the Shaivite Brahmin trustees. Those who resisted were reportedly executed. Later, the royal family was on the verge of extinction without a progeny. This was pointed out as the result of a curse and the king started Pattathanam in the 14th century as a mark of atonement for Brahmahatya or killing of Brahmins.
“Debates used to be held in subjects such as Tarkka, Vyakarana, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Scholars came even from other States to attend the event. The standard of the participants was such that it is believed Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, the author of Narayaneeyam, had to wait for nine years to get entry,” Mr. Eradi said.
The revived version of the debate will be a pale shadow of its past, lasting just 15-20 minutes.
Minister for Labour and Excise, T.P. Ramakrishnan, will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m. on Thursday. N.V.P. Unithiri, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University, and K.K. Mohammed, former regional director, Archaeological Survey of India, will be present, among others.
