(1867โ1947)
Early Life & Family
Rama Pisharody was born in 1867 at Kallankara Pisharam, near the Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakkuda. His father was Vazhappilly Nampoothiri, and his mother was Kunji Pisharasyar. He had two brothers: Karunakara Pisharody and Bharatha Pisharody.
He married Kuttamasseri Ichukkutty Pisharasyar, and they had two children:
- Kuttamasseri Narayana Pisharody, who later became the Principal of Government Sanskrit College, Thripunithura.
- Ammukkutty Pisharasyar, who married Prof. K. Rama Pisharody (his nephew and a professor at Annamalai University).
To distinguish between the two Rama Pisharodys, he was referred to as Valiya Rama Pisharody.
Education & Scholarly Development
After losing his parents at an early age, Rama Pisharody was brought up by his maternal uncle Achyutha Pisharody. At the age of 11, he moved to Thripunithura, where his formal education in Astrology, Vyakarana Shastra, and other classical disciplines began.
He studied Dinakari under the king himself and learned Gadhadhari alongside Parikshit Thampuran, the royal prince of Thripunithura, under Madhavacharya. During this time, a close bond formed between Rama Pisharody and Parikshit Thampuran.
Friendship with Parikshit Thampuran
Their friendship became legendary. Parikshit Thampuran greatly admired Rama Pisharody for his intelligence, wit, and scholarship. He considered him deserving of the title โSahrudaya Thilakanโ, and their camaraderie was famously described by Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer as being like the mixture of โmilk and sugarโ. The depth of their relationship was also acknowledged by Rama Pisharodyโs own son in his writings.
Academic Career
- 1890 (Age 23): Began his teaching career at Seshacharya Padasala (now Government Sanskrit College, Thripunithura).
- 1903 (Age 36): Appointed Senior Sanskrit Pandit at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.
- 1922: Retired from formal teaching.
Post-retirement, he remained actively engaged in writing, debates, and educating children at the royal palace. He served as the Asthana Pandithan (Court Scholar) of the Royal Palace of Thripunithura.
Demise
Rama Pisharody passed away in 1947, at the age of 80, due to asthma.
Titles & Honors
- 1915: Conferred the honorary title โSahrudayathilakanโ.
- Simultaneously, Kunju Nampoothiri and Ayya Shasthrikal were honored with the titles โTharkikha Thilakanโ and โShabdika Thilakanโ, respectively.
- 1922: Received โPattum Valayumโ (a royal honor) from Edward VIII at the Madras Senate Hall.
Literary Contributions
Rama Pisharody was a prolific writer, commentator, and scholar. Some of his notable works include:
Published Works
- Ramavarma Satakam Khandakavyam
- Balapriya
- Kuvalayananda Vyakhya โ Saarartha Deepika
- Shakunthala Vyakyanam
- Analytical Study of Shakunthalam
- Malavikagnimitra Lochanam
- Rasika Priya
- Sangamesa Stuthi and Poornatrayeesa Stuthi (published in Ravi Varma Grandhavali)
Unpublished Manuscripts
- Analysis of Vikramorvashiyam, Ratnavali, Rukmasandesham
- Dasarupakam Kuvalayanda Chandrika
- Chitrameemamsa (on Alankara Shastra)
- Vyutpathivadam, Dinakariyam (on Logic and Discourse)
His works have been referenced in Kerala Sahithya Charithram Part V by Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, who also mentioned Pisharodyโs book Vyanjanavruthi in his own writings.
Though many of his commentaries and analyses remain unpublished or lost, they are regarded as valuable contributions to Sanskrit literature and classical scholarship.
Legacy
Sahrudayathilakan Rama Pisharody is remembered as a towering scholar, teacher, and cultural luminary whose influence on Sanskrit literature and Keralaโs intellectual traditions continues to be respected and studied, despite the unfortunate loss of many of his manuscripts.
