In the realms of Kerala's legends, there lived a man known as Naranath Branthan, or the "Madman of Naranathu." Yet, his true name remains shrouded in mystery.
Born into the renowned 'Parayi Petta Panthirukulam,' he was nurtured by an 'Ilayath' family.
In the intricate caste system of Kerala's Hinduism, the 'Ilayath' occupied a unique position, for they were a sect of Brahmins who abstained from temple rituals.
Instead, they specialized in conducting ceremonies related to the departed souls, particularly those commemorated during death anniversaries.
However, Naranath Branthan harbored no interest in following this familial tradition.
He was not one to be bound by convention; instead, he roamed the village streets aimlessly.
His peculiar pastime, one that would become his signature, involved rolling immense stones up the village hillock, only to let them tumble down as he burst into childish laughter.
In the many stories surrounding this enigmatic philosopher-madman, a deeper message emerged – a message about the whimsicality of life. Naranath Branthan believed that life should not be taken too seriously, and he used his eccentric actions to convey this profound wisdom.
Each day, he would perform his peculiar exercise until noon, after which he would set out for his daily alms. In those days, villagers would offer food items like rice and vegetables to beggars. Naranath Branthan, too, collected these offerings and made the place he reached by sunset his home for the night.
There, he would cook his meals, dine, and slumber under the open sky.
One evening, as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, Naranath Branthan arrived at a crematorium. The pyres still smoldered, casting an eerie glow over the area.
Unperturbed, he extracted logs from one of the pyres and prepared his meal.
The night had descended when he was ready to rest.