In the ancient annals of Kerala, the title of "Lord of Kottayam" is bestowed upon the revered progenitor of Attakathal; the lyrical songs employed in Kathakali performances.
These Attakathas stand as paramount literary works in the Malayalam tradition, serving as the foundational narratives for the exquisite art of Kathakali.
Most of these Attakathas, these melodious sagas, can be attributed to none other than the sagacious Tampuran, hailed as the Tampuran of Kottayam.
His journey to attaining the status of a sage is enshrouded in legend and lore.
Kottayam; a modest principality nestled in the bosom of North Malabar, bore a distinctive lineage wherein both men and women were revered scholars and venerable sages.
However, among this illustrious lineage, there existed an enigma named Unni.
Despite receiving a proper education, Unni displayed no signs of brilliance or erudition.
During Unni's teenage years, an event unfolded that would change the course of his life.
A neighboring monarch, the Zamorin, had breathed his last. These royal families shared a profound camaraderie, and during times of bereavement, they would converge, exchanging formalities in the hallowed tongue of Sanskrit.
Unni's mother, a scion of the Kottayam royal household, received disconcerting news of the Zamorin's passing. In a time of such exigency, tradition dictated that young Unni be dispatched to the Samuthiri royal abode to convey their condolences. However, the queen, determined to ensure no missteps, armed her son with a solitary Sanskrit sentence: "Maya Kim duty?"signifying "What can I do for you?"
The queen emphasized that this lone utterance sufficed, and her son should refrain from further discourse. The rest, she assured, would be deftly managed by the retinue accompanying him.