# Kaikulangara Rama Variar

Kaikulangara Rama Variar (also spelled Kaikulangara Rama Warrier) (1832–1897) was an Indian scholar, poet, astrologer, and astronomer from Kadangode, Thrissur district, Kerala. He is known for his commentaries and translations of significant Sanskrit texts covering various subjects.

## Early life

Rama Variyar was born as the third child of Kaikulangara Kizhakke Variathu Narayani Varasyar (mother) and Kaithakkottu Narayana Bhattathiri (father). After initial lessons in Ayurveda and Jyotisha from his maternal uncles, at the age of twelve, he moved to Thrippunithura for further studies. At Thrippunithura, he joined a group of students from the Cochin Royal Family and, for about three years, received advanced lessons in Alankara Shastra (science of aesthetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), and Tarka Shastra (logic) from Palappurath Puthiyetath Govindan Nampiyar. After completing his studies at Thrippunithura, Rama Variar spent about three years at Killikkurissimangalam reading aloud the complete Sanskrit text of the epic Mahabharata in the presence of his guru's mother as a gift and fee (gurudakshina) to Govindan Nampiyar.
After leaving Thrippunithura, Rama Variar spent a few years at Thrissur teaching Sanskrit to local children before moving to the Punnathur royal family residence to tutor the family members. He then traveled to the northern parts of present-day Kerala and stayed for a few years at the residence of the Mayipadi royal family. While there, Rama Variar met Yoganandasvamikal, an ascetic visiting the nearby Edneer Mutt. Rama Variyar asked the Svamilkal to teach him the finer details of the Brahmasutra, which the Svamikal did in about four months. Svamikal, impressed by his student's intellectual abilities, invited him to join his journey to Mukambi and conferred three titles on Rama Variyar: "Vagdasan", "Ramanandanathan" and "Panditaparsavendran". Returning home, Rama Variyar continued teaching Sanskrit and married Thekke Variyath Kutty Varasyar.

## Rama Variar's association with printing presses

Rama Variar contributed to the expansion of the printing industry in the Kunnamkulam area of Thrissur district and to the popularization of printed Malayalam religious books. The establishment of the Vidyaratnaprabha Printing Press by Paramel Ittoop in Kunnamkulam was a key factor. In 1883, at the urging of Paramel Ittoop, Rama Variyar moved his family to Kunnamkulam to focus on his scholarly work. One of his first publications was a corrected edition of Ezhuthacchan's Adhyatma Ramayanam in Malayalam. Several of Rama Variyar's early works were printed at Vidyaratnaprabha Printing Press. Later, the manager of this press started his own printing press in Thrissur, which took over the responsibility of printing and distributing Rama Variyar's books. Most of Rama Variyar's works were translations and commentaries on well-known Sanskrit works.

## Final years

The death of one of his daughters affected him. He left Thrissur to stay at his home in Thrikkandiyur. He spent his final years in relative poverty before dying on October 5, 1897.

## Biography

* Balakrishna Warrier, A. (1997). Kaikulangara Rama warrier. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 12 July 2024.