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Vazhakkunnam Vasudevan Namputiri conducted Bhagavata discourses at Madras in 1936 and again in the month of September 1937

180 at Mumbai. These accomplishments of Vazhakunnam Vasudevan Namputiri outside Kerala was an impetus for his followers to perform 24 Saptaha all over the country. Now there is a trend to conduct Bhagavata purana recitals in the auditoriums and halls outside the temple. Organizations like Chinmaya Mission and Nair Service Society are conducting Saptaha at Ernakulam, Thrissur and similar other cities. This has created opportunity for the common man to understand ancient Sanskrit literature. Now women also are performing Saptaha discourses on Bhagavata at temple and houses. The change is also affected in the case of listeners too, women and children attend these sessions in large numbers. The audience, after hearing the recited and interpretation are educated informally in the puranas and various sastras dealt within the texts. They also learn important slokas and their meaning by heart which are often repeated by the reciters. The listeners are also motivated to know more about Sanskrit and related literature. In Kerala Bhagavata saptaha tradition has a long history of atleast one hundred and fifty years. Kutallur Kunjikkavu Namputirippad and Vazhakunnam Vasudevan Namputiri both were very famous in the field. The earliest known preaching of Bhagavata purana in seven days in Kerala was started by Kutallur Kunjikkavu Namputirippad. He began the

181 preaching of Bhagavata parayana from 1839-1903 at Guruvayur temple premises. He began to recite Bhagavata. Saptaha in Guruvayur temple in a modified manner. His scholarship and deep devotion to the lord at Guruvayur temple made his Bhagavata purana preaching, touching and appealing to the devotees. 25 Vazhakunnam Vasudevan Namputiri (1891-1947) was a disciple of the Kutallur Kunjikkavu Namputirippad. His preaching of Bhagavata purana was very interesting. He quoted verses from the works of great poets and philosophers like Valmiki, Vyasa, Narayan bhattatiri of Melpathur, Puntanam Namputiri, Rabindranatha Tagore and so on. He attracted the audiences with the simplicity of language, lucidity of the recital and appropriateness of expressions and body gestures.2 26 Some of the senior recites of Bhagavata who have been conducting Saptaha are Prof. Vaidyalinga Sarma, Venmani Krishnan Namputiri of Sreemulanagaram, Kalady, Palezhi Narayanan Numputiri Rtd. Professor of U.C. College, Aluva, Anjam Madhavan Namputirii and Krishnan Namputiri at Guruvayur. Younger scholars who performe in the saptaha now-a-days are Vasudevan Namputiri, Madhu Kizahakkedath Mana from Palakkal, Thrissur, Dr. K.R Harinarayana from Tazhekkad Thrissur, Brahmasri

182 Perukumana Sreedharan Namputiri, Kozhikode, Brahmasri Kesavan Namputiri from Guruvayur and so on.