Draft:Pookkattiri Sankara Variar

Pookkattiri Sankara Variar

Pookkattiri Sankara Variar (1873-1959) was a famous astrologer, and Sanskrit and Vedic scholar from the village Pookkattiri of the erstwhile Malabar district under the Madras Presidency of British India.

Biography: Pookkattiri Sankara Variar was known to many by the nick name Kuttan Variar. The village Pookkattiri where he was born was a part of Edayoor Desam in the Valluvanad portion of Malabar district. His father Sankaran Namboothiri belonged to a very affluent and highly respected family known as Vazhamkunnam Mana in Thiruvegappura, near Pattambi, in Palakkad district of the south Indian state of Kerala. This illustrious Mana was also home to the famous magician Professor Vazhakunnam Neelakandhan Namboothiri. Sankaran Namboothiri was a well-known Sanskrit scholar of his time. Sankara Variar lost his mother Kalikutty Varassiar in his early years and was brought up by his maternal aunts. Sankara Variar had a majestic appearance with about six feet of height, green eyes and bright, fair complexion. He had a keen intellect, and was soft-spoken, witty and liked by all. It is no exaggeration to say that he was the paragon of grihastashrama virtue much like the sage king Janaka. He was well-travelled and had been to several Indian cities including Varanasi, Delhi, Mathura, Chennai and Ajmer. Apart from Sanskrit and Malayalam, he was proficient in English, Tamil and Hindi.

Early Life: He did his early schooling at the Primary school of Pookkattiri. He had the opportunity to learn English early on as the school was run during the British period. The Mahadeva temple at Pookkattiri was very famous during this time for art, culture and Vedic knowledge. This temple was also well-known for Vedic discussions and education. This atmosphere had a profound influence on little Sankaran and inspired him to learn further about Sanskrit and Hindu culture.

Legacy: His in-depth Sanskrit knowledge helped him to understand the intricacies of shodasa samskaras of Hindu religion and the special ceremonies conducted by the Variar community. He studied the ceremonies exhaustively. He mastered all ceremonies of Hindus not only from cradle to grave but further along the soul’s passage till it attained moksham. He was much sought after to preside over and provide guidance on all ceremonies like wedding, Seemantham, Namakaranam, Annaprasham, Vidyarambham etc. as well as for final rites like funeral, Pinda danam and Shradham. His guidance for these ceremonies was considered very auspicious and he was very popular in Malabar and Kochi areas of his time. Apart from mastery of the rituals and ceremonies, Sankara Variar had profound knowledge of astrology. His astrological deductions and predictions turned him into a legend even during his lifetime. Several events testified to the uncanny accuracy of Sankara Variar’s predictions. Some of these events were rather unfortunate and as a result, Sankara Variar stopped giving astrological consultations befitting his sensitive, spiritually evolved nature. The well- known astrologer Edappal Soolapani Variar was the direct cousin of his wife Ittichiri Varassiar.

Family: Pookkattiri Sankara Variar married Ittichiri Varassiar of Thirumaniyur Variam. It is considered that Thirumaniyur Variam is a branch of the family from where the Alwancheri Mana originated. Sankara Variar and Ittichiri Varassiar settled down near the Vedpauram Siva temple, another well-known centre of Vedic learning. Sankara Variar had four daughters and one son. The family made great strides in modern education and took up many careers in Post-Independence India, while upholding the spiritual knowledge inherited from Sankara Variar. There are eight doctors, one dental surgeon and many engineers in his family now. The family is actively engaged in community service and spiritual practices under the able guidance of Dr Siva Sankaran, MD, one of the senior-most members.