THIRUNAMACHARYAN ANJAM MADHAVAN NAMBUDIRI

Madhavan Nambudiri was born in 1920 in the Illom of ‘Anjam’ (house) near Pattambi almost on the banks of the holy Bharathapuzha (river Bharatha). His father was a learned scholar, devoted and dedicated to Devi worship, who had also performed Yaga (Vedic Sacrifice) and earned the appellation of Somayaji – Anjam owes much to the early training he received from his father.
Anjam had only rudiments of the traditional instruction and even less of modern education. In his eighteenth year, a malady of the stomach that defied every mode of treatment, took him to Guruvayur, where his uncle happened to be the High Priest of the temple. His stomach had been revolting at every morsel of food he tried to take; now however, the most liberal and extravagant doses of the Lord’s prasadam seemed to agree with him perfectly. Soon the troubles of the stomach were left behind. This was a striking eye – opener to Anjam and it was a complete turning point in his life. He extended his stay indefinitely and hereafter, made Guruvayur his home- ‘Narayanalayam’. It is now clear that Sri Guruvayurappan took a fancy for this Nambudiri lad and wanted very much to adopt him as His own – the rest is known history!
The ways of the Lord are strange and unpredictable. At about this time, Mekkad Neelakantan Nambudiri, a great savant, and a still greater Bhakta had settled himself in Guruvayur with the sole object of spreading the ‘Nama’ cult in an effort to save the world from the reeling grip of the malicious monster of Kali- Mekkd’s heart bled for the sake of suffering humanity. It was an act of grace of the Lord to bring young Anjam under the benign influence of Mekkad and get him moulded for a noble mission at the hands of the great Guru. It was thus, the plain raw material of the then Nambudiri youth, was later transformed into the finished product known to the world as ‘Anjam’. In sacred memory of Mekkad, every year, on the eve of Guruvayur Utsavam, Anjam conducted Nama Saptaha, a unique Yajna deserving of the great Guru.
When Mekkad passed away, the mantle for spreading ‘Nama Samkirtanam’ fell on the already deserving shoulders of Anjam. Anjam threw himself heart and soul into the task with results that we see around us today. He has lit the lamp of ‘Nama Samkirtanam’ in thousands of home in India and abroad; these lamps will burn so long as the memory of Anjam is treasured. And the memory of Anjam will last as long as these lamps burn.
Anjam shines in isolated distinction in proclaiming that ‘Nama’is the way, the whole way and the only way to salvation for mankind in this Kali age.
‘Nama Sankirtan’ is as simple as it is effective: it is the one practice that is equally open to all sections of the people and hence is capable of universal adoption. Anjam was never tired of harping on the truth that this recitation for all human beings, irrespective of their deserts or station in life.
Hundreds of Bhagavatha Saptahas all over India stand to the credit of Anjam – Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc. were some of the important cities and towns he visited for the purpose, at least once, often two or three times each year. And these Saptahas are inimitable running commentaries on the Sovereign efficacy of the Divine Name. Every Saptaha leaves a trail of glory behind in the form of Nama Samkirtan.
In 1967, Anjam brought out the first issue of the now well- known spiritually oriented magazine. ‘Guruvayurappan’ and ever since, he has been the driving force behind this publication.
In 1970, Anjam was wholly responsible for forming the ‘Sri Guruvayurappan Sankeerthana Trust’, dedicated to taking up and encouraging every cause dear to the Lord. Anjam has been throughout the Patron, the President and the guiding light of this Trust and the associated movements.
Most people of India are seized of the significance of the Guruvayur Ekadheshi festival. On that day and the previous ‘Dasami’ day, Sri Guruvayurappan lets Himself free from all His self-imposed restrictions and regulations and runs riot with His blessings on all, irrespective of any condition or consideration. The ‘Ekadashi’ celebrations have always been the exclusive prerogative of the Devaswom itself. The’Dasami Vilakku’ had been for generations the close previlage of a well known house and recently fell vacant with the withdrawal of the family. The Devaswom authorities sounded Anjam whether he could carry on- Anjam took it as a knock at his doors by Sri Guruvayurappan himself. He acted in no time, formed the ‘Dasami Trust’, put everything on a permanent basis and has been conducting the celebrations with added zest and increasing grandeur each year.
Anjam is a prolific writer- he handles the pen with as much skill, ease and effect as he wields the tongue- his articles in the various papers and magazines are legion. There to his credit several exquisite devotional poems in praise of the Lord meant for daily recitation and aimed at the edification of a wide public. He is also author of a few books, the central theme of which is Bhakthi or devotion.
Special mention must be made here of ‘Nama Mahatmyam’ a priceless publication running to hundreds of pages, which is a unique encyclopedia of all information and knowledge concerning the ‘Divine Name’ – All that needs to be known about ‘Nama Yajna’ is to be found herein. The whole credit for the publication, of course goes to Anjam.
As long as the Lord’s name remain on human tongues and are recited with the aid of human lips, the remembrance of Anjam is assured in the world.
The daily function at dusk in Guruvayur of ‘Narayana Namajapa’ is an observance closest to the heart of Anjam. He saw in this ‘Yajna’ the fulfilment of his life. Hundreds of children also participate in it and have been initiated and trained in the practice of recitation of ‘Namam’ at their most receptive age. Anjam lavished all his affections on children and made over the gift of ‘Samkirtan’ to them under the cover of other pleasing presents. The daily ‘Japa’ was rounded off by an exhortation from Anjam (whenever he was available in Guruvayur) to the participants to take to the path of Samkirtan and sublimate their lives.
Under Anjam’s supervision and out of public contributions, about two hundred persons have been every day fed at noon in Guruvayur.
In December 1987, Anjam presided over the conclusion session of the 400th anniversary of ‘Narayaneeyam’ inauguarated by the Prime Minister of India.
To the several of us, a visit to Guruvayur is not complete without stepping into ‘Narayanalayam’. And our Darshan of Sri Guruvayurappan would wait to consummate until we offered our personnal salutations to Anjam- Dear lord! Your words, we heard from him, your solace, he passed on to us and the path to you., ringing with the chorus of your Names, he taught us to join; so long as Anjan was here., it has been the shortest distance to us between ‘Satsang’ and the grace of the inner sanctuary of Guruvayur; Narayanalayam without Anjam in it is the body minus the soul.
Anjam is the personification of the best in Indian traditions and culture- He will always shine as an oracle of Bhakthi and apostle of the Divine Name in the reflected glory of Sri Guruvayurappan. There are several shining lights on the firmament of Guruvayur guiding aspiring souls in the world to the coveted goal. The names of Melpathur,Poonthanam, Kurur Amma, Vilvamangalam, Kudallore, Vazhakunnam, Mekkad etc. come at once to our mind. Anjam has been undoubtedly the latest in the illustrious line of succession. Who comes next and when ? It is for Sree Guruvayurappan to answer.
NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYANA

Bhagavatabhaswan Anjam Krishnan Namboodiri

After the sad departure of Thirunamacharyan Anjam Madhavan Namboodiri, the mantle fell on his brother to lead the activities of Narayanalayam & that of Sree Guruvayurappan Trust. He carried out such activities for 23 years & left us to reach the Lotus Feet of Sree Guruvayurappan on 4^th September 2011. Sri. Krishnan Namboodiri splendidly continued all the activities including  Bhagavatha Sapthahams, daily Namajapam, daily Annadhanam, cloth distribution to the needy & poor, medical help etc. He started the Narayana Nama Koti Archana, Laksharchana to Poonthanam Unnikrishnan, Thirunamacharayan Nama Sapthaha Yanjam etc. It was he who first conducted the seven day Bhagavata Sapthaham in Malaysia in exactly the same way it was being conducted in Guruvayur. He had visited Dubai, Sharjah & England where he conducted Bhagavatha Sapthahams & Discourses. He alone would have conducted about 500 Sapthahams & an equal number with his brother. He came to look after his brother & he did this as Lakshmana looked after his brother Sri Rama. As it happens this noble soul left us to attain Moksha in the Lotus Feet of LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN.