Ramayana Masam in Kerala.

Ramayana Masam ( 2010 July 17 to Aug 16)

Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic describing the deeds of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Ramayanamasam or 'the month of Ramayana' begins on the first day of Malayalam month Karkkidakom (July 17, 2010) and, called so because as a ritual in almost every Hindu home in Kerala the epic is read and completed within a span of 31 days.

The practice of reading the epic is regarded to be auspicious along with the notion that it will strengthen and secure the agrarian society of Kerela. It is so because since it is the month of the rainy season so the month is marked by less agricultural production. Thus the month is characterized by poverty, diseases and unhappiness. So this time in  Kerala is considered to be  the time of spiritual consolations.

 The ritual of Ramayana reading evolved in the 16th century after Ramayanam Kilippattu, written by the great poet Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan the father of Malayalam langauge, became popular among the common man as this Malayalam version of the epic was simple and easy to understand.

Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan was born near about 450 years ago in the district of 

Malappuram in Kerala, South India. Ramanujan is among the many names that are credited to Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan. The birth story of the port is mixed with myths as well as truth. For the search of knowledge the poet traveled greatly and returned back, after mastering the religious sciences, to Thrikandiyur. To spread the universal nature of the language Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan tried a lot. He tried to make the language so easy that it can be easily comprehended by the common people. Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan taught the layman to give respect to the language as well as the alphabet. The Malayalam style of language was developed by him and mostly wrote about the common people. In the process of doing so he started incorporating whatever is good with a strong sense of righteousness along with worship.

Reciting of Ramayana begins on the first day of Karkidakam and ends on the last day of the month. It is believed that those who visit the temples of Lord Rama or Vishnu and offer puja to the Lord in the month of Karkidakam will get Moksha. Karkidaka Vavubali is the major ritual observed during Karkidakam month

 Ramayanam has always been an integral part of every Hindu's life . There were scholars to interpret the epic in every court and they even accompanied the king/nobility everywhere.