The nārāyaṇīyam (pronounced naaraayaneeyam or IPA: [nɑːrɑːjəɳiːjəm]) condenses the Bhagavata Purana into 1034 verses, divided into one hundred dasakam, or cantos. The work occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature, both because of the intense devotional fervour of the verses, and because of their extraordinary literary merit. Thenārāyanīyam is one of the most popular religious texts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and devout Hindus often recite it together in festivals and groups. Nārāyanīyam is the story of Lord Narayana. It is a work consisting of 1034 slokas or verses, divided into 100 dasakams or chapters, each dasakam consisting of approximately 10 slokas. It is a condensed version of Bhagavata Purana, which consists of 18,000 slokas authored by Veda Vyasa. It is said that the work has the blessings of Lord Krishna or Guruvayoorappan, the presiding Deity of Guruvayur. Narayaneeyam narrates a series of episodes from the Bhagavata Purana, choosing the most pious of the lot. The incarnations of Vishnu are traced with piety, Bhattathiri transforms the episodes into solemn prayers, pouring out his soul in total supplication before the Lord. The final dasaka, Kesadipaada Varnanam, embodies top-to-toe picture of little Krishna in all grace and glory . Both as a poem and as a devotional hymn, Narayaneeyam occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature. Narayaneeyam is the master piece of Melpathur and is the most widely read of all his works.The poet depicts the image of Lord Guruvayurappan, in exemplary terms - "Sammohanam Mohanal Kantham Kanthinidhanathopi, Madhuram Madhurya Dhuryadapi, Soundaryotharathopi Sundaratharam" The ‘Parayana' of Narayaneeyam is believed to possess the wonderful power of healing afflictions, both mental and physical, of the devotees. The "Nithyaparayana” of Narayaneeyam will enable the devotees to attain " Ayurarogyasoukhyam”. Narayaneeya Sapthaham ( the recitation of Narayaneeyam and explaining the meaning to the public) is conducted in Guruvayur temple by Devaswom on the Narayaneeya Dinam and by others as offerings. It is done for seven consecutive days from early morning till 6.10 pm in the evening. Narayaneeya Sapthaham has started in Guruvayur in the early 50's. It takes about 5 hours to read the slokas and about 45 hours for explaining the slokas. The day on which Narayaneeyam was completed, 28th Vrichikam, is celebrated by the Devaswom as Narayaneeyam day. Discourses and debates on Narayaneeyam written by Melpathur take place. Special functions are held at Melpathur Illapparambu also.

1. Rendition By A. P. Sukumar, Canada

2. Just as Thou wert rising up from the ocean, the demons
snatched away the nectar from Thy hands, and the gods
were rendered helpless. Thou comforted them and
disappeared immediately. Oh God ! Through Thy power of
illusion (maya), Thou induced the demons to quarrel among
themselves.

3. Then Thou assumed the form of a temptress, a dark
beautiful mature woman, slightly leaning forward, owing to
the weight of her heaving breasts. The demons, abandoning
their fight over the vessel of nectar, came running toward
Thee, extremely attracted by Thy pitcher-like breasts.

4. The demons openly wondering about this deer eyed beauty,
entreated Thee, in that Mohini form to apportion the nectar
among them. Thou, teasingly reminded them that
Thou wert a harlot, a woman of loose conduct, and
wondered how they could trust Thee but this flippant reply
only boosted their faith in Thee.

5. The demons joyfully gave the vessel of nectar to Thee in the form of
Mohini. Thou, cautioning them to bear with Thy whimsical behaviour,
made the gods and demons sit in separate rows and began serving the
nectar only to the gods. The demons entranced by Thy seductive walk
and movements, sat quietly.

6. While the demons sat silent, believing that she (Mohini),
loves them, Thou, who loves Thy devotees, distributed the
nectar fully among the gods, and assuming Thy own form,
cut off the head of Rahu (Swarbhanu), who had half drunk
the nectar.

7. After punishing the demons thus for snatching the vessel of
nectar from Thee, Thou went away. A pitched battle then
took place between the demons and gods. At the height of
this terrible war, the hosts of gods were rendered
unconscious by the delusive tactics of the demon Bali; so
Thou manifested Thyself in their midst.

8. Then Thou killed Kalanemi, Mali and others, while the lord
of gods, Indra, killed Paka, Bali, Jambha and Vala. Namuchi,
who could not be killed with anything dry or wet was
destroyed with foam from the sea. Then at Sage Narada's
request, Thou stopped the war.

9. Learning about the female form Thou took to tempt the
demons, Lord Siva, curious to see Thy Mohini form, came to
Thy abode with his attendants, the Bhutaganas, and
Parvati Devi, and having praised Thee, expressed his desire
to Thee. At this, Thou vanished.

10. Then, espying Thee in the precincts of a garden, as an
attractive damsel, with eyes flitting in the act of playing with
a ball and with garments slipping down, Lord Siva, who
was the enemy of Cupid, became extremely infatuated and
passionately embraced Thee.

11. When Mohini, freed herself from Lord Siva's grasp and ran,
he pursued her again.. On the discharge of his virile fluid,
the truth dawned on him and he came to his senses. He who
was revered by Thee, sang Thy praises and extolled Thy
glory to Parvati Devi and others. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May
Thou of such glory, save me.