From SOKA To SLOKA
Dear Readers/Seekers, I am glad to present the article “From Soka (Sorrow) to Sloka (Divine Hymn)”. It is about a poet named Poonthanam. The soka i.e. sorrow which attended him changed him to become a great devotee and by corollary a great poet composing Sloka (divine hymn). The poet hailed from Kerala, the God’s Own Country. Outside Kerala, many people may not be aware of this great poet whose poems have inspired scores in to the realm of Bhakti towards Lord Guruvayurappan, the presiding deity of Guruvayur. In modern parlance, it is a romance of love between the Lord and his devout Bhaktha. Guruvayur is an abode with scores of devotees experienced miracles like Poonthanam, Bhattathiri, Kruramma, Manjula, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Sengalipuram Anantharama Deekshitar etc., even an elephant (Guruvayur Kesavan) expressed bhakti towards the Lord. Such is the greatness of Guruvayur. The offering to the Lord of this temple is unique which you cannot find elsewhere and yes that is the