Email : krishnan@kanippayyur.in
About Kanippayyur Family
The Kanippayyur family originates from Kerala, a culturally rich coastal state in South India. According to legend, Parasurama, after creating the land from the sea, brought Brahmins to inhabit it. Various professions essential for societal upkeep were distributed among them. Architecture and the construction of temples, residences, and more were entrusted to a few Nambudiri families, with Kanippayyur being prominent among them.
Across India, Vastuvidya—the science of architecture—was promoted through two key institutions. These were the Institutions of Silpins, traditional craftsmen who preserved hereditary knowledge of crafts, and the traditional schools that provided theoretical instruction, from which the silpins often sought guidance. In Kerala, the school imparting traditional knowledge was known as Sabhamatham. By the early 18th century, many such institutions in Kerala were well-regarded in the realm of applied traditional knowledge. The Kanipayyur Namboodiripad family belonged to one such lineage of Acharyas in central Kerala. This family excelled not only in Vastuvidya but also in Vedic studies, Tantra, and Astrology.
Among the most renowned Acharyas of the Kanipayyur family was Subrahmanian Namboodiripad [1839-1910]. He was proficient in Vastu Sastra, Jyotisa, music, painting (Citra), and mathematics, and gained royal patronage by being appointed as the superintendent of public works in the erstwhile Cochin state. He was responsible for preparing designs and estimates for not only buildings but also bridges, culverts, and other public works. His brother, Parameswaran Namboodiripad, was also an expert in Vastusastra and wood sculpture.
The twentieth century brought the trail blazing Kanippayyur Shankaran Namboodiripad, who single handedly popularized the Vaastu Shastra (Sthapthya Veda). His impressive and charismatic personality, forceful writing and no-nonsense attitude made him a legend in his lifetime. Sankaran Namboodiripad was recognized as the consultant for all temple renovation works in Cochin and Malabar. His opinions were also sought for temple works in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He also started work centers for making icons and other ancillaries connected with temples. He started a printing press, wrote and published many books on traditional knowledge. The Yogakshema Panchangam (Almanac), was established by the Kanippayyur Nambudiris. This almanac in addition to being a calendar is referred to find out the auspicious time for carrying out all functions like marriage, name giving ceremonies, starting of house construction, etc. in Kerala.
Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad, grandnephew of Shankaran Namboodiripad and selected by him to carry on the Vaastu tradition, has designed thousands of residential buildings, temples, churches, commercial and industrial establishments. His brother Kanippayyur Parameswaran Namboodiripad looks after the family press and publications, library, in addition to practicing traditional architecture. The youngest brother Kanippayyur Narayanan Namboodiripad carries on the astrological tradition and is consulted daily by hundreds of people. He calculates and compiles the Yogakshema Panchangam. The family has Kanippayyur Hareethan Namboodiripad (Udayamperoor, Cochin),and Kanippayyur Kuttan Namboodiripad also practicing the Vasthu Shastra.
According to Kanippayyur, the principle of Vasthu Shastra is to build without harming Nature. The sun, earth with its varied motions and magnetic field, and the direction of wind create forces, which are to be kept in mind while deciding the location and orientation of any building, so that it is harmonious with Nature. Also the local weather, nature of soil and slope of the land affect the design.