Chavara Kuriakose Elias (1805-1871)

The name of Chavara Kuriakose Elias figures prominently among those who wrote poetry in Malayalam imitating Sanskrit verses. His autobiographical written in an epic style, Athmanuthapam, is a prominent work belonging to the initial stages of his literary career. Athmanuthapam written in 1868 has been included in the genre of epics.  

Rockos Sismayude Charithram, Pithakanmarude Charithram,Kerala Charithram, Ashrama Sthapanam, Dhyana Sallapangal, Marana Parvam,Chavarul, Salagramam Part- 1& 2 as well as the Pana to be sung at houses after death, and Anasthasyayude Rektha Sakshyam were all written by this scholar, educationist and founder of Sanyasa Sabha. 

It was Kattakayam Cheriyan Mappila who first wrote an epic in Malayalam among the Christians.  His Sree Yesu Vijayam stands first among the epics. The other epics are Pravithanam, P. M. Devassia’s Israel Vamsam, and Maha Prasthanam, Mar Thoma Vijayam by Sr. Mary Benetha and Kanya Mariam by Edamarath Sebastian.  K. V. Simon’s Veda Viharam, Puthen Kavu Mathan Tharakan’s Divya Deepam, O. M. Cherian’s Misihananda Lahari, and P. C. Mathai’s Divya Charitham are also some of the notable epics.