PREFACE.
This stotra, Narayaniya, so called because of the deity Narayana whom it extols as well as because it is composed by Narayana, summarises, in order, the whole story of Srimad-Bhagavata. It consists of 100 Dasakas (decades) of more or less 10 slokās each, and contains, on the whole, 1036 slokas. This is not only an excellent stotra, in itself, being an effusion of devotional sentiment, but also a Kavya, on account of its wealth of poetic merits. It is regarded in Kerala as much a work of devotion as Srimad-Bhagavata, and the pious people make it their duty to recite it daily with the utmost faith and reverence. It was thought advisable to publish a commentary also for the elucidation of certain concise and abstruse portions. Hence the gloss of Devamangala Varya is added to this. It is now issued in Devanagari characters to secure wider circulation. The present edition of the text is based on five manuscripts, and the commentary, on three manuscripts, all obtained from the Palace Library.
The author of the work, Narayana Bhatta was the son of a Brahmin of Kerala, named Mátridatta. He was born in Mepputtur ll am, in the village of Perumanam, near the temple of Tirunava, on the northern bank of the river, Nila, in North Malabar. He studied Vyakarana and other subjects under one Achyuta Pisharodi. Tradition has it that he was once attacked with rheumatism, and to get himself freed from this dire disease he propitiated his favourite deity, Srikrishna of Guruvâyûr composing in His honor a Dasaka of this work each day and that he was completely cured of the disease. In course of time, his fame as a poet and an author grew high, and the excellence of his works was recognized by all. Devanarayana, King of Ambalapuzha, entertained him at his court and honoured him by his munificient, patron-
