Manorama Thampuratti was an 18th-centurySanskrit scholar.[1]
She belonged to Kizhakke Kovilakam ofKottakkal, a branch of theZamorin dynasty ofKozhikode. Being a member of the royal family, she was fortunate to get a traditional Sanskrit education, which was not common for women at that time. She mastered the language and so got access to the treasure of knowledge on varioussastras at a young age.
She composed several verses in Sanskrit and was known all overKerala as a giftedpoet. However, except for fewshlokas, not much is available of her work.
She was also the contemporary of(Dharma Raja) Sree Karthika Tirunal Balarama Varma Maharaja ofTravancore (1724–98), who had the title 'Dharma Raja', meaning 'the king of righteousness'. During the time whenMalabar was invaded byTipu Sultan ofMysore, she stayed in exile at Travancore. It was during her exile at Travancore that the king completed the treatise on dramaturgy, viz.Balarama Bharatam, and Manorama Thampuratty offered her comments and suggestions, leading to its fruitful completion.[2][failed verification] Her correspondence with king Karthika Tirunal is of historic importance.
